Public, tax-funded art represents a way to support art and artists by commissioning works for wide public display.

Originally, modern public art often reflected themes meant to symbolize national greatness and pride, such as statues of military and political leaders. Today, however, many public art projects are more diverse in scope, style, and theme and are designed with input and ideas from nearby local communities.

This process gets more people involved in art making and brings thoughtful and intriguing pieces out of the museum and into our cities and neighborhoods, where even more people can see and interact with them.

Some pieces are iconic, such as Chicago’s Cloud Gate sculpture or the Diego Rivera murals in Mexico City, while others are lesser known but still meaningful or interesting.Often, there’s more to a piece of public art than passersby realize, and learning a little about the piece and its history can help us appreciate the work. It can be a great experience to wander your own city like a tourist, take a guided walking tour, or just read up on the monuments and murals you pass every day. Also, local history museums and websites such as Atlas Obscura and Attractions of America point out interesting sights and provide background and history on them.