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 collage of several public artworks across San Diego.
Public Arts
There are more than 800 pieces of public art in the city of San Diego, and hundreds more across the rest of San Diego County. The region received more than $10 million in state and federal grants for public art in the last five years.
 collage of several public artworks across San Diego.
Photos by KPBS Staff / Graphic by Cheryl Cayabyab

Art in the Open: Exploring public art across San Diego

There are more than 800 pieces of public art in the city of San Diego, and hundreds more across the rest of San Diego County. The region received more than $10 million in state and federal grants for public art in the last five years.

Public art ranges from the famous — the Kissing Statue at the Port of San Diego or the Nikigator in Balboa Park — to the less well known. It can be found everywhere, from office complexes and the airport to panels on bridges to murals on the streets to decorative crosswalks and public utility boxes to the walls of libraries to public restrooms.

KPBS is embarking on a series to explore public art. Follow this series for stories about the artists who make these works, why public art is created, what impact it has and where it can be found. And we want to hear from you about what public artworks you notice or are most curious about.

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Poet Samira Hassan lays down letters to be burned onto the pavement of a City Heights alley on Tuesday, June 18, 2024.
Katie Hyson / KPBS
Members of the "Back Alley Poetry Club" unveil their new public art project, “Memoria Terra,” on Saturday.

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Artist Jim Wilsterman created the stainless steel clouds that encircle the Helix and Padre Dam Municipal Water Disctricts tower in East County. It was part of a public art project in the mid-1990s. Dec. 13, 2023 Playing
East County water tower: Monstrosity or provocative public art?
"Mukikmalim, Su'ulim, Chem-tema-ki'ay (Birds, Stars, Our Lands) is shown at 7836 Herschel Avenue on Monday, Oct. 30, 2023. Playing
La Jolla mural is ‘the first public display’ of Kúpa language
The Spirit of Imperial Beach is a large bronze statue that pays homage to the city's rich surf history in this undated photo. Playing
How surf history inspired Imperial Beach's public art scene
A large mural in Encinitas depicts a woman holding a flower in ocean waves, Oct. 18, 2023. Playing
From mosaics to murals, public art blossoms in Encinitas
A mural by Shepard Fairey is shown on Ivy Street in South Park, San Diego on Friday, Oct. 13, 2023. Playing
Shepard Fairey, once ‘harassed’ by city police for his art, challenges authority in South Park
When you hit the railings' chimes, the Crab Carillon bridge in Golden Hill plays music. Sept. 15, 2023. Playing
The musical bridge in San Diego's Golden Hill neighborhood

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