The University of Memphis, in partnership with the UrbanArt Commission, is proud to host the work of eight local artists who participated in the 2021-2022 New Public Artists Fellowship. UAC and the University of Memphis collaborated on this program to address the institutional barriers artists face when creating large-scale public sculptures and support artists expanding their practices beyond the studio. In particular, artists of color are greatly underrepresented in this artistic field.
The New Public Artists Fellowship provides in-depth training and professional development resources to up-and-coming, talented artists. During the spring of 2021, the fellows participated in workshops with guest artists and arts administrators before proposing temporary outdoor sculptures. These temporary artworks can now be found throughout the University of Memphis campus.
Each sculpture invites the viewer to engage with the art directly. Some works playfully involve the surrounding space and encourage viewers to see their surroundings through a new perspective. Other sculptures disrupt viewers’ experiences of the environment and seek to challenge commonly held ideas and beliefs. As you encounter each sculpture, allow the art to provoke a response. These artworks actively invite questions with their engaging compositions.
This online catalog includes informative essays about the artworks that were written by University of Memphis art history majors and graduate students. You will also find a map of the artworks’ locations on campus. Be sure not to miss what these promising artists have to share with the Memphis community!
2022 Exhibition Map (click to enlarge)
Fellowship Mentors: Richard Lou, Scott Carter, and Suzy Hendrix
Featured Visiting Artist: Heather Hart
Guest Speakers: Georgia Creson, Forecast Public Art, Yvonne Bobo, Youngblood Studio, Ben Butler, Kelsey Harrison, and Lauren Kennedy
Special thanks to the University of Memphis, ArtsMemphis, Perkins-Everitt Lighting & Controls, and Crosstown Arts for their generous support of this program.
Fabrica Exhibition Pt. II
UAC and the University of Memphis hosted part II of the New Public Artist Fellowship exhibition: Fabrica 🤩
This show offered students, faculty, and visitors the chance to view more traditional works from our current fellows in addition to their sculptural works, completed during the fellowship, around campus - further connecting their works and showcasing the diversity of their mediums.
Click the link below to view the official companion catalog for this exhibition featuring informative essays about the works written by University of Memphis Art History Majors and graduate students.
