Yoshitomo Nara's "White Ghost" sculptures are a compelling fusion of his recurrent motifs—dogs and children—cast in glossy white fiberglass and mounted on rough, stone-like bases. These sculptures, completed in 2010 and now a part of the Des Moines Art Center Permanent Collections, were purchased with funds from John and Mary Pappajohn. The sculptures are located in the Pappajohn Sculpture Park at the southeast corner of Grand Avenue and 15th Street, adding a distinctive presence to the park's collection of public art​ (Greater Des Moines Public Art Foundation)​.

The "White Ghost" installations were also featured in New York City, presented by the Art Production Fund on Park Avenue. This exhibition marked Nara's first public sculptures in New York, coinciding with his solo show "Yoshitomo Nara: Nobody’s Fool" at Asia Society in September 2010. The positioning of the sculptures near the entrances to significant cultural venues was reminiscent of komainu, mythical guardian figures in Japan, suggesting a protective or watchful role. Through these works, Nara contemplates the permanence of art, the passage of time, and his own mortality, engaging viewers in a dialogue that transcends the immediate visual appeal of the sculptures​ (Art Production Fund)​.

Nara's unique approach to public art—combining innocence with a deeper, introspective quality—resonates widely, allowing viewers of all ages to connect with his work on multiple levels. The "White Ghost" sculptures are no exception, embodying a blend of vulnerability, rebellion, and hopefulness that has defined Nara's work since his rise to international acclaim during the Japanese pop movement in the 1990s. His art holds a place in prestigious collections worldwide, including MOMA in New York and the Aomori Art Museum in Japan, the latter home to his largest sculpture, a 27-foot tall concrete dog​ (Art Production Fund)​.