Artblog | public art

January 24, 2020 by Roberta

Milord LaChamarre, upclose and weirder than ever inside Centre Square

After what seemed like a lifetime of waiting in the wings, literally in a corner behind the building hoisted up on what looked like a hydraulic lift from Jiffylube, Milord LaChamarre (My Lord of the Fancy Vest), one of Philadelphia’s best public art works, is in a better place.

July 2, 2019 by Wit López

Artist activist Conrad Benner talks about the origin of his popular and influential Streets Department blog

Artblog’s very first live podcast recording took place June 20 at the amazing Tattooed Mom on South Street, with Wit López talking with Conrad Benner of StreetsDept.com.

April 23, 2019 by Lacy Murphy

Why Are These Here? Antony Gormley’s “STAND”, Public Art, and the American Art Museum

Lacy Murphy talks Anthony Gormley’s “STAND” (on display at the Pennsylvania Museum of Art until June 24, 2019) and the role of public art.

March 13, 2019 by Andrea Kirsh

Public artist of bridges and space and concerns for community, Siah Armajani at the Met Breuer

Public art nerds! Artblog contributor Andrea Kirsh penned a thoughtful piece on “Siah Armajani: Follow This Line” (on view NOW at the Met Breuer!) Armajani, who was forced to leave Iran in the 1960s for political reasons, creates witty works that comment on American building forms and pose questions about social interactions with public spaces. Don’t miss “Siah Armajani: Follow This Line” on view until June 2nd, 2019!

August 29, 2018 by Mandy Palasik

Discovering Art and Architecture on New York’s Governors Island

Mandy Palasik, Artblog’s resident architect, takes a trip up to Governors Island in New York Harbor to survey the site’s innovative fusion of public art and architectural preservation. In the process, she comes away with some great recommendations for our own fair city! In addition to the work described here, readers should also check out the 11th annual Governors Island Art Fair, which opens September 1 and runs every weekend through the end of the month.

June 22, 2017 by Michael Lieberman

Big Bling, alluring and abstract, towers over the Schuylkill

Martin Puryear brings his work to the public in Philadelphia for the second time with Big Bling (2016), an enigmatic sculpture that invites speculation on the banks of the Schuylkill River.

May 19, 2017 by Dave Kyu

Proposed Discovery Center raises questions about public land and private use

Dave Kyu fills us in on the discussion at May’s Art Commission meeting, which centered on the construction of the Discovery Center in Fairmount Park. How do you lease public land for private use? Turns out, you just need a fancy new gate.

April 23, 2017 by Dave Kyu

Text-heavy Holocaust Memorial, Don Quixote plaza re-do and Discovery Center’s new design

Dave reports from the latest meeting of the City’s Art Commission. He offers a thoughtful critique of the proposed design for the new Holocaust memorial, as well as updates on plans for the Discovery Center in Strawberry Hill and the Don Quixote statue at American and 2nd Sts.