Welcome to the Greater Des Moines Public Art Foundation
The Greater Des Moines Public Art Foundation enriches lives by advancing the best of public art by placing art in public spaces in the community through public and private collaborations, adding to the cultural record through its collections and educational programs. We invite you to discover public art through-out the Greater Des Moines area.
Featured Art this Month
Tom Sachs
2007, fabricated in 2008 from an edition of 5 (5/5) | Long-Term Collection
Other Public Art Downtown
Kerry James Marshall
July 2018 | Long-Term Collection
Other Public Art Downtown
Mitchell Squire
2019 | Short-Term Collection
Bus Wrap #10: Multiple Black
Featured Artists this Month
News + Initiatives Blog
Our blog posts are a growing knowledge base of insights, stories and information. Get inspired by and delve into a breathtaking array of public art.
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October 1, 2021In Washington, D.C., the National Cathedral has commissioned world-renowned artist Kerry James Marshall to design... -
September 27, 2021Written by Sophie Bernal It took thirty-six years for Paris to see one of its historic... -
August 5, 2021Des Moines, IA — Greater Des Moines Public Art Foundation (PAF) is pleased to present...
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May 23, 2020Rendered site plan of urban farm planned for 2308/2310 Lyndale Ave, Hawthorne, Minneapolis. Image: courtesy...
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April 22, 2020“Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery… Variations of this proverbial expression can be found...
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April 7, 2020Share stories of diversity, equality, inclusion and equity. Greater Des Moines Public Art Foundation presents...
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April 1, 2020There is plenty of space around me as I take my daily walk, I realize...
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February 5, 2020Des Moines, Iowa (February 4, 2020) – The 6th Avenue Corridor Urban Neighborhood Main Street...
From Our Facebook Feed
Greater Des Moines Public Art Foundation increasingly utilizes social media as an important method to communicate with current and prospective audiences. Facebook and other social media platforms provide diverse opportunities to share the best of public art in Greater Des Moines to people around the world.
Social media participants can witness the public art process. Followers can watch a video of installations or an interview with artists, public art professionals, and educators on particular subjects. According to the Director M. Jessica Rowe at the Public Art Foundation, people do want to see more than just having public art appear: “Rather than hoping for an audience, we want to build an audience.”
6th Avenue Corridor Art-integrated Bus Shelters win State-wide Award
Des Moines, Iowa!
(April 24, 2023) The 6th Avenue Corridor Main Street Program, DART, and the Greater Des Moines Public Art Foundation were honored with a competitive Placemaking Award at the annual Main Street Iowa Development Awards on Friday, April 21st. The award recognizes their collective success integrating public art into the bus shelter system along the 6th Avenue Corridor Main Street District between I-235 and Hickman Avenue.
Main Street Iowa hosted the event at the Community Choice Credit Union Convention Center in Des Moines. The program celebrates the efforts of those who work tirelessly to revitalize Iowa’s communities and to make a difference in the state’s Main Street districts.
Eleven art-integrated bus shelters will eventually be installed along the 1.2 mile district. Five shelters have already been installed in the Phase I area (6th Avenue from College Avenue north to Hickman Avenue), four will be installed this year in the Phase II area (6th Avenue from College Avenue south to University Avenue), and two are anticipated be installed adjacent to MercyOne Hospital. The objective of the project is to create a distinct visual identity for transit in the 6th Avenue Corridor district. Each shelter structure features five glass panels and the designs expand across the surface of each panel.
After a rigorous review process, Barbadian artist Sheena Rose was awarded the commission for her vibrant concepts. Last fall, Project partners hosted Sheena Rose in Des Moines with a series of public celebratory events including an artist lecture, workshops with neighborhood youth, bus wrap reveal, and street festival. ... See MoreSee Less
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Repost • @axa_mentorship
A Transformative Art Project of Accessibility + Inclusion
The FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION PROJECT
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@polkcountyheritagegallery @mosaicpossible @emanart @dsmpublicart @mainframearts @harkininstitute ... See MoreSee Less
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Thank you Greater Des Moines Public Art Foundation for your most generous support of these artists, their work, their voices and this project. With your support, this project was possible 🙏🏽✨️✨️
We couldn’t let Women’s History Month come to a close without highlighting a small selection of the immensely talented women whose creativity we get to live with in greater Des Moines.
Artists pictured:
Harriet A. Ketcham, Alice Aycock, JD Hansen, Sheena Rose, Gail Folwell, Norie Sato, Rebecca Eckstrand, Anna Gaskell, Evelyn Beatrice Longman. ... See MoreSee Less
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We are proud to announce we have been awarded an operational grant from Bravo Greater Des Moines. The grant not only keeps our lights on. It provides major assistance in building the strong relationships that support our ongoing pursuit for outstanding public art throughout greater Des Moines. #bravogreaterdsm ... See MoreSee Less
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We are proud to announce we have been awarded an operational grant from Bravo Greater Des Moines. This grant not only keeps our lights on. It provides major assistance in building the strong relationships that support our ongoing pursuit for outstanding public art throughout greater Des Moines. @BravoGreaterDes Moines. ... See MoreSee Less
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Don’t miss theis great image - the recently completed second SWISH mural. Designed by local artist, Jordan Weber and Oakbridge youth and painted by Jill Wells, it’s located at Oakridge Neighborhood’s Building 301 (faces Center Street between 14th and 15th Streets). Like the first mural, it honors 14-year-old Oakridge resident, Yore Jieng, who was killed by a stray bulletwhile he was sitting in the car with his family.
Photo Credits: Jill Wells ... See MoreSee Less
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Art foundation board president, Susan M Fitzsimmons and Sheena Rose admiring Sheena’s DART bus art. ... See MoreSee Less
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