Why I Love Art in Public Spaces

Mural in downtown Burlington, Vermont

March 2023

Don’t get me wrong, I love browsing a museum or gallery with a glass of wine in hand - the gorgeous lighting, the break from routine, the lovely curated space.  But, most of us don’t visit galleries or museums on a daily basis.  And, that’s why I love public art so much.

Seeing art in spaces that we pass through everyday - office buildings, airports, playgrounds - brightens up our ordinary days and enriches our lives. It makes art accessible to everyone, not just those that have the opportunity to get to a museum or gallery.  It exposes us to artists and types of work we might not otherwise see and perhaps open our eyes to a new perspective. And it encourages us to pause, if even for a moment, and notice more closely the space that we are in or passing through. 

Walking though an airport and checking out the local art on the wall, can make that trip to the next gate much more interesting. I love watching kids take in a sculpture or stare at a huge mural on the side of a building. The sense of awe and wonder that they experience is contagious. Public art is a great reminder to forget about hurrying to the next thing and to appreciate where we are.