Public art is a term used to mean municipal or community art. It’s basically any work of art designed for the general public and placed in a location where it’s easily viewable. The definition includes art work created with the help of government funds or charitable donations.
Public art forms include monuments, murals, park sculptures, stained glass, temporary structures and artistic performances, incorporated as part of the environment. The body of works encompassed by public art ranges from fine art to metal arts and beyond.
A significant number of public arts are located in urban areas, although not all. Public art is displayed on the side of a building as a mural. It’s the monument in front of a government building. It’s a light display in an airport terminal. Recreational parks in rural areas create visual displays of trees and natural foliage. A business or organization may project an image in the dark sky or change the lighting scheme of its building. Public art is all around us.
Public art is funded by a host of sources, such as government agencies, charitable foundations, businesses, academic institutions and/or community organizations. These entities fund either a specific public art project or a public art program and sometimes both.
The Pompidou Musee (Museum) in Paris, France, is home to a large body of modern public art pieces compiled over centuries from artists all over the world. Its diverse collection includes free-standing pieces as well as contemporary paintings and sculptures. Even the Pompidou Centre, which houses the museum, is considered an architectural piece of public art.