The Visit Sculpture, Fresno

Welcome to downtown Fresno’s vibrant Fulton Street District, where public art breathes life into the urban landscape. Among the most beloved installations is “The Visit”, a bronze sculpture by celebrated Central California artist Clement Renzi. Commissioned shortly after the opening of the Fulton Mall in the mid-1960s, this poignant artwork has become a staple of Fresno’s cultural identity.

Situated on a bench at the northeast corner of Fulton and Tuolumne, “The Visit” depicts two women seated side by side in gentle conversation. Cast in bronze during Renzi’s prolific period of public commissions, the figures invite passersby to pause, reflect, and even join them, as the sculptor intended. This approachable design has charmed generations; local accounts even note how “children like to climb up and sit in the ladies’ laps”.

For tourists exploring Fresno, “The Visit” offers more than just a photo opportunity-it serves as a gateway into the city’s mid-century artistic surge. The piece was part of a broader initiative to transform downtown into a pedestrian-friendly, open-air museum, seeking to elevate Fresno’s urban experience with artworks from Renzi, George Tsutakawa, Stan Bitters, and others. These installations, paired with tree-lined sidewalks and historic theatres, make the Fulton corridor a must-stroll destination.

Though the pedestrian mall was redesigned in 2017 to reintroduce car traffic, the sculpture returned to its original spot and continues to stand as a cornerstone of public art in Fresno. Whether you’re a lover of art, history, or heartwarming human stories, “The Visit” is a serene, engaging stop-one that beautifully mirrors Fresno’s spirit of community and creativity.