Right in front of you, towering above the sidewalk and pressing its curious nose and giant paws to the glass, is a massive blue bear peeking into the Colorado Convention Center-an unmistakable sight nestled right by the building’s facade.
Imagine stumbling upon a 40-foot-tall bright blue bear, frozen mid-snooping, as if it’s just discovered the world’s most interesting meeting and simply must catch a glimpse. This is I See What You Mean, but most locals just call it the Big Blue Bear. Created by artist Lawrence Argent in 2005, this playful giant instantly became a favorite, charming both locals and visitors with its mischievous curiosity. Argent was inspired by a photo of a real bear peering through a window-a sight familiar in the Rockies, where black bears are part of daily mountain lore. He originally thought it would be natural-colored, but a test print in blue was so striking that he couldn’t resist making it even more eye-catching. Wrapped in polygonal panels and costing $424,400, the bear wasn’t just meant to decorate-it’s meant to make you chuckle, prompt a photo, and remind you that art can be just as wild and whimsical as the Rocky Mountain wildlife. So next time someone asks what’s blue and weighs a few tons, you’ll know the answer!
