Shamrock I Spy - a neighborhood art project

Plaza Shamrock neighborhood is hiding something — 14 of them, actually.

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Thanks to a City of Charlotte Neighborhood Matching Grant, the Plaza Shamrock Neighborhood Association has brought a one-of-a-kind public art project to life right in our own backyard. Shamrock I Spy is a neighborhood-wide sculpture trail featuring 14 unique, handmade critters created by Charlotte artist and fellow neighbor Nico Amortegui. These creatures — birds, cats, turtles, and other local wildlife you might spot roaming our streets — are now tucked into front yards and nestled in trees across the neighborhood, hosted by generous neighbors.

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Unlike art installations that anchor you to a single spot, Shamrock I Spy is designed to get you outside and exploring. Every walk becomes a scavenger hunt. Every block holds a potential discovery.

 

Each sculpture is its own character, and part of one big story. Some are crafted from steel; others are made from lightweight foam core and cement, hanging from tree branches like something that just landed and decided to stay. Each one a reflection of the energy of Nico's process — bold, expressive, and rooted in the moment. Nico works without sketching in advance, creating directly from instinct and feeling. His background spans large-scale murals, sculpture, and public installations across NC, Atlanta, DC, and beyond, and his work is deeply shaped by a love of community, folk art traditions, and the natural world.

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Come find them all — Shamrock I Spy is free, open to everyone, and waiting to be discovered.