Public Art Vancouver commissions artists and supports artistic practices that open spaces for encounters with art and the city. The program provides art opportunities of many kinds from single commissions to artist collaborations with design professionals and diverse communities.
What's happeningPublic art walking tours
The Public Art team is organizing 2 free walking tours around the city this fall. Wander through Vancouver and experience the city through art. Encounter artworks, learn the stories they hold, find new ways of looking at familiar places, and get curious!
Email [email protected] to register.
Coal Harbour with Jas Lally
Saturday, September 19, 2026, 10:30am to noon
Learn more about this tour External website, opens in new tab
The Art of Noticing
Friday, September 25, 2026, noon to 1:30pm
Learn more about this tour External website, opens in new tab
Videos: Meet the artists
Examples of recent public art commissions include artists Kitty Guerin, Janet Wang, Tafui, and Romane Bladou's works for Platforms: We Are Here, Live, and Paul de Guzman's socially-engaged project which was produced through the Artist-Initiated Commissions program.
Watch the video to hear the artists speak about these works in their own words.
Gassy Jack and Maple Tree Square updates
The Gassy Jack statue was donated to the City in 1974 when it became part of the public art collection. It was a tribute to John Deighton, a bar owner who was married to two Squamish women during his life, one of whom was 12 years old.
In February 2022, the statue came down in a community protest. It is currently in storage and will not be reinstalled in Gastown.
We continue to work with Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish Nation), to identify appropriate next steps in regards to Gassy Jack.
Current status of Maple Tree Square
We're consulting with xwməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam Indian Band), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish Nation), səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh Nation), and community partners to plan the future of Maple Tree Square as part of the Gastown Public Spaces Plan to ensure that the public spaces prioritize equity and are Indigenous-centered.
Current public art projects
Transit shelter public art by Marcus Bowcott
Two works by Marcus Bowcott are displayed on transit shelters throughout Vancouver from July 3 to August 13, 2026.
Platforms: The Teachers Among Us
Celebrating senior artists and their lasting influence through mentorship, with new public artworks across Vancouver.
Launch Pad
Launch Pad features artwork by 20 recent graduates on billboards along the Arbutus Greenway.
Platforms: Nine Places for Seeing
A rolling program of newly commissioned works by 21 local and urban Indigenous artists on multiple public platforms throughout the city.
The Collective Agency Project
The Collective Agency Project provides a group of older adults with a unique opportunity to work with established artists.
Centennial Totem Pole Conservation Project
We're reviewing the future of the Centennial Totem Pole located in Hadden Park just south of the Maritime Museum in Kitsilano.
Hastings Park: Home + Away
Home + Away is a playful public artwork with seating at Hastings Park's Empire Fields. Learn about the artists and how they made this possible.
