Art fairs provide a unique opportunity for art lovers to immerse themselves in a world of creativity and expression. While participating in an art festival is an experience in and of itself, exploring the public artwork in the surrounding area is a great way to learn about the cultural heritage and values of a community. Whether it’s a sculpture, mural, or installation, public artwork is a powerful tool for storytelling and can enhance your travel experience in surprising and meaningful ways. So why not take some time to discover some of the hidden gems of public art while on your next festival tour? To guide you in your exploration of public art, the Public Art Archive™ has just the tools you need.

What is the Public Art Archive?

A project of the Western States Arts Federation (WESTAF), the Public Art Archive (PAA) is a free, continually growing database of completed public artworks throughout the U.S. and abroad. Its mission “to make public art more public” has guided the program’s growth into one of the largest active databases of public art with an aim to provide universal access to the complex stories that characterize public artworks as dynamic, interconnected keepers of history, context and meaning.

Explore public art with the “Near Me” feature on mobile devices.

The Public Art Archive makes it super easy to find public art near you. The next time you find yourself with a chance to explore the city you’re in, explore the local public art with PAA! Here is how you can take yourself — or your fellow road warriors — on a public art tour:

  1. Head to publicartarchive.org on your mobile device.
  2. Select Near me to view artworks in your immediate vicinity. 
  3. Choose the On View option to only view artworks that are currently installed. You can also filter by material, year, and more.
  4. Select Map to view where the artworks are located. 
  5. Select a piece of art you want to see, and choose View on map to get directions on your phone.
  6. Head to the artwork to see it in person.
  7. Click on any of the artworks to view more details.
  8. You can even share your favorites with friends!

Tour public art collections by region.

Want to check out some great art as you drive from town to town for your festivals? Or maybe you want some suggestions in your own area? Browse these featured collections and visit them in-person during your stay!

Southeast

Alabama Mural Trail – Multiple Locations, AL
Browse the Collection
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University of Florida’s Art in State Buildings Program – Multiple Locations, FL
Browse the Collection
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Asheville Public Art Collection – Asheville, NC
Browse the Collection

 

 

 

 

City of Alexandria – Alexandria, VA
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Midwest

City of Chicago – Chicago, IL
Browse the Collection

 

 

 

 

Municipal Art Commission, City of Kansas City, Missouri – Kansas City, MO
Browse the Collection

 

 

 

 

Minnesota Percent for Art in Public Places – Multiple Locations, MN
Browse the Collection

 

 

 

 

Ohio Arts Council – Multiple Locations, OH
Browse the Collection

Northwest

City of Lake Oswego Art Collection – Lake Oswego, OR
Browse the Collection

 

 

 

 

City of Hillsboro, Oregon – Hillsboro, OR
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City of Walla Walla – Walla Walla, WA
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Washington State Arts Commission – Multiple Locations, WA
Browse the Collection

Southwest

Albuquerque Public Art – Albuquerque, NM
Browse the Collection

 

 

 

 

City of Santa Monica, California – Santa Monica, California
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Reno Public Art – Reno, NV
Browse the Collection
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Arts & Venues Denver: Public Art Program – Denver, CO
Browse the Collection

Northeast

Lancaster Public Art – Lancaster, PA
Browse the Collection

 

 

 

 

Mural Arts Philadelphia- Philadelphia, PA
Browse the Collection
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State of New Jersey  – Multiple Locations, NJ
Browse the Collection
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Maine Sculpture Trail – Multiple Locations, ME
Browse the Collection
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Submit your own public art to the Public Art Archive.

Have artwork of your own that’s on display to the public? Submit your work to be added to the Public Art Archive’s database! To be considered for inclusion, you must be a professional artist who has completed and installed public artwork or an administrator of an established public art program. There is no charge to submit entries to the Public Art Archive. Click here for more information and to submit your work to the PAA.

Happy exploring!

Exploring public art while on a trip to an art fair or festival is a great way to feed your artistic inspiration and gain a new perspective on the city or community you’re visiting. With the Public Art Archive at your fingertips, it’s never been easier to discover and connect with public art near you. When you travel to your next festival, don’t forget to take some time to explore the local public art collections and make your art fair experience even more memorable and enriching. You never know what art treasures you may discover!