The University City Public Art Series, led by Associate Professor, Arny Nadler, features three Sam Fox School students graduating with their BFAs this spring. The selected students crafted temporary public art sculptures for installation in University City parks.
Maddy Kish, BFA ‘24
Haley Levin, BFA ‘24
Rachel Park, BFA '24
History of the University City Public Art Series
The University City Public Art Series, a collaboration between Washington University Art students and the city of University City, is the longest-running project of its kind in the United States. Since 1986 the project has brought more than 200 pieces of temporary art to the community. Some of these pieces have even become permanent fixtures in the University City landscape, such as The Rain Man fountain which sits in the Delmar Loop.
The collaborative projects benefit both the student participants and the citizens of University City. In preparing their creations the students investigate the history, people, and government of University City, gaining a greater understanding of this place they temporarily call home. These studies inform their artworks and give the completed art a greater gravitas, and speak in a more genuine fashion to the permanent residents. Along the way to completion the students have the opportunity to learn about review and approval processes for public artworks and gain experience designing creative site-specific pieces for a dynamic community.