Public Art

Public art has the power to energize and enhance our public spaces, make us think, and transform where we live, work, and play.

Public art can be several stories high or bring attention to the pavement beneath our feet. It can inspire conversation and help calm our hurried lifestyles. It can also be controversial. We support public art by way of our Art in Public Places Policy.

Meet Victoria's new Artist in Residence, Kathryn Calder!

Victoria-based musician, songwriter/recording artist and recording studio owner Kathryn Calder, has been selected as the City’s new Artist in Residence. Her two-year term runs from July 2019 - June 2021.

The Artist in Residence program aims to ‘keep art in mind’, providing the opportunity for a professional artist to work collaboratively with City staff and the community to identify and develop a creative artwork/project to augment one or more capital projects. Learn more. (Photo credit: Tristan Shouldice)

Commute, a Bus Shelter Art Exhibit 

Six downtown bus shelters are showcasing art in Victoria’s Commute exhibit, a series of original artworks by local, emerging artists. A pilot project in partnership with PATTISON Outdoor Advertising, Commute will exhibit up to 18 artworks on downtown bus shelters from now until the end of May 2020. Learn more.

Summer Banners

The City's 2019/2020 summer banners designed by Indigeneous artist Dylan Thomas will adorn downtown lampposts until mid-October. The four-part banner series depicts some of the lesser-known Lekwungen legends about the territory in and around Victoria. Learn more.

Opportunities for Artists

Check out our new Public Art Opportunities web page that includes current Calls to Artists and information on how to join our Artist Contact List to stay informed of new artistic opportunities and initiatives at the City of Victoria.

Artist Residency Programs

Indigenous Artist in Residence

Iroquois Mohawk artist Lindsay Katsitsakatste Delaronde was the inaugural Indigenous Artist in Residence at the City of Victoria. The Indigenous Artist in Residence program provides the opportunity for a local artist to develop artistic works and engage the community in dialogue, workshops, events, and activities throughout the term. Learn more.

Artist in Residence

Luke Ramsey was the City's recent Artist in Residence. The Artist in Residence program aims to ‘keep art in mind’, providing the opportunity for a local artist to work collaboratively with City staff and the community to identify and develop a creative artwork for one or more public art projects during the two-year term. Learn more about Luke's residency.

Sacred, an Indigenous Art Display

Sacred is an Indigenous multi-media art display at City Hall. Learn more about this permanent public art installation which is part of the City's ongoing work towards Reconciliation. 

Concrete Canvas - Rock Bay Murals

Concete Canvas - Rock Bay Murals is a new, one-time art project for emerging muralists and mid-career artists wanting to try their hand at making murals! The project seeks to transform an industrial part of Victoria into an outdoor gallery for street art and creative expression. Learn More.

Commercial Alley Artwork by Austin Clay Willis

Original artwork by emerging, local artist Austin Clay Willis is the Commercial Alley Art Gallery’s sixth installation. His artwork utilizes bright colours, bold lines and shapes to create fun, yet intense energy, with an intent to energize and beautify. Willis' artwork is on display now until August 2019. Check it out the next time you're downtown.

Select Public Art Installations

Art on Parkades

Two local artist teams were selected to create new public art to enhance the stairwells of two City parkades. Scott Amos and David Parfit of Monkey C Interactive have developed an interactive musical railing for the Bastion Square Parkade back stairwell. Artists Jennifer Johnson, Joanne Thomson and Beth Threlfall collaborated with three youth artists to create a mural series that now enhances the stairwell at Centennial Square Parkade.

Woven

In August 2015, City Council selected a Vancouver-based, mother and son Musqueam First Nation artist team, Susan Point and Thomas Cannell, for their Woven Together proposal to create contemporary First Nations artwork to enhance the exterior of the Johnson Street Parkade. The artwork was installed in July 2016. Learn more.

Community Colour

A partnership between the City of Victoria and the United Way Greater Victoria, the Create Community Colour Mural program matched a professional artist with two or more youth ages 14 - 20 to collaboratively produce 10 colourful murals. Learn more.

The Hands of Time

The Hands of Time, the Victoria 150 Public Art Project, was a three-stage, national juried public art competition to create public artwork(s) that celebrate Victoria's 150th anniversary of incorporation in 2012. Discover these 12 bronze sculptures around downtown with The Hands of Time walking tour brochure. [PDF - 426 KB]

Public Art Inventory

The City of Victoria has partnered with the Capital Regional District, the District of Saanich and the Township of Esquimalt to create a searchable online tool, known as the Public Art Inventory. Learn more.