Public art can take many forms, including sculptures, murals, and graffiti. It is often funded by governments and created by artists to be displayed in public spaces for educational purposes or to beautify an area. However, public art can also be controversial as not all viewers may appreciate or understand the artwork. It sometimes faces issues regarding its funding source or potential to cause disruption. While temporary or permanent, public art aims to expose more people to art outside of traditional galleries or museums.

1. Public art
art presented in a public space

2. Public Art
What is public art?
Why make public art?
Who pays for public art?
Why is it controversial?

3. What is public art?
Public art is art created with the intention that it will
be viewed by the general public, in the public place.
For example: Art created for municipal buildings or
city parks.
Public art is generally created with the idea of Site
Specificity or, created specifically for the location it is
installed, the artist does not intend for it to go any
other place.
These artworks could be created as permanent works
of art or as temporary works. Works which are
meant to last only a certain period of time.

4. Why do artists make
public art?
To make money or for profit
To expose their art to a wider population of people or for exposure
To educate the public
Could be about art in general, or even a specific cause
For functionality, the artwork serves a utilitarian purpose.
As part of the new deal in the 1930’s the Public Works of Art Project was created.
“emphasized the “American scene” as subject matter—initiating about 700 mural projects
and creating nearly 7,000 easel paintings and watercolours, about 750 sculptures, more than
2,500 works of graphic art, and numerous other works designated to embellish nonfederal
public buildings and parks.”
"Public Works of Art Project." Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia
Britannica Online School Edition. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 2012. Web.
8 Feb. 2012.<http://www.school.eb.com/eb/article-9001168>.

5. Who pays for public
art?
The government.
The artist.
A private funder.

6. Why is it controversial?
It is sometimes funded with tax payer money
It is sometimes illegal
People may not all understand it
Not everyone will like the art
It takes up space

7. Public Sculptures
a look at sculptures in the public space

8. Richard Serra, Tilted Arc,
Almost as soon as it was
built controversy lined this
1981
wall.
This sculpture stood for only
a short period of time before
it was required to be taken
down.
Artist was offered the
choice to move the
sculpture, but said it was
site specific
“accuse it of attracting
graffiti, rats, and terrorists
who might use it as a

9. Located in Millennium
Park, Chicago, Illinois
Cloud Gate, 2004-
Anish Kapoor,
2006
Sculpture reflects a
distorted image of the
skyline as well as the
millions of people who
view it every year
The stainless steel
sculpture was originally
envisioned as the
centerpiece of the Lurie
Garden at the
southeast corner of the
park. However, Park
officials believed the
piece was too large for

10. Robert Winkler, Over and Up,
2010
Temporarily on display
at Western Carolina
University
Not sit specific
All three dimensions
LxWxH all 7.9 feet
http://www.wcu.edu/museum/132.htm
What does weather do
to a material like
wood?

11. Murals
commissioned paintings on walls

12. Raphael, School of Athens, 1510Murals can be
1512
collaborative or created
by one artist.
Murals are typically
large.
Painting created for the
vatican.
This painting is a
frescoe, or a painting
embedded in plaster.
Features figures such
as: Plato, Aristotle,

13. Diego Rivera, Mural In
National Palace
Like many murals the
murals of artist Diego
Rivera tend to tell a story
This mural tells the story
of Mexico’s history
Using the people as a
reference you can tell the
immense size of this
painting

14. Murals in Murals often depict the
the area
area which they are
painted.
They also typically depict
the lives of people or
things happening in those
areas.
Forest City Mural created in 2000
Mural of life in Cleveland County 2005
American Legion Mural 2008
Rutherford Hospital Mural 2005

15. Street Art
a look at graffiti and a new culture of urban artists

16. Ancient graffiti
would have
represented political
figures
Ancient Graffiti
Would have been
created in city
centers or forums
This particular early
graffiti is thought to
be the first
representation of
Jesus.
Ancient graffiti
would also have

17. Traditional Graffiti
Traditional graffiti artists are anonymous to the
general public
Often includes tags, or quick territorial
markings of artists or even gangs
Sometimes is gang related
Artists create different fonts for spray painting
or writing messages or symbols
Messages are sometimes poetic or satirical
Graffiti by SAMO aka Jean Michel Basquiat. Photographed by Henry
Flynt
Artworks are considered temporary often being
replaced by the artwork of other artists or
painted over by authorities.
Non Commissioned works of graffiti are illegal
and considered vandalism.

18. Artist uses images
which are rendered
in the style of
computer Icons.
Pixel Phil
Phil’s images clash
with the
environment due to
their virtual style
and the placement
of those in a nonvirtual environment.
In this image look at
the relationship
between the subject
of the artwork and

19. Created for the Obama
2008 campaign.
Shepherd Fairey, Obama,
Changed to the HOPE
2007 seen from
image
Obama’s Campaign.
Artist sued by
Associated Press for
use of their photograph
Shepherd Fairey part of
a slew of street artists
making the jump from
urban art to fine art.
What’s the difference in
this type of printed