Art has played an important role in the public realm for centuries. In ancient Rome, statues of gods, goddesses, and emperors were prolific. In eastern cultures, deities were worshipped with sculptures, and sacred spaces were marked with shrine gates called torii. In modern times, public art has expanded to include cultural ideas beyond religion or government. Arguably, the most novel form of 20th century public art, Land Art is exemplified by the monumental earthworks, such as Spiral Jetty created in Utah by Robert Smithson, and the encirclement of eleven Florida islands in pink fabric by Christo and Jeanne-Claude. However, most often, the aim is to enhance public engagement, improve property value, stimulate the local economy through increased traffic to local businesses, and provide social connection or shared community understanding.

As designers, our challenge to create functional art is an exciting one. It allows for purposeful creativity and a real chance to shape the experiences of those who visit, use, or occupy a space. In doing so, the design and character of public areas is intrinsically made more enduring. A retaining wall with artistic value is less likely to be defaced with graffiti, just as ponds with fountains are less likely to be filled for no reason.

With the face of functional public art continuing to evolve, it will be interesting to see how people and artists utilize varying platforms and mediums including nature, man-made materials, technology, wayfinding, and even transportation as utilitarian pieces that also make a statement about a time, people, or destination.