Haven’t you noticed how art can transform a simple street? Auckland’s Federal Street is home to a unique installation. It is called the Bystanders Sculpture. Or more precisely: Lost & Found.
These aren’t just any sculptures. They are eight large boulders. Artist Joe Sheehan meticulously hand-carved them. Each boulder holds carved everyday objects.
Lost & Found was commissioned by the Auckland Council. It’s part of the redesigned Mayoral Drive end of Federal Street. The street now has an inclusive feel. There is enhanced lighting. Thirteen new native trees grow here. Nine rain gardens filter stormwater.
Look closely at the boulders. You’ll see a baseball cap. A puffer jacket is there too. Sunglasses rest on the stone. Gloves and a backpack complete the collection.
These aren’t random items. Sheehan uses them as metaphors. He hopes to create a greater sense of community.
Sheehan says the belongings extend through the street. The two gloves hold the space. The jacket echoes the figure on the cross. It lies under St Matthew’s church. The shoes are found at the door of the Auckland City Mission. Each part interacts with different aspects of the street.
This end of Federal Street is now quieter. It’s become a living backyard. Residents of apartment towers use it. Commuters on bikes and scooters pass through. Walkers and churchgoers enjoy the space. The street is significant to the city’s street whānau. The Auckland City Mission supports these people.
Sheehan wanted to connect different worlds. He hoped the carvings would act as touchstones. He wanted them to be connective tissue between people.
Genevieve Sage is the Waitematā Local Board Chair. She says public art is vital. It pushes us to appreciate new ways of thinking. It helps us discover and honour our past and present.
Sheehan sourced the boulders from around New Zealand. This helps people who originate from other places. It offers them a grounding here.
Each ancient boulder weighs between one and four tonnes. Sheehan starts with a six-foot saw. He finishes with a 1mm diamond drill. This defines the details. Think of the ridged soles of the shoes. Or the seams of the jacket.
Sculptural lamps illuminate each carved object. The balance of the rock stays in darkness. Sheehan wants people to touch the carvings. He believes public contact will finish the artwork.
Hayley Wolters is Auckland Council Manager Public Art. She encourages people to experience the artwork. Lost & Found is significant for the Auckland Council collection. It will be one of the largest series of carved stone artworks in a public place in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Terry Urbahn is Auckland Council Public Art Project Manager. He says the ambition was to create richly detailed moments. He wanted to encourage discoverability and a sense of social warmth.
Auckland Council invested $9 million in the Federal Street upgrade. The Lost & Found artwork cost around $730,000. This includes engineering, art delivery, sourcing, carving, consenting and lighting.
This artwork is a permanent addition to Auckland Council’s collection. It is intended to be in place beyond 2050. It will provide Aucklanders and visitors with a thought-provoking experience. In 2026, it will be near Te Waihorotiu Station. It will be in a regenerated midtown.
Joe Sheehan studied contemporary jewellery. He is interested in the historical and cultural context of stone. His artworks often twist the familiar. He includes everyday objects.
Sheehan is intrigued by fragments and artefacts. He believes they store large amounts of information. This information requires an imaginative leap. He encourages viewers to stretch forward and look backwards.
So, next time you’re on Federal Street, take a moment. Touch the stones. Reflect on the stories they tell. Consider the connections they create. The Bystanders Sculpture, Lost & Found, is more than just art. It’s a conversation. It’s a bridge. It is a piece of community.