Public art can take on a wide variety of forms, and can be as small as a sidewalk chalk sketch or as large as a bronze statue in a park. It usually interprets the history of a place and its people, and often addresses a social or environmental issue. It can be integrated into an urban or landscape architectural project, like the sculptural centerpiece in front of the Ontario Science Centre, or it could be standalone work such as a mural or a sculpture. It is often permanent, unlike touring museum exhibitions. And it is sometimes interactive, allowing visitors to touch or play with the piece.
Public artwork can be found in cities, towns, neighborhoods, or even in schools and universities. It can celebrate important events and figures, or it may be a reminder of the values that the community holds dear. Whether it is a monument to a hero, a mural in a neighborhood, or an installation that uses light or sound, a good piece of public art will enhance the landscape and engage with its audience.
When institutions want a new piece of public art, or are required by law to allocate funds for public art as part of a building project, they form a selection committee that usually includes artists, arts professionals, and community representatives. Then they write a call for proposals and select a artist or artists to complete the project. Frequently, there is an attempt to include a range of voices from the community in order to create a sense of democracy, but in reality this can only produce a committee full of people who think exactly the same way.
Historically, many public works of art were commissioned to commemorate important historical events or embody the values that a society wanted to reinforce. From big bronze statues to memorials for soldiers, they reminded citizens that sacrifice and patriotism are valued. Today, we tend to be more careful about the messages that public art conveys. But it still has the power to overtly or covertly influence national culture and identity, and the boundaries between the private and the public spheres.
One of the most powerful ways to understand a piece of public art is to study it in its original context, and to look closely at how it was commissioned and received. It is also useful to compare it to other works by the same artist or in the same medium, and consider how those precedents influenced its form and content. This will allow the viewer to better understand how public art has evolved over time, and how it is positioned within the contemporary art world.