Exclusively for Everyone
Public Art of the University of Houston System (Public Art UHS) makes extraordinary artworks open to everyone, every day by providing a welcoming environment for gathering and learning. Through our permanent collection, exhibitions, and collaborative public programs, we reflect the vibrant culture, history, and future of our campuses and communities. Public Art UHS is a national leader in collecting and activating public art in ways that strengthen critical and creative thinking, deepen collaboration, and connect local communities with the world. Our core values of leadership, creativity, education, collaboration, and stewardship guide us in this mission and vision.
A pioneering program, Public Art UHS was the first percent-for-art program at a public university in the state of Texas. In 1966, the University of Houston Board of Regents voted to establish a policy that would dedicate one percent of the construction costs of all future building projects to acquire works of art. At the time, UH was undergoing an unprecedented construction boom, and the public art program was conceived to greatly enhance campus life as well as the prestige of the University at a local, regional, and international level. In 1969, the state of Texas ratified the necessary legal framework for enabling the funding of public art from construction projects (currently not to exceed one percent of construction budgets).
Over fifty-five years later, Public Art UHS has matured to be one of the most significant public art programs in the country. With more than 800 objects, the collection offers alternative perspectives to traditional history by reflecting the university’s array of cultural backgrounds. The collection continues to grow through commissions, temporary installations, acquisitions, gifts and interdisciplinary education and outreach programming.
Artworks are on view at the University of Houston, University of Houston at Sugar Land, University of Houston-Downtown, and University of Houston-Clear Lake. Works include those by John Biggers, Carlos Cruz-Diez, Trenton Doyle Hancock, Rick Lowe, Margo Sawyer, Alyson Shotz, Frank Stella, and Andy Warhol.
Rachel G. Mohl, Ph.D., serves as director and chief curator and Michael Guidry serves as curator of the Public Art UHS collection.
