Modern art can be found in many unusual locations. Some artists work to surprise and bring the joy of discovery outside of a traditional museum or gallery space. Here are some examples of environmental art in gardens, on the beach, underwater, on rooftops, and on a plinth in the midst of a busy city square.

MEXICO

The Hombre en Llamas (Man on Fire) sculpture at the Cancun Underwater Museum, in Mexico's Costa Occidental de la Isla Mujeres National Park, is found at a depth of 8 meters.

JASON DECAIRES TAYLOR

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Cancun

The Cancun Underwater Museum can be found in Costa Occidental de la Isla Mujeres National Park, off the Yucatán Peninsula. The curator's plan is to feature more than 400 concrete sculptures on the sand as well as at various depths. The national park is hoping to divert tourists away from natural coral reefs that are being destroyed, and develop an environment for snorkelers and divers that can be enjoyed as an artificial coral reef. The artworks, by sculptor Jason de Caires Taylor, were first placed in the area in November. There were more 250 human-size sculptures placed by April. One of the sculptures is "The Dream Collector," which contains bottles with messages of hope sent from around the world. Additional artists will be invited to add work. The goal of the museum is to promote conservation. It is expected to eventually be the largest underwater museum in the world.

MORE INFORMATION: underwatersculpture.com

COLORADO

Denver

Denver's 16th Street Mall has always been a haven for musicians. This spring, 10 colorfully painted, functional upright pianos were placed along the 16-block span as part of the "Your Keys to the City" program. Whether you are a novice who would like to pause to plunk out "Chopsticks" or a practiced pianist, the pianos offer the opportunity to anyone who will stop. The concept has also been done in large urban settings including New York City; London; Barcelona, Spain; Sao Paulo, Brazil; Sydney and smaller suburban towns including Lancaster, Pa.

MORE INFORMATION: 303-892-1112 or denver.org

BRITAIN

London

In Trafalgar Square, visitors can find the controversial art exhibit called "The 4th Plinth." The plinth was built in 1841, but there was not enough money to place a planned statue of a horse. (The other three have statues of George IV and two generals.) The fourth platform remained empty until 1999 when a group of artists spearheaded an effort to make it a display space for specially commissioned art. Antony Gormley created an exhibit in 2009 titled "One & Other," where members of the public stood on the plinth for one hour each, 24 hours a day for 100 days. Some of the more memorable individuals included Gerald Chong, who destroyed a cardboard replica of the London skyline while dressed as Godzilla; and Amanda Hall, who made a full-size human figure out of bread products. The latest art commission for the 4th Plinth is Yinka Shonibare's "Nelson's Ship in a Bottle," which will be displayed until the end of 2011. This has been a popular display of a model of HMS Victory, Admiral Nelson's flagship at the Battle of Trafalgar.

MORE INFORMATION: visitlondon.com

Liverpool

Antony Gormley, the British artist involved with the "4th Plinth" project in London, is involved in a public art project in this port city, best known as the home of the Beatles. The permanent collection of 100 cast iron figures, called "Another Place," faces the sea on Crosby Beach. The sculptures of iron and fiberglass were originally created for London's Hayward Gallery in 2007, and Gormley positioned them on bridges, rooftops and streets along London's South Bank.

MORE INFORMATION: visitliverpool.com

WASHINGTON

Seattle

A city known for its lush green surroundings is also home to several outdoor art exhibitions. Sculptures can be found unexpectedly in numerous neighborhoods. While driving through downtown, a visitor might come across a gigantic typewriter eraser and seats and benches shaped like eyes. These pieces are part of the recently opened Olympic Sculpture Park. This area was developed by the Seattle Art Museum in a former industrial site overlooking Puget Sound. The area features 20 permanent works of art and beautiful landscaping to create an urban oasis. The city's Fremont neighborhood brings more surprises as you find sculptures of a 18-foot troll under the Aurora Bridge, and the "Waiting for the Interurban" statues. One of these sculptures, "The Frozen Bus Stop People," is frequently decorated with clothing and other items.

MORE INFORMATION: 206-461-5840 or visitseattle.org