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 November 20, 2024 at 3:51 PM
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Visit Public Art Near You

City map showing locations of public art

Looking to learn more about public art in your neighborhood? The Office of the Arts has an online public art tool through the Public Art Archive. 

Explore the 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 that is not currently archived by filling out this online form and sharing any additional information you have with the Office of the Arts. 

Current Projects

Del Ray Gateway 100 percent design plan.

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.

4850 Mark Center Drive Building Exterior

DEL PEPPER COMMUNITY RESOURCE CENTER

The Office of the Arts is looking for volunteers to join the task force bringing public art to the new Del Pepper Community Resource Center.
 

Title of Break Water on a Water Graphic

SITE SEE | Break Water

This temporary installation by Nekisha Durrett is the seventh in the Site See: New Views in Old Town annual public art series at Waterfront Park and is on view from late March through November 2025.

Eisenhower East Bock 32 Rendering

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.

a visualization of the improvements planned for the west end

WEST END TRANSITWAY

Incorporating public art into the planned 5.3-mile Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system that will connect major transit facilities and several neighborhoods along the Van Dorn/Beauregard corridor (West End Transitway).

Wilkes Park Concept Plan

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.

Past Projects: Site See New Views in Old Town

Image of Interstellar Influencer by Laura Hatcher Photography.

SITE SEE | Interstellar Influencer (Make an Impact)

2024 Installment for Site See: New Views in Old Town

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

SITE SEE | Two Boxes of Oranges and Admonia Jackson at Waterfront Park

2023 Installment for 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

2022 Installment for Site See: New Views in Old Town

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: Temporary Installations

colorful image with lines and dots

DUKE STREET TUNNEL

Dee Dwyer Project Image of Two Gentleman

TIME AND PLACE | An Immersive Art Experience with Dee Dwyer

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

TIME AND PLACE | Gadsby's Tavern

Torpedo Factory Art Center Loading Door Mural Cropped

TORPEDO FACTORY ART CENTER LOADING DOOR MURAL

Three of the traffic box wraps along Duke Street

TRAFFIC CONTROL BOXES

stained glass origami birds hanging in a tree

TRAILS & PATHS | Winter Passages

Close up of flower section of the street mural.

VISION ZERO | Warwick Village Street Mural

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 | Confluent Threads

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

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. 

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. 

Old Town North Stormwater Cover Design By Matt Long

STORMWATER COVERS | Old Town North

These artist-designed stormwater covers promote the identity of the neighborhood and celebrate the Old Town North Arts and Culture District. 

Plans & Initiatives

RPCA Simpson Park Playground 11 Public Art

Annual Workplan

Each year, the Public Art Program adopts an Annual Workplan. The Workplan outlines which new projects the program will initiate, indicating where the projects are located, and what the proposed budgets will be.

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 Maintenance

Maintaining public art in the City's collection.

Get Involved

Join our Public Art Task Force

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. 

About Us

Office of the Arts

The Office of The Arts promotes the value of arts and culture in Alexandria by nurturing, investing in and celebrating the creative contributions of artists and arts organizations. Through engaging the community, encouraging participation, and facilitating access to the arts, the Office of the Arts works with local artists and arts organizations to build a vibrant community for all of the City's residents, workers and visitors.

Follow @alexartsoffice on Instagram. Add to the conversation with #artsALX.