Public Art in Alexandria

Public art is permanent or temporary works of art that have been planned in collaboration with the community and executed by artists with the specific intention of existing in the public realm, accessible to all.
Page updated on June 21, 2023 at 2:07 PM

Explore Public Art in Alexandria

Looking to learn more about Alexandria's Public Art? The Office of the Arts has a new Public Art tool through Public Art Archive. Explore this page to learn more about public art throughout the City. The public art featured includes public and privately-owned works of art, as well as permanent and temporary works, that have been planned in collaboration with the community and executed by artists with the specific intention of existing in the public realm, accessible to all. Public art promotes Alexandria’s cultural heritage, strengthens community pride, and fosters tourism.

You can help provide additional information about public art in Alexandria by filling out this online form and sharing any additional information you have with the Office of the Arts. 

Get Involved

If you live or work in Alexandria you can help play a critical role in bringing art to neighborhoods and parks throughout the city by volunteering to serve on a Public Art Task Force. 

For each public art project, the Commission for the Arts appoints a unique Task Force of community members to help set goals for the project, support community engagement, recommend an artist, and review concept designs. 

Public art experience is not required. Time commitment varies per project depending upon the scope of the project. 

If you're interested in serving on a Task Force and would like to learn more, please fill out our online interest form and the Office of the Arts will reach out to you with more information. 

Current Projects

Rendering of Two Boxes of Oranges and Admonia Jackson by Nina Cooke John

SITE SEE | Two Boxes of Oranges and Admonia Jackson

A nationally recognized public-art series, Site See: New Views in Old Town highlights Waterfront Park as a civic space, fostering community engagement and interactions with temporary installations. 

Purple sign that says Public Art Coming Soon

WILKES STREET PARK

Eto Otitigbe has been commissioned to create a site-specific work of public art as part of the redesign of Wilkes Street Park.

Purple sign that says Public Art Coming Soon

COLASANTO SPRAY PARK

Béatrice Coron has been commissioned to design and fabricate an original work of art to be integrated into the newly designed, multigenerational, safe, all-season space which includes a spray park as a signature feature at Colasanto Park.

Current Projects

Purple sign that says Public Art Coming Soon

OLD TOWN NORTH

In accordance with the principles outlined in Old Town North Small Area Plan public art will create an identity for the neighborhood and celebrate the arts and culture district. 

Purple sign that says Public Art Coming Soon

SOUTH CIRCLE PARK

The public art at South Circle Park will provide both a visual gateway into the Eisenhower neighborhood and a bold landmark that fosters a sense of identity for the neighborhood.

Past Projects: Site See New Views in Old Town

An artists' rendering with I love you written in neon script with a crowd of people below and the Potomac River in the background

SITE SEE | I LOVE YOU at WATERFRONT PARK

I Love You by R&R Studio bathed Waterfront Park in a pink neon glow while visitors came together on the pink and white carpet. 

Child walking between the wooden pillars of varying heights in Groundswell. The Potomac River is in the background.

SITE SEE | Groundswell at Waterfront Park

2021 Installment for Site See: New Views in Old Town

Two of four figures in Wrought, Knit, Labors, Legacies. Metal figures painted green and adorned with scroll cuts throughout. The ground mural is blue, yellow, and orange.

SITE SEE | Wrought, Knit, Labors, Legacy at Waterfront Park

2020 Installment for Site See: New Views in Old Town

Mirror Mirror's lights shine at dusk Outside the nearly enclosed circle are white, mirrored lights. Inside the red, pink, and orange lights of the rainbow interior can be seen.

SITE SEE | Mirror, Mirror at Waterfront Park

2019 Installment for Site See: New Views in Old Town

Past Projects: Permanent Installations

Confluent Threads mural as seen from across Seminary Road. Bands of colored lines converge in an intertwining pattern as the mural moves from the back right corner to the left and toward the entrance of the library,

BURKE LIBRARY | Convergent Threads

A brilliantly colored mural on the Seminary Road side of Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library.

Del Ray Play by May + Watkins

SIMPSON PARK | Del Ray Play

May + Watkins created a fun, colorful climbing structure inspired by Del Ray's Art Deco features for the new Simpson Park playground. 

Image of Sound Stream sculpture at Lake Cook

LAKE COOK | Sound Stream

Sound Stream is an interactive public art installation at a peninsula on Alexandria's Lake Cook. 

Past Projects: Temporary Installations

Image of and urn from Time and Place Centennial of the Everyday exhibition

GADSBY'S TAVERN | Time & Place: A Conversation about Art, History, and Community

Three of the traffic box wraps along Duke Street

Traffic Control Boxes

colorful image with lines and dots

DUKE STREET TUNNEL

Artist Mike McConnell created 12 colorful panels for Duke Street Tunnel that connects the Carlyle area on the south side to the King Street Metro Station on the north side of Duke Street. 

stained glass origami birds hanging in a tree

TRAILS & PATHS | Winter Passages

Three artists were selected to install public art works along three of Alexandria's trails: Holmes Run Trail, Potomac Yard Trail, and Four Mile Run Trail. Installations will be in place through May 2021.

Policies & Processes

Public Art Plan Cover

Public Art Implementation Plan & Policy

A comprehensive, community-based plan that outlines a vision, goals and objectives for the public art program in Alexandria, approved by City Council in 2014.

Arts and Culture Plan Cover

Alexandria's Arts & Culture Master Plan

A comprehensive, citywide cultural arts plan supporting, producing, defining, and sustaining arts and culture initiatives throughout the city to accomplish the City’s broader goals.

bronze sculpture in front of Alexandria's City Hall

Public Art Condition Assessment

Evaluating the condition of public art in Alexandria's collection.