Public art is artwork displayed in a public space and accessible to the general population. It is not confined to government facilities or municipal parks but can also be found in hospitals, schools and even private businesses like shopping centres. It is generally commissioned by a publicly-funded agency like a local council, transport or healthcare agency or in the context of a public/private partnership.
The definition of public art is flexible and can include sculptures, paintings, murals, mosaics, prints, paintings or installations. It can also encompass architecture, landscape design, urban planning and even performance art. Unlike museum or gallery art that can be viewed by appointment, public artworks are available to the public to view at any time. It is a genre that requires a different process for creation, funding and approval than a regular artwork or painting that might be displayed in a museum.
A defining characteristic of public art is that it is permanent, meaning it will remain in the same place as opposed to travelling on tour to various locations or being bought and sold like other works of art. The idea behind this is to ensure that the work is able to communicate a message or have an impact in the context in which it was designed.
Many public artworks are rooted in particular historical and cultural contexts and therefore carry an associated etiquette, aesthetic or narrative. For example, Monuments, Memorials and Statues are typically large-scale, figurative and commemorate significant military or cultural figures or events. These historical precedents create public understandings of what constitutes Public Art and contribute to assumptions that it should be figurative, decorative or celebratory.
Contemporary Public Art is often created in response to a specific site and community and reflects the unique features of that location, including its natural surroundings, architectural environment or neighborhood identity. It may reflect the local culture, history or community and is intended to encourage pride in place and serve as a tool for economic development.
Often, the most successful public art is created through collaboration between artists and communities, often from the very beginning of the project. The most comprehensive projects involve extensive input from the artist at the onset of the project as well as architects, designers, engineers, developers and local civic leaders and councillors.
Many artists choose to specialize in creating public works. For example, the sculptor Gustav Vigeland has spent much of his career creating his public works at his Vigeland Sculpture Park and street artists such as Banksy dedicate their lives to creating murals and other forms of public art.
Integrated public art is an artwork that is integrated into another structure, such as road or building paving or street furniture. An example is the View Site 17 1995 by Gunnai artist Ray Thomas, which is made of bronze that was incorporated into the bluestone paving of Collins Street in Melbourne and depicts the Koorie creation story of the Karak Gurok (Seven Sisters). These types of integrated public art are commonly seen in cities around the world.