Public art is any artwork that is displayed in a space open to the general public. The term carries with it connotations of bronze statues in a town square or a mural on the wall of an art museum, but today public artworks come in many different forms and can be found in many settings, from the halls of a school to the streets and sidewalks of a city block.
Generally, public art is site-specific and created in response to the place where it is installed, reflecting distinctive qualities of the space and community. It can also serve to commemorate an event or a person, encourage pride in a neighborhood, or help to identify and mark a specific location.
The commissioned work can take a variety of forms, from painting and sculpture to interactive installations and even digital new media. Often, the process of creating public art is an iterative one, with artists, architects, designers and community residents working together in a collaborative design process. The final work can be the result of an artistic idea generated by a community member, or it can be a project that is curated and produced through a process led by a professional artist or arts organization.
Some forms of public art are ephemeral, with the artwork disappearing when the piece is removed, while others remain in place for years or even decades. Some are designed to challenge the viewer, for example the sculptural installation by Iranian-born artist Siah Armajani that featured a precarious rock balance. Alternatively, public art can be meant to educate or inspire. A good example is the sculptures in Piazza Della Signoria in Florence, Italy that interpret the city’s history and cultural heritage through the depiction of historical figures.
Other works of public art are integrated into the architecture or landscape architectural environment. A good example is View Site 17 1995, a sculptural work by Gunnai artist Ray Thomas that is integrated into the bluestone paving of Collins Street in Melbourne. The piece represents the Koorie creation story of the Karak Gurok (Seven Sisters), daughters of Bunjil the Eagle man and Gunawarra the Black Swan woman.
A memorial is another form of public art, and it can be a powerful tool for raising awareness or for celebrating the lives of those who have died. Maya Lin’s Vietnam War Memorial and Tim Tate’s AIDS Monument are examples of this type of artwork. The goal of most public art projects is to engage a broad range of people. Even if some of the art is not interpreted by all viewers, a wide array of opinions and viewpoints helps to foster discussion about important issues. This can be a significant achievement in itself, as it indicates that the project has succeeded in reaching a diverse audience. Often, public art raises controversial issues that would not otherwise be discussed in a traditional gallery setting. This type of public art is called socially engaged art.