City of Austin

Art in Public Places (AIPP), a program of the City of Austin’s Cultural Arts Division of the Economic Development Department, invites the public to dedicate Tau Ceti, the tallest work of public art in Austin, by artist Josef Kristofoletti.

Topping ten stories tall, Tau Ceti creates a stunning optic experience as sunlight from surrounding buildings refract and correspond with the painted gradient color spectrum throughout the day. Tau Ceti references a single star in the constellation Cetus (pronounced: see tus) that is spectrally similar to our own sun.
 

WHAT:  Art in Public Places - Public Art Dedication of Tau Ceti (pronounced: t’ow set-ee)

WHEN: March 13, 2019, 1:00 – 3:00 PM

WHERE: 201 E 2^nd St (corner of Second and Brazos Streets in downtown Austin)
 

“Josef Kristofoletti’s striking installation brings a dynamic energy to this downtown street corner, transforming it into a public experience that draws people all day and evening long,” said Meghan Wells, Cultural Arts Division Manager. “It’s exciting to witness individuals interact and photograph the artwork creating a visual memory of their experience in downtown Austin.”

Learn more about Tau Ceti, the newest artwork in the Art in Public Places collection at www.austincreates.com.

Fast Facts:

• Now in its 33^rd year, Austin Art in Public Places Program is responsible for adding over 300 works of public art to the City of Austin’s collection.
• To install the Tau Ceti mural, the artist worked from a swing stage—scaffolding similar to that which is used to wash the windows of tall buildings—to complete the work.
• The artist painted Tau Ceti entirely by hand, employing innovative blending techniques to achieve the unique visual effects of the mural.

About the Artist

Austin-based artist Josef Kristofoletti was born in Nagyvarad, Transylvania. His primary art focus is mural paintings that address ideas about nature, technology, space, and architecture.  He was an artist-in-residence at CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research. As a founding member of the artist collective Transitantenna, he traveled throughout North America as part of a mobile living experiment that engaged local communities through public interventions. His work has appeared in several publications including Wired, PBS News Hour, New York Times, The Guardian, Boston Globe, Fast Company, and Symmetry Magazine. In 2013, he represented the United States at the Bienal del Sur en Panama, in Panama City. 
 

The City of Austin Cultural Art Division

The Cultural Arts Division of the Economic Development Department provides leadership and management for the City’s cultural arts programs and for the development of arts and cultural industries. The Cultural Arts Division is responsible for the Cultural Arts Funding Programs, Art in Public Places Program, community-based arts development, and programs to assist the development of film and creative industries in Austin. For additional information, visit www.austincreates.com.

Art in Public Places

The Art in Public Places Program (AIPP) acquires and maintains works of art for City facilities and parks through commissions, donations, and loans for the cultural enrichment of Austin’s community. The goal of the City’s Art in Public Places program is to commission art projects of redeeming quality that advance the public’s understanding of visual art and enhance the aesthetic quality of public places. For additional information, visit www.austincreates.com.