Public art may have multiple purposes, including aesthetically beautifying a space, commemorating people or events, or serving as a tool of political propaganda or social activism. It can also serve as a means to interpret a community’s history or culture, inspire pride in place and foster economic development. Artworks in the public sphere can take on many forms, from historic bronze statues to interactive digital new media. They are often created and provided within formal art in public places programs that can be regulated and funded by government entities. These programs often include art education and public engagement, allowing the public to contribute to the process of creating public artworks, whether it be in selecting designs or contributing funds to projects.
In addition, public art is often commissioned to reflect distinctive qualities of a specific site or location. Whether the work is permanent or temporary, it usually interprets a local history or culture and often serves as a monument to important persons or events.
Artworks in the public sphere are typically designed to be stable and lasting, often using durable materials such as bronze or granite. Unlike gallery or studio works that can be removed or sold, public artworks must be able to withstand weather and human activity. Because of these limitations, many public art pieces are crafted to promote community involvement and interaction. Public participation in the planning, design, creation and installation of art in the public sphere can build community cohesion, discourage vandalism, support beautification, safety and tourism, and enhance the cultural impact and value of an artwork.
Traditionally, the selection of art for public spaces was undertaken by private and public organizations with authority over an area, such as municipal art commissions, cultural offices, park and recreation departments, city planners or economic development agencies. However, more and more public art is being selected through an open call for proposals or qualifications from a range of stakeholders, including artists, architects, designers, civic leaders, residents, business owners and the general public.
While public art is intended to be enjoyed by all, some pieces may spark controversy or evoke emotional responses. This is not necessarily a negative thing; public art should make its audience think and question, not just passively observe. Some controversy, in fact, can be a good indicator that the piece has accomplished its intended goal of engaging and challenging the public.
The experience of engaging with a work of art in the public sphere can be very different than the experience of viewing it in a museum or gallery. Modern public art often invites a participatory response, and many artists working in this field now see the gallery and museum as the antitheses of the broader public sphere in which they operate. For example, in 2017 when West Hollywood, California completed its community-based cultural plan, artist Sean Noyce incorporated visual elements into the plan that allowed the public to visualize their input by watching word clouds in the sky over the city shaped by the words most frequently used during the planning phase of the plan.