Art in public space

What is art in public space?

These are sculptures and installations placed in the city itself — works you do not have to go to a gallery for, because you meet them in a square or in front of a building. They do not hang behind a museum wall but are part of the daily life of passers-by. That is precisely why absolutely everyone encounters them, whether they seek art out or not.

How does art in public space come about?

Such works are commissioned either by developers, who use them to complete new buildings and districts, or through public competitions in which a choice is made between several artists' proposals. Each of those routes carries its own logic and its own questions about who decides the final form. And because the whole city will see the work, the selection tends to be lively.

How does art in public space affect the value of a work or an artist's career?

A commission in public space gives an artist great visibility, because thousands of people see the work every day, not only gallery visitors. With that comes the debate about quality and selection that accompanies the scene. A name attached to a prominent urban commission thus becomes better known, if not always straightforwardly so.

Can you give an example?

Here the scene is dominated by prominent names, among whom David Černý stands out, his sculptures and installations being among the best known in Czech public space. His works regularly prompt debate about quality and about how and why such works are chosen for the city. And isn't that discussion an inseparable part of art in public space?

— Anna Pulkertová, founder of Art Part Club