As Poydras Street commuters have surely noticed, five eye-catching new sculptures have appeared recently along the street’s neutral ground. One was created by an internationally renowned Louisiana artist, who also happens to be a 1970s feminist firebrand. Another was designed by one of the country’s best-known self-taught artists.

The artworks are the latest additions to “The Poydras Corridor Sculpture Exhibition Presented by the Helis Foundation.” The ongoing exhibit of modern art on Poydras Street was begun by Michael Manjarris, co-founder of the Sculpture for New Orleans project that helped beautify the cityscape during the post-Katrina recovery period…