“For the Love of Two Oranges”
Discover Public Art
Carnegie Mellon University’s 125th Anniversary Tour Series
CMU Public Art
written by
Margaret Cox
As Carnegie Mellon celebrates its 125th anniversary, it will soon be possible to explore its rich tradition of public art through a dynamic and interactive app experience!
Meagen Fekos, senior director of Advancement Communications & Marketing, leads the digital marketing efforts for CMU’s 125th anniversary. “This app allows us to share the gems we have all around our Pittsburgh campus with the global CMU community,” says Fekos. “As part of the public art tour, visitors can hear from artists, learn about the history of certain pieces and get a taste of the creative works woven into the campus experience.”
Built on the Bloomberg Connects platform, the app connects CMU to a global network of cultural institutions and offers an immersive experience accessible from anywhere. “The app is about experiencing Carnegie Mellon and being a part of the CMU125 celebration, wherever you are. You can tour public art on campus, visit CMU satellite locations around the world, or travel time instead of distance to learn about some of our bygone traditions,” said Fekos. One of the most exciting parts of this initiative? The app is just getting started — more CMU tours, exhibits and hidden gems are on the way.
Sample CMU Public Art Through Time
“College of Fine Arts Niches”
1912–1995, limestone carving
Archille Giammartini (1912), Nicholas Fairplay, Bruce Lindsey, Paul Rosenblatt (1980s)
located at the College of Fine Arts, façade
installation began in 1912 and was completed 1989–1995
The “College of Fine Arts Niches” are an enveloping series of limestone carvings on the CFA building that showcase five architectural styles — Greek, Roman, Medieval, Renaissance and non-Western traditions. Begun in 1912 as part of Henry Hornbostel’s vision of the building as a “textbook of architecture,” the project was finally completed in the late 1980s through a collaboration of artists and architects using both old-world techniques and new technology. The niches beautifully capture CMU’s legacy of blending art, history and innovation.
“For the Love of Two Oranges”
1969, painted steel
L. Clark Winter
located outside Fifth and Neville Apartments
installed in 1972 and reinstalled in 2021
“For the Love of Two Oranges” is a vibrant minimalist sculpture by former CMU professor Clark Winter, created in 1969 and installed on campus in 1972. Made of four bold orange steel blocks, it playfully explores shape and space while radiating a cheerful, whimsical energy. After years of weathering, the sculpture was restored in 2020 and relocated near the Fifth Neville Apartments in 2021 — where it has become fully embraced and affectionately known by residents as “the Cheeto.”
“Curtains”
1999, bronze
Carol Kumata
located at the Purnell Center for the Arts building, exterior
installed in 2000
Curtains,” by longtime CMU faculty member Carol Kumata, is a series of bronze sculptures that captures the movement of stage curtains caught in the wind. Designed for the School of Drama, it nods to the building’s theatrical purpose while subtly echoing architectural details from Henry Hornbostel’s original CFA designs. Blending old and new, Kumata’s work softens the building structure and hints at the creative energy inside — highlighting her masterful metalsmithing and her fascination with how materials can shape both space and story.
“Untitled Core Sample (THE FENCE)”
2024, painted bronze
Amanda Ross-Ho
located at CMU’s Forbes Beeler Apartments (5087 Forbes Ave., Pittsburgh), outside
installed in May 2024
“Untitled Core Sample (THE FENCE)” by Amanda Ross-Ho is a recent Public Art commission, curated by CMU Johnson Family Public Art Curator Elizabeth Chodos. This monumental bronze sculpture honors the university’s iconic CMU Fence tradition — a student-maintained structure where messages are painted and repainted by various groups. The artist extracted and enlarged a cylindrical core sample from The Fence, capturing hundreds of layers of paint applied by students between 1993 and 2023. Ross-Ho describes the work as a tribute to the diverse voices and communal spirit of the CMU student body.
CMU 125 Art Tours
Throughout its history, CMU has integrated public art into its environment, creating spaces that inspire reflection, dialogue and connection. The upcoming art tours are a fun and engaging way to celebrate the university’s vibrant history and its bright future. Join the celebration and learn more at cmu.edu/125!
featuring the following:
photography for "College of Fine Arts Niches" and "For the Love of Two Oranges" by Michael Henninger
photography for "Curtains" by Margaret Cox
photography for "Untitled Core Sample (THE FENCE)" by Tom Little
