The City of Reno manages a collection of over 185 permanent as well as temporary works of art that are placed throughout the city. The City of Reno’s Public Art Program is
part of the Arts & Culture Department in the City Manager’s Office. The Arts & Culture Department works with the Reno Arts & Culture Commission, a citizen committee appointed by the City Council.
Public Art in the City of Reno
What is Public Art?
Public art, in its most basic definition, is art in public spaces. While the term may evoke images of bronze statues, public art can take on a wide variety of forms and sizes. Some public art is temporary and some permanent. Often, public art is site-specific–created for a particular place or community–and can include murals, sculpture, integrated architectural work, benches, bike racks, and performances and festivals. Public Art is free and accessible to everyone.
Public Art Master Plan Update
Public art is often thought of as the place where arts and culture meet community. Over the last thirty years, the City of Reno has funded and placed nearly two hundred artworks – from signature sculptures to painted traffic boxes to community-initiated projects – in communities throughout Reno. The City Council’s strategic priorities include creating vibrant neighborhoods and public places through arts and culture initiatives.
The City of Reno Arts & Culture Department is embarking on a process of positioning the City’s public art program to best meet the opportunities ahead. We encourage everyone to join us in imagining how public art can be a voice for Reno’s communities as well as an integral part of the city’s landscape and identity!
Learn more
On Growth and Form (2024). By Kipp Kobayashi. Image courtesy of Reno Public Art
Explore Artworks from the City's Collection
Art Signals Collection
Art Signals is an annual Arts and Culture program that uses signal boxes throughout the Reno community to serve as canvases for original art pieces painted by local artists, residents, students and community members of all ages.
The City of Reno’s Arts & Culture Department started painting signal boxes in 2008, mostly in the downtown Reno area. The program has grown to include nearly 100 painted signal boxes citywide, including the North and South Valleys.
Kate O’Hara Signal Box (2022). By Kate O’Hara. Image courtesy of the City of Reno
Metro Art Collection
The City's Metro Art Collection is an indoor collection of artworks in all media, representing a broad range of regional artists. The collection includes sculpture, painting, mixed media, prints, photography and textiles acquired through gifts and purchases. The Metro Art Collection is managed by the Arts & Culture department within the City Manager’s Office.
The artworks are exhibited primarily in public areas of City Hall and other municipal buildings. The collection was formally established in 2004 when the City of Reno moved into its current city hall location at 1 East First Street. Pursuant to the City’s percent for art program, the budget for the East First Street City Hall renovation included a budget for the purchase of artwork. The Metro Art Collection has grown to over 70 unique pieces of art and includes the work of emerging and established artists.
Upper Truckee, Spring (2003). By Phyllis Shafer. Reno Public Art. Photo courtesy of the collection
