Tag Archives: Art In Public Places

City to help preserve artworks threatened by convention center teardown

The city appears to have solutions to save a group of artworks installed in the Austin Convention Center that were in danger of being destroyed as the demolition and reconstruction of the facility moves forward. Late last month, artist John…

City Hall • By Chad Swiatecki • Apr 2, 2025

City pauses $10M in airport art over concerns local creatives were excluded

The city has paused three significant public art contracts intended for the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport expansion, in a move that may signal a reconsideration of how prominently the city should promote local artists in major public spaces. Three contract approvals…

City Council • By Chad Swiatecki • Mar 21, 2025

Prompted by convention center controversy, Council seeks changes to public art program

In response to increasing scrutiny over Austin’s handling of public art, City Council voted Thursday to modernize the Art in Public Places program by updating policies to prevent mishandlings like the controversial deaccessioning of artwork at the Austin Convention Center.…

City Council • By Chad Swiatecki • Mar 7, 2025

Council OKs plan to remove, demolish artwork as part of convention center rebuild

Four large murals and art installations from local artists will be removed from the Austin Convention Center and destroyed ahead of the facility’s forthcoming demolition and reconstruction, despite calls from the artists and supporters to find a way to preserve…

City Council • By Chad Swiatecki • Jan 31, 2025

Arts Commission wants convention center installations preserved ahead of demolition

The Arts Commission wants the city to push the Austin Convention Center to pay for and assist in the removal and preservation of four city-commissioned art installations that are at risk of being destroyed when the facility is torn down…

Austin • By Chad Swiatecki • Dec 18, 2024

Citing disrepair, Council removes public artworks from display

Art left out in the elements doesn’t last forever. That’s why City Council just delisted five worn-out pieces of public art, including the Bicentennial Fountain at Vic Mathias Shores; LAB, the series of yellow sculptures along the Lance Armstrong Bikeway; and…

Austin • By Jonathan Lee • Dec 15, 2020

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The 'Moment' has passed. Austin's most controversial public artwork might be coming down

Frank Wick remembers the first time he drove through the underpass on Lamar and saw the blue panels on the walls. “It felt like it was art; I wasn’t sure. It was a nice moment,” said Wick, a collection manager…

Austin • By Matt Largey • Dec 9, 2020

Commission sends back public art guidelines

The city’s Art in Public Places guidelines are being revised this year for improved legibility, formatting and a stronger focus on equity. They have not been updated since 2004 and most of the changes are uncontroversial, but the Arts Commission…

City Hall • By Ryan Thornton • Oct 21, 2020

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To save a sculpture, parks department gives Chicano artist an ultimatum

For decades, Big Rock – or Chicano Rock, as it is now called – has stood on the southeast corner of Waterloo Park. Created by artist David Santos and members of LUCHA (League of United Chicano Artists) in 1989, the…

Parks • By Jessi Devenyns • Aug 6, 2019

Imposing owls may soon nest near Butterfly Bridge

You may soon notice two pairs of orange, warm glowing orbs peeking over the new Butterfly Bridge downtown after it is complete, at least if the Arts Commission approves two gigantic owls to greet Austinites and tourists. The New American…

Austin • By Lisa Dreher • Aug 9, 2017

Arts panel faces procedural misstep

On Monday, the Art in Public Places panel felt caught in the middle of a procedural misstep taken by the Austin Public Library Friends Foundation, which wanted donated art installed at the new Central Library. John Gillum, the library facilities…

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