Chicago Public Art Attractions

For thousands of years, artists around the world have expressed their culture and times in murals, paintings, sculptures, and other artistic forms. Public Art commemorates historic events, memorializes people of importance, and enriches the architecture and environment of our public spaces.

Chicago is no exception, with examples of monuments that date before the city’s incorporation in 1837. The City’s Public Art renaissance began in 1967 when Mayor Richard J. Daley dedicated the untitled sculpture commonly known as “The Picasso,” located at the Richard J. Daley Civic Center Plaza. Since then, the streets of downtown Chicago have become a “sculpture gallery.” With works by some of the world’s most renowned artists, the outdoor sculpture is as distinguished as the world-class architecture.

However, the Public Art in Chicago exceeds the downtown area. Throughout the City’s eclectic neighborhoods, public art adorns our municipal buildings, graces our streets and parks, and enlivens our communities.