Photo of Personnages public art by Lyse Lemieux

Public art

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. 

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.

What's happeningNew artwork at Hasting Park

Home + Away by Seattle-based Lead Pencil Studio, Annie Han and Daniel Mihalyo, is now open for public enjoyment.

Learn more about this artwork


Platforms: Nine Places for Seeing

We are exclusively commissioning 21 local Indigenous artists to create temporary artwork installations throughout Vancouver. Their work will touch on profound personal themes for each artist such as intercultural histories, joy, transformation, intergenerational trauma, and origin stories. Artworks will be installed on a rolling basis between 2023 and 2025. 

Learn more about the selected
artists and their work


Indigenous artist call for PNE Amphitheatre

We are excited to announce a call for public art and integrated design at the PNE Amphitheatre renewal site.

This call is exclusively for xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) artists or artist teams to submit Expressions of Interest for creating 3 different Coast Salish artworks at the new amphitheatre.

Learn more

Explore public art

Discover our featured public art. Go on self-guided walking tours. Find public art by neighbourhood, artwork, or artist.

Placing public art in public spaces

Create public art for civic and private development projects in the city.

Artist opportunities

Find opportunities for local artists including calls for public art, available studio space, and more.

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

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.

Our City Our Art

Read a blog that explores Vancouver's public art.

Contacts

Public Art Program

publicart@vancouver.ca

501 - 111 West Hastings St
Vancouver, BC V6B 1H4

ArtsFinder

Arts, Culture, and Environment Park Board 

artsinfo@vancouver.ca

2099 Beach Ave
Vancouver, BC V6G 1Z4

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