#8: Public Art at the United Nations

A Global First: The United Nations Hosts a Public Art Conference

By Jack Becker ([email protected])

As a founding member of both the national Public Art Exchange (PAX) and the global Institute for Public Art (IPA) I have long yearned to get folks from both entities together, and that day finally happened on December 3rd, 2025, in New York City—at the United Nations building no less! It was a rare occasion to expand our connections, gain new perspectives and make new friends and allies.

A big thanks to all who organized and participated in the global public art forum hosted by Shanghai University at the UN building, as one of a series of programs celebrating the UN’s 80^th anniversary. It was a very memorable day, enhanced further by an informal happy hour the night before in mid-town Manhattan.

For my part, I organized a full day of guided tours of public art for 20 people the day following the conference, enabling some of us to engage with the fabulous MTA’s art in the subway program, the renowned High Line and a stunning Richard Serra installation at Gagosian. Special thanks to our guides, including MTA’s Deputy Director Yaling Chen and former program manager Lester Burg; and Cecilia Alemani, Director and Chief Curator of the High Line.

For a bit of context, the Institute for Public Art, founded in 2013, is a global network supporting the International Award for Public Art (IAPA), an initiative started by the Shanghai Academy of Fine Arts. IPA brings together researchers, artists, curators, urban planners, policy makers, educators and architects from all over the world. Check out the hundreds of case studies for nominated projects at their website (also available as a special collection at the Public Art Archive, with enhanced discoverability).

The Public Art Exchange, founded in 2022, is a grassroots peer networking platform and resource hub supporting public art practitioners and allied professionals seeking to be more informed in their decision-making, more impactful in their communities and more connected socially. Currently PAX has more than 1,900 members, some of whom organize in-person gatherings on an annual basis. The next PAX “Field Trip” is scheduled for November 11-13 in Scottsdale AZ.

The event at the UN building, held in the handsome Delegates’ Dining Room overlooking the sun-drenched East River, consisted of the Forum and accompanying events. The Forum explored approaches and strategies to advance the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. Concurrently, Shanghai University and the Teachers College at Columbia University hosted a series of events to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the United Nations, under the theme Mutual Learning Among Civilizations, Harmony and Coexistence. In addition to the opening ceremony and reception, there was a beautifully displayed international touring exhibition of Oriental Traditional Craftsmanship and Contemporary Art.

The Forum explored how public art can address two core challenges: balancing the needs of humanity and the environmental health of the planet and improving socio-cultural development. 

Among the impressive presenters were Lewis Biggs, Andrew Brewerton, Solomon Enos, Jessica Fiala, Jin Jianbo, Iryna Kanishcheva, Jonathan Johnson, Jennifer McGregor, Hu Yijia, Laura Zarta Gutierrez and several others (see below for a complete list of presenters and the titles of their talks). We each offered perspectives on—among other topics—how public art and artists connect humans with nature and individuals with one another; heal cultural divides; spark dialogues and foster cross-sector collaborations, understanding and inclusivity.

Additionally, we shared practical experiences and theoretical insights on how public art advances the goals of societies around the world, such as valuing cultural diversity and inclusivity, fostering social cohesion and advancing the principles of sustainable development.

Here’s what several attendees had to say about the forum:

Stuart Williams: I’m glad I was able to attend. I wish it had been for more than just one day; there was so much information and so many people to meet, and then it’s over. I think one of the best things about the conference was being able to connect in person with other artists in the public art arena and wish I had connected with more. I was impressed with some of the presenters, in particular Lewis Biggs and Jennifer McGregor as well as a couple of the Chinese and UN officials. It was also interesting to hear about the collaborative efforts of Shanghai University and Columbia University’s Teachers College, as they work to expand efforts to research the field of public art. 

Eva Márquez Salmerón: I really enjoyed the shared sense of humor about public art during the time we spent together, as well as the specific technical insights on the day of the public art tour.

Joseph Eduardo Iacona: It was a wonderful whirlwind of presentations and a kaleidoscopic view of how public art is being activated globally. Surrounded by creative spirits, there was a palpable hunger for connection. Unfortunately, given the rigid formality typical of scholarly assemblies, we lacked opportunities to critically reflect and converse. I found myself seeking—and creating— those “in-between” moments where the true, unscripted collaboration transpires. Ultimately, I left with more questions than answers, but also many new peers to explore those questions with. This is the catalyst that keeps us moving forward, driving our global community and fueling our collective exploration of how public art is a tool for connection and exchange across our diverse cultures.

UN Public Art Forum list of presenters (in order of appearance)

Jin Jiangbo, Vice Chairman of Shanghai Federation of Literary and Art Circles, Executive Dean of Shanghai Academy of Fine Art (Welcome and Overview)

Lewis Biggs, Founder of the Liverpool Biennale, Chairman of the Academic Committee of the International Institute of Public Art at Shanghai University, Co-chair of the Institute for Public Art. Title: Buried Treasure and Intangible Cultural Wealth.

Pan Lusheng, Vice Chairman of the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles, Chairman of the Chinese Folk Artists Association. Title: China’s Art in Public. 

Laura Zarta Gutierrez, Curator and Cultural Manager, Founding Director of Global Warning Agency Foundation, and professor at EAN University and the Los Andes University. Title: Contemporary Latin American Art as a Practice of Regeneration: Rethinking Cultural Diplomacy.

Jack Becker, Founder emeritus of Forecast Public Art, founding publisher of Public Art Review, member of Public Art Exchange, Co-chair Institute for Public Art. Title: Researching Art in Public: A Critical Need.

Jennifer McGregor, Curator and art planner, former Artistic Director and Senior Curator of Wave Hill, first Director of New York City’s “Percent for Art Program”. Title: Conundrum of Permanence: New York City Waterfront.

HU Yijia, Associate Professor and Deputy Director, Office of Academic Development, China Academy of Art. Title: Symbiotic Art in Vertical Gradients: A Cross-Disciplinary Art Practice Based on Plant Diversity of the Tibetan Plateau.

DONG Huafeng, Director of Foreign Affairs Office, Qingdao, West Coast New Area, China. Title: A Discussion on Pathways to Empowering Sustainable Development of Coastal Cities Through Public Art.

Iryna Kanishcheva, Public art curator, producer, and founder of Monochronicle, a consultancy, artist network and marketplace platform integrating AI-enhanced art management tools. Title: Human-Centered Algorithms: Rethinking Equity and Access in Arts Through AI-Enhanced Platforms.

Jessica Fiala, Independent scholar, consultant, and dancer based in Minneapolis. Research associate at 8 Bridges Workshop and former research coordinator for the 2015 International Award for Public Art. Title: AR in Transit: Artist Navigations of Body and Space through Augmented Reality.

WU Dingyu, Professor and Doctoral Supervisor, Vice Dean of the School of Advertising and Branding, Communication University of China. Title: The Path of Chinese Art City Construction: From Hard Infrastructure to Soft Systems—A Case Study of Beijing Municipal.

Andrew Brewerton, Professor Emeritus, and former Principal of Arts University Plymouth (UK). Title: Education as Art in Society.

Jonathan “JJ” Johnson and Solomon Enos. JJ is a public art consultant with the Hawaii State Arts Agency where he served as Executive Director, Director of the Hawaii State Art Museum. Solomon is a multi-talented artist. Title: Hawaii State Capitol Pools - “Waterless Solution.”

SUN Ting, Associate Professor, School of Arts, Nantong University. Title: Reconnecting Culture and Community Through Participation: New Forms of Art in Public.

LIU Ye, Independent Curator and Vice-Chair of Curatorial Research Committee, RMIT University (Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology). Title: The Nomadic Collective: Relational Transformations from Ritual to Collaborative Practices in Chinese Rural Art.

Thank you to Jack, and to you for reading all the way to the end! Please feel free to share your feedback in the comments…

News about the next PUBLIC ART PARTY is coming to your inbox very soon…stay tuned.

Mia Pearlman
http://miapearlman.com