Public art is a type of art that is created with the specific intention to be displayed in a public space or place. It is often a form of socially-engaged or participatory art, which involves an artist and community working together on a civic design process in order to create the work. It can be permanent or temporary and takes many forms, from large sculptures in parks to murals on buildings to performances and interventions. Public art is almost always physically and visually accessible to a wide range of people, whereas private art can be more restricted in where it is shown.
In addition to its aesthetic function, public art is a powerful tool for building community and identity. It can provide a space for people to express their views and opinions, and it can also help bring history to life for those who may not have access to books or museums. It can also be a way to memorialize important events in a city’s history, such as the big bronze statues of generals and politicians that can be found throughout the world or the murals and sculptures commemorating the slave trade that are still prominent in many cities.
The concept of public art has evolved from its origins in the 19th century, with artists such as Mary Jane Jacob arguing for the importance of investigating social systems through engagement with audiences who may not visit museums or traditional galleries. Public artworks can be as small as a photograph or as large as a statue, but they are all created to have an impact on the public. They may be in a park or plaza that is publicly owned, but even when they are installed on privately owned property, the public has access rights as long as they are not hidden or protected.
Despite the fact that some of public art’s goals are noble, much of it is problematic and has been accused of being political. In many cases, it is clear that the purpose of a work of public art is to reinforce values that a society wants to promote, such as patriotism or self-sacrifice. This is a common theme in the works of monumental statues, such as those of General George Washington or Saddam Hussein, and in many of the colonial monuments scattered around the world, including a number of statues of Cecil Rhodes.
Other works of public art are less political in nature and hope to inspire a change in how the public interacts with their environment. For example, artists such as Siah Armajani have made sculptural installations that can be climbed on or enjoyed in a phenomenological way, in order to remind viewers of the need to protect natural resources. Other pieces, such as the 7,000 Oaks installation by Joseph Beuys, seek to reawaken our ecological conscience. Whether or not a piece of public art has a moral message, it can help to make our urban spaces more colorful and softer, especially in areas that are otherwise starkly concrete, and they can foster a sense of ownership for residents.