Giant Roaming Gnomes Are Coming To One of the Greater Houston Area’s Most Creative Lands — Public Art That Amazes

The giant Roaming Gnomes are coming. City Place, the  mixed-use land in the shadow of The Woodlands that’s home to the ExxonMobil headquarters, will be getting a major dose of whimsy with the arrival of these gnomes. It’s part of a large-scale public art installation, created by Sydney-based design studio Amigo & Amigo, in partnership with Texas-based art advisory firm Weingarten Art Group, that will debut September 26.

The immersive exhibition will disperse eight giant, brilliantly illuminated gnome throughout City Place. Each larger-than-life character comes with its own name, distinct personality, pose and fashion-forward attire, creating an open-air gallery. With plenty to discover.

“City Place’s award-winning public art program continues to delight, through color, sound, light and participation,” Weingarten Art Group principal Lea Weingarten says in a statement. “Now, Roaming Gnomes takes that spirit of surprise to a whole new experience. As the program’s first-ever large-scale inflatable installation, these monumental, whimsical figures are as approachable as they are unexpected.

“We can’t wait for visitors to discover each one and to make a memory along the way. We are honored to bring Amigo & Amigo’s joyful, imaginative work for the first time to Texas. And we couldn’t be more excited to share it.

True to their name, these Roaming  Gnomes have traveled to Australia, Europe and North America. Most recently, the giant gnomes made their presence felt at the Napa Lighted Art Festival in California wine country and the World of Winter Festival in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

These Roaming Gnomes are planners too.

Amigo & Amigo’s director Simone Chua and art director Adela Lines Diaz visited City Place back in 2023 to scout locations for the placement of the individual gnomes.

This Texas installation will have eight gnomes — named Anthony, Bop, Hock Hai, David, Elvis, Raphael, Nino and Mardini. Each has a special pose and personality. For example, Bop is passionate about music and dance, with a special love for K-Pop rooted in his Korean heritage. He travels the globe to learn about traditional dances and the latest dance trends. He’s often found on the street, connecting with fellow dancers and spends hours sharing music and dance.

Or so gnome lore has it.

“Anthony is out on his own, and it feels like he’s kind of perching out on his own, like like he’s hiding, kind of thing,” Amigo & Amigo North American partnerships manager Kaileigh Krysztofiak says. “And so we try to put them where it makes most sense for them to be in terms of what’s around them as well.”

Putting these giant Roaming Gnomes in will take several days. Unpacking, inflating, weighting and tethering the eight inflatables usually takes about two full days.

The Roaming Gnomes Experience

Rather than experiencing the artwork from a single vantage point, visitors to City Place will get the chance to become part of the Roaming Gnomes adventure, exploring plazas, pathways and green spaces. With each colorful character revealing itself along the journey.

By day, the oversized sculptures create playful moments of surprise. After sunset, they transform into glowing landmarks creating an entirely different experience.

Since launching its partnership with Weingarten Art Group in 2024, City Place has established one of the greater Houston and Woodlands region’s most ambitious outdoor public art programs, presenting internationally recognized installations that incorporate light, sound, technology and nature. Its previous art installations include last year’s Graphic Rewilding’s “Flower Clouds” and the recent Arc ZERO’s installation.

These Roaming Gnomes will be on display September 26 through November 8 at City Place in Spring. The free exhibition will be open daily from 7 am to 11 pm.