Art in Public Places

Outdoor public art installation featuring a large, pale green sculptural canopy with flowing, organic forms and cutout openings. The structure is supported by multiple curved legs and casts patterned shadows on the ground below. People walk beneath the sculpture along a landscaped pathway, with modern buildings and trees visible in the background under a clear blue sky.

Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, Meander Wing by Marc Fornes. 2021.

About

The Art in Public Places (AIPP) program is the City of Austin’s public art initiative. Administered through the Austin Arts, Culture, Music, and Entertainment Department (AACME), the AIPP program commissions visual artists in all media to create site-specific artworks that reflect the history, culture, and values of Austin’s communities.

Established through a landmark action by the Austin City Council in 1985, the City of Austin became the first municipality in Texas to adopt a public art ordinance, dedicating 2% of eligible capital improvement project budgets to commission artists and acquire artwork for City-owned property and facilities.

In addition to acquiring and stewarding artworks within the permanent collection, the AIPP program manages the People’s Gallery, rotating exhibitions at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, and the temporary public art program, TEMPO.

Six people gathered around a long white outdoor table with red benches in a park at sunset, enjoying food and drinks beneath whimsical tree-like lamp posts, with bicycles nearby and a serene landscape of grass, paths, and young trees in the background.

Sandy Beach Park, Open Room by Roberto Behar and Rosario Marquardt. 2010.

Explore the Collection

For more than four decades, the Art in Public Places (AIPP) program has helped shape Austin’s cultural landscape with unique works of art that have become cornerstones of the city’s identity. Today, the City’s collection includes more than 400 artworks, reflecting an investment of over $22 million in public art as part of Austin’s cultural assets.

The City of Austin’s public art collection can be found in a variety of civic spaces, including the airport, convention center, libraries, parks, police stations, recreation centers, and streetscapes, bringing art into the everyday life of the city for all residents and visitors to enjoy.

Plan your next visit and discover artworks near you through the Public Art Archive. Want to learn more? Continue exploring the collection by watching videos on YouTube.

Art in Public Places (AIPP) Staff

Jaime Castillo, AIPP Program Manager

Frederico Forte, AIPP Coordinator Senior

Sean Harrison, AIPP Coordinator Senior

Brittany Heinchon, AIPP Coordinator

Lindsey Hutchens, AIPP Coordinator

Bryan Iglesias, AIPP Coordinator

Alex Irrera, AIPP Coordinator Senior

Jieun Beth Kim, AIPP Coordinator

Rebecca Rende, AIPP Coordinator Senior

Ryan Runcie, AIPP Coordinator

Ileana Yordan-Cuevas, AIPP Coordinator Senior

Need to report a damaged artwork or request updates on in-progress projects? Please email aipp@austintexas.gov.

Art in Public Places (AIPP) Panel – Arts Commission Advisory Committee

The Art in Public Places (AIPP) Panel serves as the City’s public art advisory committee. The AIPP Panel is a seven-member standing committee of volunteer visual arts professionals, appointed by the Arts Commission for the purpose of advising the Commission on matters relating to the implementation of the Art in Public Places Ordinance.

Current Panel Members