Public art brings artwork into the streets, parks and other open spaces where people can see it. It can inspire the next generation of artists or spark conversations and debate on social issues. It can help communities to feel connected and combat feelings of anxiety and isolation.
There are many different kinds of public art, from monuments and memorials to sculptures, murals and environmental installations. The best public artworks involve extensive input at the onset of the project from both the artist and community. They should also be suited to the environment and location, e.g., whether the piece will be placed outdoors and exposed to weather elements like wind, rain, hail or snow, or if it will be in an area that is frequented by animals and birds.
Traditionally, public artwork was created by governments or local municipalities, although it can be commissioned from private individuals. A commission is a process where a government or community hires an artist to create a specific piece of public art for a specified site and budget. The artists are usually selected from a pool of local, regional or national talent.
Public art can be permanent or temporary and can take many forms from large outdoor sculptures to smaller indoor installations. It can be in the form of murals, paintings and other graphic works, as well as performance, dance, theatre, poetry and music. It can be a way to celebrate local culture, history or landscapes, as in the case of a memorial for victims of a natural disaster or war. It can also be a means of political protest, as in the graffiti posters and statues that were used by members of the Soviet Union and the Irish Republicans in Northern Ireland during the 1980s.
Some artists spend much of their careers creating public art, either by commissioned or on their own volition. Examples include Norwegian sculptor Gustav Vigeland, who spent more than 20 years building over 200 pieces at his Vigeland Sculpture Park, and Mexican muralist Diego Rivera. Street artists and graffitiers such as Banksy naturally specialize in this form of artistic expression.
Other types of public art include architecture, which is often designed to communicate a certain atmosphere or message. For example, religious architecture is frequently based upon symbolism to convey a spiritual message. Some contemporary architects and designers have incorporated the idea of public art into their work by designing buildings that are meant to inspire and provoke conversation and reflection.
Some public artwork is temporary and can last from a few hours to several years, depending on the medium of the art. For example, Nick Selenitsch’s series of drawings titled Linemarking 2009-12 involved the artist creating marks in public places on paper and chalk, which were then photographed. Other examples of temporary public art are installations and projections.