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World's largest anatomically-accurate brain sculpture: Bloomington, Indiana

Jun 01, 2023
World's largest anatomically-accurate brain sculpture: Bloomington, Indiana

Bloomington, Indiana, United States--The Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences at Indiana University is home to a brain sculpture,  designed by Bloomington artist Amy Brier in conjunction with limestone carver Mike Donham and his team at Accent Limestone; standing at 7 feet tall and weighing over 10,000 pounds, it sets the world record for being the World's largest anatomically-accurate brain sculpture, according to the WORLD RECORD ACADEMY.

World's largest anatomically-accurate brain sculpture: Bloomington, Indiana

"On October 11, 2013, the world's largest anatomically-correct brain sculpture was unveiled at the main entrance to the Psychology Building. Standing at 7 feet tall and weighing over 10,000 pounds, this installation was underwritten by the Harlan Family Foundation and designed by Bloomington artist Amy Brier in conjunction with limestone carver Mike Donham and his team at Accent Limestone," the official website says.


"The Indiana limestone carving is mounted on a stainless-steel plate, and it stands as an iconic landmark on the IU-Bloomington campus. On April 23, 2015, a lighting installment for the sculpture was unveiled during a public ceremony.


"We've affectionately named this sculpture "Harlan" in honor of the Harlan Family Foundation, which made this installation possible. You can follow Harlan on Instagram and stay up-to-date on everything they've been up to!"

World's largest anatomically-accurate brain sculpture: Bloomington, Indiana

"The Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences at Indiana University is now home to the world’s largest anatomically-accurate brain sculpture. Made entirely of Indiana limestone and mounted on a stainless-steel plate, the 10,000-pound brain rises seven feet from the ground in the courtyard outside the department’s entrance," the Atlas Obscura says 


"The sculpture was designed by Bloomington artist Amy Brier in conjunction with limestone carver Mike Donham and his team at Accent Limestone. This extraordinary work was underwritten by the Harlan Family Foundation and was unveiled as part of the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences’ 125th anniversary celebration as a monument to the department’s longstanding history of scientific study."

World's largest anatomically-accurate brain sculpture: Bloomington, Indiana

"Outdoor brain carved from limestone, weighs six tons. Claimed to be the "World's Largest Anatomically Accurate Sculpture of a Human Brain." Interactive lighting added April 2015," the Roadside America reports.


"In 2014 Indiana University unveiled the "World's Largest Anatomically Accurate Sculpture of a Human Brain." The seven-foot-tall, six-ton brain was carved out of limestone by local artist Amy Brier, who was inspired by Bloomington's "Brain Extravaganza" of 2012, in which the city was temporarily populated with dozens of large fiberglass brains (to raise brain awareness).


"In April 2015 the University made its World's Largest Brain even more brainy by enhancing it with multicolored lights that respond to nearby movement and change colors with the seasons and Indiana University sports victories."

World's largest anatomically-accurate brain sculpture: Bloomington, Indiana

"Indiana University Bloomington (IUB) now holds bragging rights to the world’s largest anatomically correct sculpture of a human brain," the Association for Psychological Science says.

"Amy Brier, a sculptor, and a team of carvers led by Mike Donham of Accent Limestone, collaborated to design and build the 5-ton brain, which stands 7 feet tall. The sculpture was underwritten by the Harlan Family Foundation.

“There are a lot of big brains on this campus,” university Provost and Executive Vice President Lauren Robel said at the dedication of the sculpture. “But this one takes the cake.”

World's largest anatomically-accurate brain sculpture: Bloomington, Indiana

"So, did you know that Bloomington, Indiana, is home to an enormous, anatomically-correct brain sculpture? Well, now you do," the Only In Your State says


"This behemoth art project is made entirely out of Indiana's own world-famous limestone and weighs an impressive five tons (10,000 pounds). It's on the Indiana University Bloomington campus and appropriately looms before the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences. Some people might ask why, but we ask, "Why not?"

World's largest anatomically-accurate brain sculpture: Bloomington, Indiana

"The Indiana University School of Medicine (IUSM) is a major multi-campus medical school located in the US state of Indiana. There are nine campuses throughout the state; the principal research, educational, and medical center is located on the Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI)[a] campus in Indianapolis. With 1,452 MD students and 203 PhD students in the 2022–23 academic year, IUSM is the largest medical school in the United States. The school offers many joint degree programs including an MD-PhD Medical Scientist Training Program in a partnership with Purdue University's Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering. It is the medical school with the largest number of graduates licensed in the United States per a 2018 Federation of State Medical Boards survey with 11,828 licensed physicians.

"The school has pioneered research in multiple specialties, including oncology, immunology, substance use, neuroscience, and endocrinology. Research discoveries include a curative therapy for testicular cancer, the development of echocardiography, the identification of several genes linked to Alzheimer's disease, and the creation of inner ear sensory cells from pluripotent stem cells.

"In the 2023 U.S. News & World Report rankings of the best graduate schools for medicine, the school ranked 23rd in the nation for primary care and 41st for research out of 192 medical schools. In the U.S. News & World Report rankings of the best hospitals, the Indiana University Health Medical Center had seventeen nationally ranked clinical programs. The Riley Hospital for Children at Indiana University Health is nationally ranked in 9 of 10 designated specialties for children in the U.S. News & World Report. The IU School of Medicine is also home to the Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center, a National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center." (
Wikipedia)

World's largest anatomically-accurate brain sculpture: Bloomington, Indiana

World's largest anatomically-accurate brain sculpture: Bloomington, Indiana


Address: 1101 East 10th Street, Bloomington, Indiana, 47405, United States

Coordinates: 39.1721, -86.5202

Directions: Outdoors, on the campus of Indiana University. From Hwy 45 turn south at the stoplight onto N. Fee Lane. Drive one mile. Turn right at the stoplight onto E. 10th St. Drive one block. As you come to a crosswalk look right; you'll see the brain set back from the street at the entrance to the Psychology Building.

Facebook: IU Psychological and Brain Sciences

Hours: Glows at night. Local health policies may affect hours and access.

Admission: Free
website: The Human Brain Sculpture

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