Monuments

The Changing Face of Monumentality

Image of red open building-like structure with railing and patterned walls

A Resurrection in Four Stanzas (2021). By April Banks. City of Santa Monica, California Public Art Collection. Courtesy: Leroy Hamilton

Image of text lit from within and from behind that reads I Am A Man

I Am a Man Plaza (2018). By Cliff Garten. City of Memphis UrbanArt Commission. Courtesy: Jeremy Green, Lisa Buser

Image of four obelisk reflective pillars with photographic images at the base.

Absent Monuments (2018). By Rose DiSiano. City of Lewes Public Art. Courtesy of the Artist

As public art evolves, so must our digital documentation practices. The Public Art Archive (PAA) enables you to digitally counter, re-contextualize, and archive transformative meanings and significance in public art. 

In recent years, monuments and commemorative public art have received significant attention as communities and artists confront problematic, harmful or reductive works of art, particularly those representing historical figures or events. 

Explore a diverse array of public artworks, including traditional monuments, counter-monuments, commemorative sculptures, and memorials. Some remain in public spaces, while others have been removed. Many represent traditional monuments, and others reflect the evolving nature of commemorative public art, amplifying histories and communities previously ignored or silenced.

Explore Commemorative Artworks on PAA

Accountability and Archives

As monuments or other works of public art are removed from public space, we strongly encourage commissioning organizations and artists to maintain digital records of controversial and/or removed artworks online, providing context and new perspectives on their impact. This allows the public to comprehend how, when, and why artworks transform in meaning or favor over time, while preserving and analyzing the evolving meaning and context of public art. PAA advocates for transparency and preservation when it comes to documenting the removal and replacement of monuments or other controversial works. In this way, PAA aims to be a digital space for accountability, understanding, and continued growth in public art. 

If you would like to add new information to artwork records or submit a project to the Public Art Archive, please complete the relevant form below.

Edit/Add to Existing Artworks on PAA
Contribute New Artworks to PAA
Image of tall bronze sculpture

The Light of Truth Ida B. Wells National Monument (2021). By Richard Hunt. The Ida B. Wells Commemorative Art Committee. Photo credit: Jyoti Srivastava, Copyright 2024 The Richard Hunt Trust / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York

Resources

Dive into our curated collection of articles on public art monuments

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