Established in 2008, the Rice Public Art initiative underscores the unconventional approach and creative spirit of scholarly inquiry at Rice University. Efforts within the scope of Rice Public Art include permanent and temporary installations. The Moody Center for the Arts facilitates the acquisition, installation, maintenance, and access to these works, as well as identifies creative interventions that will engage Rice and Houston communities.
The permanent acquisition of artworks, the Rice Public Art Collection, reaches across the entire Rice campus and has been praised in Art & Object as one of the "most rigorous world-class permanent collections of public art in the country." It includes an iconic James Turrell Skyspace, important sculptures by Michael Heizer, Shirazeh Houshiary, Beverly Pepper, Ursula Von Rydingsgard, and Mark di Suvero, a Sol Lewitt wall drawing, and two-dimensional works by Carmen Herrera, Dorothy Hood, Charles Gaines and Leo Villareal, among many others. More than a static presentation, these works in this collection provide focal points for Moody-curated artistic responses; the summer music series and Skyspace dance performances, commissioned by the Moody, are examples of how the collection can inspire innovative student and public involvement.
These permanent works—and temporary public art programs like Platform and Off the Wall—enliven the shared spaces on campus and signal to visitors that the arts are a critical part of a twenty-first-century education. You are invited to explore this collection through our online listing and in person. iOS users can also take advantage of the free Rice Public Art app developed by Rice Students in collaboration with the Moody Center for the Arts.
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