Ever driven or walked by a piece of art in Tempe and wondered what it’s called or how it was inspired?
A new virtual art gallery lets residents and visitors explore the city’s works of art from the palm of their hands.
The virtual galleries can be utilized as walking tours that showcase Tempe’s diverse collection of artwork, ranging from smaller mosaic projects to murals to large sculptures. The galleries include pieces from the City of Tempe Public Art Division, ASU’s public art projects and artwork supported by private developers.
Virtual gallery and walking tour links
Downtown Public Art Walking Tour: Explore the art in downtown Tempe, including works by Ron Gasowski , Susan Gamble, Oliverio Balcells, Mark Rossi, Lucretia Torva, and many more.
Tempe Town Lake Public Art Walking Tour: See all lakeside artwork, from Aurora by Brower Hatcher at Tempe Center for the Arts, to the Theater of the Wind by Ilan Averbuch at Marina Heights.
Citywide Map: View a GIS map of all of Tempe’s Public Art.
To use the maps, scroll across the map and select a piece of art. When a project is selected, a pop-up with an informative background appears, including artist information and descriptions. The numbered points provide people a way to see all the art within the area. The desktop version allows you to see a mapped catalog of all the art in the city separated by category. The maps were created by the City of Tempe GIS team with the assistance of Public Art staff.
Public art is important in Tempe. It enriches the urban fabric of the city, establishing a sense of place and identity through its uniqueness and creativity. It encourages culture, welcomes tourists and improves the quality of life for Tempe residents. For more information on art in Tempe, visit www.tempe.gov/PublicArt.
