This fall, Macalester will welcome a striking new addition to its campus: a larger-than-life Scottish Highland “Coo” sculpture. Designed to celebrate Macalester’s heritage and spirit, the monumental artwork will serve as a vibrant focal point for students, alumni, and the broader Twin Cities community.
“This landmark installation stands as a testament to extraordinary generosity, commissioned and gifted to Macalester by a college family through the Justin and Jansel Kelly Foundation in honor of our faculty,” says President Suzanne Rivera. “We envision this Highland cow becoming a central gathering place on campus, a spot where students celebrate milestones, alumni return to reconnect, and new Macalester traditions begin.”
The work was created by world-renowned Scottish figurative sculptor Andy Scott O.B.E. Scott aims to enhance the environment of the particular communities where his sculptures live and create a sense of place. He is best known for The Kelpies, the iconic, 100-foot-tall steel horse-head sculptures in Falkirk, Scotland, and The Calling, the soaring loon sculpture outside Allianz Field just down the road from Macalester. The opportunity to bring Scott’s work to campus emerged through community connections, including leadership at Minnesota United FC, linking Saint Paul’s professional soccer stadium to Macalester’s campus along Snelling Avenue.
At 12 feet tall and 17 feet long, the sculpture commands attention—inviting curiosity and sparking conversation. Like Scott’s other famous works, its size reflects the bold aspirations of the community it represents.
Macalester will dedicate the sculpture in front of the Leonard Center during its annual Mac Fest celebration at 3:30 p.m., Friday, October 9. The community is invited to attend the event, learn more about the artistic journey behind the piece, and celebrate the donor generosity that made this artistic anchor on campus possible.