Public Art
MAC builds the Madison Public Art Program through direct commissions for capital projects by way of the Percent for Art Ordinance and Capital Budget, and supports additional neighborhood based public art initiatives through the Art in Public Places Program (AIPP) and BLINK (temporary art projects).
Explore Madison's Public Art Collection

Austen Brantley Residency & Public Sculpture Project
The Madison Arts Commission (MAC) partnered with Madison College to bring Detroit-based figurative sculptor Austen Brantley to Madison for a short residency in June, 2023 and have asked him to develop a design for a public art project for the community.
Austen Brantley is a self-taught figurative sculptor who is recognized for his work that interweaves the themes of heritage, identity, and realistic portrayals of Black lives. Learn more about Austen Brantley & see his work here.

South Pinckney Street Median Public Sculpture Project
The Madison Arts Commission (MAC) has selected Minnesota-based metal artist Sunghee Min to create a pair of sculptures in a new median in the 200 block of S Pinckney Street. Min’s works Greeting Arc I & Greeting Arc II will flank the crosswalk leading across the median between the current NoVo Apartment complex and the soon-to-be constructed hotel on the north side of Pinckney. The median will be completed in Fall, 2023.

Art in Public Places (AIPP)
Learn more about AIPP by exploring Grants & Opportunities.

BLINK Temporary Public Art Commissions
Learn more about BLINK by exploring Grants & Opportunities.

Percent for Arts Program

Utility Box Program
The Madison Arts Commission intends for the Utility Box Program to highlight, encourage, and promote local artists by giving them exposure in the public realm. The project began in 2016, when MAC and the Downtown Coordinating Committee authorized a pilot to wrap four City owned utility boxes with artwork. Over twenty more boxes were wrapped in 2017/2018. Due to the positive public reaction, MAC has continued the program. Currently, there are more than 60 wrapped boxes throughout the city. The 2023 call is now closed.
The Utility boxes chosen for this program require between approximately 42-62 square feet of coverage depending upon box size and configuration. 42 sqft boxes are approximately 36” W x18” D x 48” H. 62 sqft boxes are approximately 44” W x 26” D x 54” H. Sketch-up files of the 42 sqft box (pictured here and here) are available to artists if they contact madisonarts@cityofmadison.com.
Neighborhood demand for this program currently exceeds available resources. To help grow this popular program citywide, Friends of Madison Arts Commission has started a fundraising campaign. Wrapping of 14 more utility boxes has been funded so far.
Explore the Utility Box Collection or learn more about the program.
Selections from the Public Art Program
Contact
Madison Arts Commission
Madison Municipal Building
Department of Planning & Community & Economic Development
215 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, Suite 017
P.O. Box 2985
Madison, WI 53701-2985
madisonarts@cityofmadison.com