Mysterious Googly Eyes in Bend, Oregon: Public Art Prank Becomes the Year’s Funniest Global Meme

Bend, Oregon, November 3, 2025 – Picture a majestic deer sculpture in the middle of a city roundabout suddenly “blinking” with giant wobbly googly eyes, as if whispering, “Hey, the world’s too serious!” That’s the chaos gripping Bend, a small town in central Oregon, after mysterious googly eyes appeared on eight public art statues along the “Roundabout Art Route.” What started as a local prank has exploded into a global viral sensation, with millions of shares on X and TikTok — even featured on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.

It all began in late October when residents noticed: the “Phoenix Rising” statue (nicknamed “fire chicken” by netizens) sporting silly black googly eyes, two deer “peeking” through their metal antlers, and the abstract Orb I now resembling a giant eyeball. The culprit? Still a mystery. No one’s claimed responsibility, but wild theories abound: a solo “Googly-Eye Bandit” or an underground art collective. “It’s like street art, but kindergarten edition — and we love it!” one resident posted on Facebook, sparking 500+ laughing comments.

The virality is unreal. Photos of the googly-eyed statues racked up 1.5 million shares in a week, becoming the ultimate meme: “When modern art needs eye therapy” or “Bend: Where statues are more expressive than the people.” Stephen Colbert dedicated a segment, calling it “the most wholesome prank of the year.” But not everyone’s amused. The City of Bend has spent $1,500 removing the eyes from metal sculptures (iron, bronze, steel), as the super-strong glue risks damaging artworks worth thousands. “We support creativity — but not permanent,” said communications director Rene Mitchell. They’re using special treatments to prevent corrosion and reviewing roundabout CCTV for leads.

This isn’t new — Bend’s statues often get festive Santa hats or leis during holidays, which are allowed because they’re easy to remove. But googly eyes? They stick. Netizens are protesting: “Leave them! They bring joy in winter!” One viral meme quipped, “City officials: ‘This is vandalism!’ Residents: ‘This is an upgrade!’”

More than just a prank, this is a reminder that art can “come alive” with absurd touches. As Bend hunts the bandit, the world laughs: Could googly eyes be 2025’s symbol of needed silliness? Or will the prankster return with a Christmas edition? Keep watching Bend’s roundabouts — the next pair of eyes might be staring back at you.

(Sources: AP News, The New York Times, Smithsonian Magazine, and latest X trends.)