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What is Public Art?

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  WHAT IS PUBLIC ART? "Love is in the air"  Various locations Banksy Is a mural painted by a graffiti artist public art? What if that mural was commissioned by a multinational bank? How about a commemorative sculpture commissioned by a community association? What if that sculpture is on the grounds of a museum? Or in a sculpture park? Does it have to be outdoors? If I have to go through a door or gate to see it, is it public art? Does it depend on whether I had to pay or not? Can a TikTok be public art? An instagram post? A website? Let's come up with a working definition of 'public art' . . . How about . . .  Public art is any art that exists in the public realm and is free for all to experience. So, we have a definition. Now the question is why? Why make public art? What can it do? Must it do anything? Public art (beyond traditional galleries, museums and sculpture parks) engages individuals and communities with installations, sculptures, murals, and performance...