Macalester College Will Unveil Highland Cow Sculpture
The 10-foot-tall art piece will be revealed Friday at the St. Paul campus during the annual Mac Fest celebration.
Updated on Oct. 8, 2026 in Fine Art
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Macalester College will unveil a new sculpture of a Scottish Highland cow on Friday, October 9, 2026, during the Mac Fest celebration. Standing 10 feet tall and 15 feet long, the installation sits in front of the Leonard Center.
Why it matters
The sculpture serves as a permanent celebration of the school's heritage and spirit following the college's decision to adopt the Highland Cow as its official mascot in 2024. The design was chosen after gathering input from students, faculty, staff, and alumni.
Artist Andy Scott created this 10-foot by 15-foot sculpture, building on his portfolio of large-scale public art. His previous works include the 32-foot-tall 'The Calling' in St. Paul and the 100-foot-tall 'The Kelpies' in Falkirk, Scotland.
The players
Andy Scott
He is the artist responsible for creating the new campus sculpture and is known internationally for his large-scale metal works.
Macalester College
It is a private liberal arts college located in St. Paul that recently updated its mascot and campus art installations.
The details
The new sculpture will be officially presented to the campus community at 3:30 p.m. this Friday. It replaces the visual identity of the former mascot, Mac the Scot, which represented the institution for nearly two decades.
Timeline
Mac the Scot served as the college mascot starting in 2005.
The Highland Cow was selected as the new mascot in 2024.
The sculpture will be unveiled at 3:30 p.m. on Friday, October 9, 2026.
Industry Dynamics
The transition from the Mac the Scot branding to the Highland Cow reflects a broader trend of institutions updating their visual identities to better align with contemporary community values. This shift signifies a strategic rebranding effort to evolve campus culture through permanent public art.
Students and local residents attending Mac Fest can view the sculpture for the first time during the unveiling ceremony this Friday. The piece is permanently located in front of the Leonard Center, ensuring it remains accessible for viewing by the general public.
The takeaway
This installation highlights how universities use public art to solidify identity changes after a mascot transition. Community members can observe the new sculpture to understand how the institution is physically manifesting its updated school spirit.
Further reading
Learn more about the latest developments in Fine Art across the local region.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Twin Cities.
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