Public Art Program
The USF Arts District, home to the College of Design, Art & Performance, is a cultural hub comprised of theatres, concert halls, exhibition spaces, design studios, and more. The connected campus is a welcoming destination that offers the university and community a place to engage with the arts through a variety of free events. We proudly feature our faculty, students, and guest artists in over 400 stage productions, concerts, exhibitions and lectures each year.
The Public Art program at USF focuses on site responsive works, typically resulting in the creation of places, as opposed to objects. Most projects have been developed for the interjacent spaces between buildings, with footprints that result in plazas, gardens and courtyards. These projects serve as informal gathering spaces for the various academic neighborhoods of our campuses.
Florida's Art in State Buildings Program was created legislatively in 1979; setting aside one half of one percent of any new state construction funds for the acquisition of artwork to be placed in and around our new facilities. At the University of South Florida, this program has allowed us to work with many of the nation's most prominent public artists to develop projects which enhance the aesthetics of our campus, and enrich the cultural life of our students, faculty and staff.
Complementing our major projects, the USF Public Art program has offered opportunities to emerging artists from the State of Florida and beyond; oftentimes providing these artists with their first opportunity to work in the public realm.
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Contact
publicart@usf.edu or (813) 974-4133
Sandra Cinto, The Invisible Telescope
Inspired by the career of philanthropist Kate Tiedemann, an entrepreneur of instruments to improve vision, The Invisible Telescope provides a space or lens for viewers to contemplate new perspectives and dreams for the future.
Harrison Covington, Concentric Figures
Originally installed in the SunDome in 1996, Concentric Figures was removed during renovations to the facility and relocated to Simmons Park in 2014, providing greater visibility and allowing viewers to engage and interact with the sculpture. The park serves as a crossroads connecting areas of research, education and residence – The Arts, with Medicine, Psychology and Engineering – which this sculpture synthesizes with its reference to the figure, humanity and diversity of experience and identity.
Nancy Holt, Solar Rotary
At solar noon on the day of summer solstice, Solar Rotary's shadow caster casts a circle of light around the central seat. On five specific days of the year, at times specific for each day, Solar Rotary casts its circle of light around plaques placed in the ground plane of the plaza that mark historic events for the State of Florida and the city of Tampa.