Featured Projects
The Public Art program facilitates numerous concurrent public art projects. Dive into project spotlights in various stages of progress:
American Contradictions: A Boise Visual Chronicle Exhibition
The Boise Visual Chronicle (BVC) is a city-owned collection of artwork depicting life in Boise. The collection provides a rich visual document of Boise's changing landscape, people and perspectives and forms a unique portrait of the artistic vitality in the region.
Active every other year, the 2025 BVC opportunity asked a community panel of Boise residents to develop the exhibition's theme and after a public call, selected eight artists to participate. All artists addressed the "American Experiment" through the exploration of contradictory American values, and one artwork received a purchase award and will be added to the BVC collection.
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- Current Status - Exhibit On View
- Project Process:
- A community panel of Boise residents developed the exhibition's theme through in depth conversation around what it means to be an American.
- Out of 30 local artists who responded to the call, the community panel selected eight to be featured in the exhibition.
- All eight artists explored a variety of contradictory sets of values to create new artwork for the exhibition.
- The community panel reconvened to select first, second, and third honors and City staff selected a purchase award.
- The exhibition is on view from August 2025 - March 2026, and many of the artwork are offered for sale. Contact Erma Hayman House for more information.
- Questions? Please contact us by email or phone.
Artwork Details:
- Anne Peterson, Is Everyone Welcome? 2025
- Devon Smith, City of Tomorrow, 2025
- Grace McJack, Progress Sleeps in a Borrowed Bed, 2025
- Heather Whitt, Happiness is Spoken Here, 2025
- Kirsten Furlong, Confounded, 2025
- Margaret Pope, Untitled, 2025 (City Purchase Award)
- Mongina Cole, Poly Bemis - A Chinese Pioneer Woman's Life in Idaho, 2025
- Samantha Archide, Kapwa, 2025
Water Conservation and Resiliency Public Art at Camel's Back Park
The City's Public Works Department and the Department of Arts & History have partnered in creating an opportunity for a large-scale sculpture centered around water conservation and resiliency of the water resources in the Treasure Valley. As we live in the high desert, our access to water is essential to our livelihood and our recreation. The goal of this piece is to create a sense of interconnection between how we steward the land and our ability to thrive.
Project Process:
- This project's theme was informed by a community survey along with input from Boise Community panel members.
- The project's goals are to educate, empower, and include our community in solutions to Boise's unique water challenges.
- This project launched in October 2025, and accepted proposals nationwide through Thursday, November 13, 2025, at 1 p.m.
- Up to three artists will be invited to interview and present their proposal. One artist or artist team will be awarded the $165,000 contract.
This project is funded by the Public Works Fund.
Boise Airport Vinyl Mural
The City of Boise's Department of Arts & History and the Boise Airport jointly invite artists and artist teams to submit qualifications for the opportunity to create a design for a large-scale vinyl mural at the Boise Airport. The project goals ask applicants to consider the history of the Boise Airport and Boise within the larger context of United States History.
Project Process:
This opportunity is the first of many to come following the foundation laid by the Boise Airport Arts Master Plan. Written in 2023, this plan outlines the collaborative effort between the Boise Airport and Boise City Department of Arts & History. More opportunities for public art will come in the following years as the City of Boise and Boise Airport both continue to grow. Opportunities at the Airport will be selected by the Public Art Program Team and will follow the same community-based selection panel process as other public art projects. This project is funded by the Boise Airport Enterprise Fund.
Open Calls & Opportunities
The Public Art team releases artist calls and opportunities year-round. From opportunities like the Traffic Box Program for emerging artists, to large-scale artwork installations for experienced public artists, there are a variety of ways to get involved in shaping Boise's public art landscape. We post regional and national opportunities in addition to the local calls.
Calls and Opportunities
