The Firebird
Artist: Niki de Sainte-Phalle
Address
420 S. Tryon St.
Charlotte, NC 28202
Details
The Firebird sculpture, located outside the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art in Charlotte, was created in 1991 by French-American artist Niki de Saint Phalle and installed in 2009. Nicknamed "Disco Chicken" by locals, the 17-foot-tall, 1,400-pound sculpture is covered in over 7,500 mirrored and colored glass pieces. It was purchased by museum founder Andreas Bechtler to be both iconic and approachable. Officially titled Le Grand Oiseau de Feu sur l’Arche ("Large Firebird on an Arch"), the piece has become one of Charlotte’s most beloved public artworks and a prominent Uptown landmark, often featured in media and local photo contests.
Nearby Food & Drink
- Rhino Market & Deli420 S Tryon St (adjacent)
- Mariposa500 S Tryon St (131 feet SW)
- Starbucks135 Levine Avenue of the Arts (320 feet NW)
- Fin and Fino35 Levine Avenue of the Arts (370 feet NW)
Nearby Arts & Attractions
- Bechtler Museum of Modern Art420 S Tryon St (adjacent)
- Knight Theater430 S Tryon St (123 feet NW)
- Mint Museum Uptown500 S Tryon St (131 feet SW)
- Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture551 S Tryon St (454 feet SW)
Nearby Residential Living
- Catalyst Charlotte Apartments255 W Martin Luther King Jr Blvd (545 feet N)
- Bell Uptown Charlotte355 W Martin Luther King Jr Blvd (773 feet NW)
- Trust Condominium Apartment139 S Tryon St (0.2 miles NE)
- The Reed Apartments401 S Graham St (0.3 miles NW)