Googly-Eyed Mystery in Oregon Solved as Local Man Confesses with a Twist

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Oregon man reveals surprising reason behind viral googly-eyed sculptures that sparked national attention

In the quiet city of Bend, Oregon, an unexpected art movement took hold—one that involved oversized googly eyes mysteriously appearing on public sculptures. What started as a lighthearted curiosity soon went viral, capturing national attention and even making it onto a segment of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.

Now, the man behind some of the whimsical installations has come forward. Jeff Keith, a longtime Bend resident and founder of the nonprofit Guardian Group, which combats human trafficking, admitted to placing the googly eyes on at least two sculptures. But his reasoning might not be what you’d expect.

For Keith, what seemed like an amusing prank was actually an outlet for coping with the deeply emotional work he does. “It is a place for me to cope with some pretty heavy stuff,” he told The Associated Press. The victims he helps have endured unimaginable trauma, and adding a touch of humor to his city was, in some ways, a way for him to balance the darkness of his work.

Keith is no stranger to playful public art interventions—he has previously dressed statues in hula skirts and leis. This time, however, his googly-eyed creations took on a life of their own, drawing the ire of city officials who warned that adhesives could damage the metal sculptures. The city spent $1,500 removing the eyes from eight sculptures, though many residents argued that the wide-eyed additions were harmless fun.

🇺🇸 | La ciudad de Bend, en Oregon, pide a los residentes que dejen de pegar ojos saltones en las esculturas públicas, tras gastar $1500 en removerlos.

Los vecinos defienden la nueva tendencia: “El ciervo con ojos saltones es lo mejor de la ciudad”. pic.twitter.com/aYeo90nNIO

— UHN Plus (@UHN_Plus) December 30, 2024

Despite the backlash, Keith took responsibility and even offered to cover any damages. But the response from the public was overwhelmingly supportive. People loved the playful touch, and many questioned whether removing the googly eyes was really necessary.

In hindsight, city officials acknowledged that their initial social media post about the prank may have come across as too serious. Bend’s communications director, Rene Mitchell, clarified that the intent wasn’t to scold but to raise awareness about protecting public art.

Keith, however, remains focused on the joy he hopes his actions brought to the people of Bend. “I think the biggest thing is, for me, just to get a laugh,” he said. “When I come up on these roundabouts and I see families laughing—like, hysterically laughing—it makes for a good time.”

Whether you see it as a harmless prank or an act of artistic rebellion, one thing is certain: Bend’s statues will never look quite the same again.