Department of Cultural Affairs Department of Cultural Affairs
 
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Public Art

CONTACT US:

Phone: 213.202.5544
dca.publicart@lacity
.org



LINKS:

Urban Surprises

Public Art in L.A.

Public Art Committee

Stay up to date with current public art happenings in Los Angeles, and be on the lookout for new projects in your neighborhood!

You can find public art in many new Recreation and Parks facilities. Artist John O'Brien has installed a piece at Sepulveda Park West entitled "Smallworlds," which functions both as a topographical site marker and a playful visual element within the park. It consists of low relief, cast metal plaques set into concrete columns near the walking path and sitting areas in the park. The plaques are maps of 20th century land developments and the casting patterns were generated from aerial photos taken at 20-year intervals. The park is already a very pedestrian- and youth-oriented environment, so the artist wanted "to use the public art contributions to reinforce this kind of viewer access/participation, and hopefully capture the park goer's imagination."

IIn the future, many of LA's new bridges will have incorporated design elements by local artists. Kudos to the Bureau of Engineering and the Bridge Improvement Project for its large-scale program that merges art and design.

There are many exciting new projects underway; stay tuned to find out more about art projects in your neighborhood.

Did You Know?

Since its inception in 1989, the City of Los Angeles has commissioned more than 150 artworks in public places.

Over half the projects commissioned through the Cultural Affairs Department have been by local artists.

Artist Sheila Pinkel was highlighted on a KCET program in June 2002 for her work at the Sherman Oaks Branch Library.

Artist team BJ Krivanek and Joel Breaux were nominated to be in the "2003 Year in Review" at the Americans for the Arts Conference for their projects installed at the Palms-Rancho Branch Library on Overland Drive and at the 9-1-1 System Communication Dispatch Center of the LAPD.

You can find out more about Public Art in LA by reading Urban Surprises: A Guide to Public Art in Los Angeles, available through Balcony Press or your local library.

There are many opportunities for artists to become involved in making public art in Los Angeles. Click here to join our mailing list!

City of Los Angeles
Department of Cultural Affairs
Public Art Division
Approval Process

 

Exhibitions

LAX Exhibitions

Temporary Public Art Projects RFQ Update

A Temporary Public Art Project RFQ was released this fall as part of the Arts Development Fee Program. The due date to submit materials was October 15, 2008. We have received over 160 entries in response to this opportunity and will be making artist selections throughout the year. DCA is looking forward to animating dozens of temporary public art projects throughout the City.

Through funding from the Arts Development Fees collected, DCA will select up to 25 artists, artist teams, and art collectives to form a pre-qualified pool that we can call on to activate open spaces in specific retail, commercial, and industrial corridors. The artists, teams, or arts collectives selected will be eligible to propose site-specifictemporary art installations, performances, or "art happenings" in non-traditional sites connected with specific private development addresses as the projects become available. It is important to note that the Temporary Public Art Projects must be at, or adjacent to, development sites throughout the City and the temporary public art projects must provide a distinct benefit to the employees of the development site.

Art | Culture | Heritage
© 2009 City of Los Angeles
Department of Cultural Affairs • 213.202.5500


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