Iowa State University is home to one of the largest campus public art programs in the United States.  Over 2000 works of public art, including 400 by significant national and international artists, are located across campus in buildings, courtyards, open spaces and offices.

The traditional public art program began during the Depression in the 1930s when Iowa State College’s President Hughes envisioned that "the arts would enrich and provide substantial intellectual exploration into our college curricula." Hughes invited Grant Wood to create the Library’s agricultural murals that speak to the founding of Iowa and Iowa State College and Model Farm. He also offered Christian Petersen a one-semester sculptor residency to design and build the fountain and bas relief at the Dairy Industry Building. In 1955, 21 years later, Petersen retired having created 12 major sculptures for the campus, and hundreds of small studio sculptures.

In the beginning, public art traditions on campus were informally established, and have become more formalized recently. There are several significant traditions that have been ongoing:

• use of the human figure
• mythology, poetry, and literary references
• involvement of the campus community in the commissioning process
• the public art's reflection of the mission of a department, college, program or the university

There were lean years from 1955 through 1979 for public art at Iowa State and the country.  In 1979 Iowa passed the Iowa Art in State Buildings legislation, which requires .5 percent of new construction or remodeling funds be used to acquire public art.  Since 1979, Iowa State has completed 42 Art in State Buildings projects, commissioned or acquired 247 works of public art and involved over 450 faculty, students and staff in the commissioning process.

Education

The Art on Campus Collection is a campus-wide resource of over 2000 public works of art. Programs, receptions, dedications, university classes, Wednesday Walks, and educational tours are presented on a regular basis to enhance visual literacy and aesthetic appreciation of this diverse collection. Online information sheets for works of art, walking maps, and curriculum connections are additional means of support for interpretation and appreciation. Many of these resources can be used by themselves as a teaching tool or in conjunction with a visit to the Art on Campus Collection.

Wednesday Walks are perfect opportunities to learn about the public art that has become a part of the Iowa State University campus environment. Each 40-minute tour will begin at NOON at the designated starting place. Pre-registration is not necessary and tours are FREE of charge. Bring a friend or eat your lunch as you learn about the artists and artwork that make up the University's extensive and diverse Art on Campus Program.

Moonlit Walks are perfect opportunities to learn about the public art that has become an integral part of the Iowa State University campus. Each tour will look at how the changing environment effects public art. Tours will take place on or near full moons for optimal viewing conditions. Pre-registration is not necessary and tours are FREE of charge.

Art on Campus information sheets on over 40 works of art and Art on Campus poetry commissions available in PDF format.  Click Here.

Announcing the Digital Art On Campus Project (DAOC)
Now you can experience works of art in the Art on Campus collection through streaming video and pod casting produced by ISU Honors student Grant Thompson! More features will be added through out 2007, so keep checking for updates to the site. 

Click here to visit the DAOC project site. 

Press Release for the DAOC project.