Art for the Public

Many artists use their talent to educate viewers and advocate for causes that are important to them. Keith Haring designed the poster shown above in 1989 during the AIDS public health crisis. At the time, public awareness of AIDS was limited, and many people had false ideas about it. People who had or were at risk of getting AIDS were afraid to talk about it for fear of discrimination. Meanwhile, the virus that causes AIDS was spreading quickly.

Haring’s poster touches on all these ideas. He shows three stylized figures in iconic positions that mean “see nothing, hear nothing, say nothing.” Above and below the figures, Haring adds powerful text.

Haring, who was diagnosed with AIDS in 1988, created the poster to help people feel comfortable talking about AIDS. Through this poster, the artist aims to destigmatize AIDS and raise awareness.

Artists often aim to educate viewers about important causes through public art. Keith Haring made the poster, above, in 1989. At the time, a new illness called AIDS was spreading quickly. Many people had false ideas about the illness. People who had or might get AIDS were afraid to talk about it. They knew other people might discriminate against them. This made it harder for them to get help.

Haring wanted to make people more aware of AIDS. He shows three stylized figures on the poster. Their poses mean “see nothing, hear nothing, and say nothing.” He includes powerful text. Haring, who was diagnosed with AIDS in 1988, suggests that it’s dangerous not to learn or talk about AIDS.

Many artists use recognizable symbols in their public art so viewers can easily focus on the message. The people of West Hollywood were among the first in the United States to protest the war in Iraq in 2003. So when Shepard Fairey was asked to create a mural for a wall of the West Hollywood Library, above, he wanted to honor the community’s core value of peace.

Fairey includes a dove, which has long been a symbol of peace. He also includes an elephant, one of the smartest animals in the world. It holds a flower that seems to radiate light like the sun. These symbols work together to convey the idea of peace.

Public artists often use symbols to help viewers understand their message. In 2011, Shepard Fairey was asked to create a mural for a library in West Hollywood, California. Fairey knew that people in West Hollywood had protested the war in Iraq in 2003. He decided to honor the community’s value of peace.

In the mural, above, Fairey includes a dove, a symbol of peace. Fairey also shows an elephant, one of the smartest animals in the world. It holds a flower that seems to give off light. These symbols work together to express the idea of peace.

The element of surprise can grab viewers’ attention and make them think. The Guerrilla Girls, a group of feminist artists, use confrontational images and “guerrilla” methods to draw attention to discrimination—especially racism and sexism—in the arts. They often install their artwork in the middle of the night to cause a stir in the morning. They wear gorilla masks to stay anonymous. One member explained that they want “the focus to be on the issues, not on [their] personalities.”

In 2006, the group created its Unchain the Women Directors! billboard, above, and paid to place it near the theater that hosted the Oscars that year. What do you think actors and directors thought when they saw this billboard as they made their way to their industry’s biggest celebration of the year?

When artists surprise viewers, they can make an impact. The Guerrilla Girls, a group of artists, use bold images. They make work about discrimination in the arts. They often install their billboards at night. They want people to be talking about their art in the morning. To keep their identities a secret, they wear gorilla masks while they work.

In 2006, the group created Unchain the Women Directors!, above. They installed the billboard near the theater that hosted the Oscars that year. They wanted to make a point about how few women directors there are in Hollywood. What do you think actors and directors thought when they saw the billboard?

Public art can even transform a neighborhood. The city of Toronto commissioned artist Dan Bergeron to create art as part of a program to improve a Canadian community. Completed in 2015, Faces of Regent Park, above, features 12 portraits of residents from diverse backgrounds.

Colorful patterns on the portraits create a sense of unity—hinting at the threads that unite all people. Bergeron includes tags, which mimic real graffiti signatures found in the neighborhood, and are meant to honor the area’s history.

The faces welcome residents and visitors alike. “These people are like the gatekeepers to the neighborhood,” says Bergeron. How does each artist featured here visually communicate an idea to a broad— and potentially unsuspecting—audience?

Public art can enrich a space. The city of Toronto, Canada, hired Dan Bergeron to make Faces of Regent Park, above, in 2015. He made portraits of people who live in the area.

Each portrait includes a colorful pattern. This creates a sense of unity, suggesting the subjects are connected. Bergeron adds tags (signatures on graffiti) that look like tags in the neighborhood.

How do each of these artists share their ideas with the public?