Summer is just around the corner and we’re dreaming of days by the pool…but not just any pool! When art and design collide in the form of eye-catching art pools, you get a refreshing dip in culture without having to visit a museum. From James Turrell to David Hockney, there are some truly fab art pools ’round the world worth a splash. Whether you consider them sculptures or bathing experiences, grab a towel because we’re diving into the hottest pools designed by artists.

Sylvie Fleury

Villa Emslieb, near Salzburg, 2009

If you need a bit of motivation for your morning swim, look no further than this serene granite pool by Swiss artist Sylvie Fleury, which features confidence-boosting sayings. Installed outside Salzburg, Austria for gallerist Thaddaeus Ropac, the art pool has made a splash ever since its unveiling. A white rabbit by Tom Sachs keeps watch to provide a bit of whimsy to the beautiful setting.

Picasso

Pool at Villa El Martinete, 1961

When you’re friends with Picasso, you might have the privilege of having him sign your pool, as is seen here. The late great modern painter left his mark on the pool at the Marbella villa of renowned flamenco dancer Antonio Ruiz Soler in 1961 and the rest is history. While the villa has since changed hands, the pool remains a jewel of the estate that is no doubt still very much enjoyed.

Peter Kogler

Le Muy Sculpture Park, Provence, France, 2014

While this optical illusion-filled pool designed by artist Peter Kogler might prove dizzying if you’re doing laps, it’s certainly a marvel from an artistic and architectural perspective. Built by mosaic company Ezzari, you’ll find this gem in the contemporary sculpture park Le Muy, owned by art collector Jean-Gabriel Mitterand.

David Hockney

Tropicana Swimming Pool, Hollywood Roosevelt, LA, 1988

When we think of art pools, Hockney is surely the first person to come to mind. While his painting “A Bigger Splash,” 1967 is in a league of its own, we love that he painted a literal pool as well at the Hollywood Roosevelt hotel in LA in 1988. The semi-circle lines almost seem to vibrate, as if there are waves wiggling and jiggling at the bottom of the pool. We’re obsessed.

Pipilotti Rist

Hirschengraben Indoor Swimming Pool, Bern, 2018

Ok, so this was a temporary art installation, not a design feature, but we still wanted to share Swiss artist Pipilotti Rist’s light display on this pool in Bern, Switzerland. While beautiful, this particular work in collaboration with the World Wide Fund for Nature had a higher purpose than mere visual splendor. The bold colors served to call out the degradation of coral reefs due to climate change and the acidification of the ocean.

Ed Ruscha

Studio City, LA, 1989

Iconic pop artist Ed Ruscha designed this quirky pool at the home of his younger brother, Paul in 1989. The artist cleverly created swimming lanes at the request of his brother by using the lines where one would write their personal information.

Adaline Kent

Donnell Pool, Sonoma County, California, 1948

Overlooking the beautiful San Francisco Bay, the Donnell Pool was designed in 1948 by Thomas Church and Lawrence Halprin, with a sculpture by artist Adaline Kent. It was the first kidney-shaped swimming pool and has since become an icon for mid-century design and lifestyle. The biomorphic sculpture by Kent beautifully complements the curvatures of the pool’s edges, don’t you think?

Alexander Calder

Colombe D’Or, Saint-Paul de Vence, France, 1930s

It was 1920 when a quaint cafe-bar christened ‘La Colombe d’Or’ opened its doors in the tiny village of Saint-Paul-de-Vence. A decade later, it would become a haven for many of the most famous artists and writers of the era, thus cementing its place in history forever. Today, you can not only stay at this legendary auberge featuring works by Picasso, Matisse, and Braque, but also swim beneath this glorious Alexander Calder mobile.

James Turrell

Baker Pool, Connecticut, 2008

Artist James Turrell has designed numerous luxury art pools around the world, but this one is perhaps our favorite. The Baker Pool was a private commission that was installed in the basement of a Connecticut estate barn. Can you imagine! The pool is given its otherworldly glow by LED perimeter lighting, which Turrell is well known for using in his large-scale light installations.

Lawrence Weiner

Los Angeles, 2007

This hilarious pool by conceptual artist Lawrence Weiner belongs to art collector Rosette Delug, who invited the artist to create the design to coincide with the opening of his exhibition at Regen Projects, LA. Apparently, after the pool was cleaned, the colors changed unexpectedly. Weiner was unphased, saying “I’m happy with it that way.” While the exhibition ended, the art pool remains.

Jorge Macchi

Piscina, Inhotim Institute, Brazil, 2009

Address books may be falling out of favor in present-day society, but this serene pool by Jorge Macchi resembling one certainly isn’t. The acclaimed Argentinian artist created this minimalist swimming pool featuring descending steps painted with the letters of the alphabet in 2009. Set in the landscape of one of the largest outdoor art centers in Latin America, the pool is right at home among contemporary sculpture and a vast botanical garden.

Top photo: James Turrell, Stone Sky (2005). Photo courtesy of the artist.