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
Mitchell Squire
2019 | Short-Term Collection
Bus Wrap #10: Multiple Black
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
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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June 22, 2023Opportunity Operation Downtown and the Greater Des Moines Public Art Foundation seek an artist / artist... -
October 1, 2021In Washington, D.C., the National Cathedral has commissioned world-renowned artist Kerry James Marshall to design...
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September 27, 2021Written by Sophie Bernal It took thirty-six years for Paris to see one of its historic...
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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...
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.”
Formally introducing our Executive Director, Alexa McCarthy, PhD. Dr. McCarthy joined Greater Des Moines Public Art Foundation in September. Dr. McCarthy was most recently a Lecturer in Art History at the University of Southern Maine and a St Leonard’s Postgraduate Fellow at the University of St Andrews. She obtained her PhD from the University of St Andrews in 2022. Her dissertation, “Carta azzurra / blauw papier: Drawing on blue paper in Italy and the Netherlands, ca. 1450-ca. 1660” explores the origins and impetus behind the use of blue paper in the early modern period. She was co-organizer of the international online conference "Venice in Blue: The Use of carta azzurra in the Artist’s Studio and in the Printer’s Workshop, ca. 1500-50," the proceedings of which are currently in preparation for publication. Prior to beginning her PhD programme in 2019, Dr. McCarthy held positions at The Leiden Collection, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and Christie’s. She has published and lectured on a range of topics from early modern to contemporary art. She holds a BA in Art History from Bowdoin College and an MA in Art History from The Courtauld Institute of Art. ... See MoreSee Less
2 CommentsComment on Facebook
She is fabulous!
Welcome and congratulations!
Formally introducing our Executive Director, Alexa McCarthy, PhD. Dr. McCarthy joined Greater Des Moines Public Art Foundation in September. Dr. McCarthy was most recently a Lecturer in Art History at the University of Southern Maine and a St Leonard’s Postgraduate Fellow at the University of St Andrews. She obtained her PhD from the University of St Andrews in 2022. Her dissertation, “Carta azzurra / blauw papier: Drawing on blue paper in Italy and the Netherlands, ca. 1450-ca. 1660” explores the origins and impetus behind the use of blue paper in the early modern period. She was co-organizer of the international online conference "Venice in Blue: The Use of carta azzurra in the Artist’s Studio and in the Printer’s Workshop, ca. 1500-50," the proceedings of which are currently in preparation for publication. Prior to beginning her PhD programme in 2019, Dr. McCarthy held positions at The Leiden Collection, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and Christie’s. She has published and lectured on a range of topics from early modern to contemporary art. She holds a BA in Art History from Bowdoin College and an MA in Art History from The Courtauld Institute of Art. ... See MoreSee Less
3 CommentsComment on Facebook
Welcome Alexa 🙂
Welcome to the DSM!
So nice to meet you! Welcome to Des Moines. I know you will do a fabulous job!
Today, Susan Fitzsimmons, Board President, and Alexa McCarthy, Executive Director, had the opportunity to visit the Des Moines studio of artist b. Robert Moore. Thank you for inspiring us with your work and words! #gdmpaf #brobertmoore #DesMoines #publicart ... See MoreSee Less
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Today, Susan Fitzsimmons, Board President, and Alexa McCarthy, Executive Director, had the opportunity to visit the Des Moines studio of artist b. Robert Moore. Thank you for inspiring us with your work and words! ... See MoreSee Less
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The Des Moines Public Art mobile app is a wonderful tool for individuals and groups large or small. Pictured are members of the Des Moines Art Center's Art Noir group on a downtown public art bike tour making great use of the mobile app to learn along the way.
Photos courtesy of the Des Moines Art Center
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#gdmpaf #publicart #publicartapp #desmoinespublicart #desmoinesartcenter #dsmusa ... See MoreSee Less
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Open RFQ - 9th Street Viaduct Murals. Deadline extension- June 30th at 5pm. For details, visit dsmpublicartfoundation.org/rfq-9th-street-viaduct-murals-des-moines-iowa/ ... See MoreSee Less
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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 🙏🏽✨️✨️