The Dual Turn of Contemporary Public Art: From Being Collected to Becoming “Public”

Yanjie Sun

doi:10.54254/2753-7064/2025.LC26647

Communications in Humanities ResearchOpen access

The Dual Turn of Contemporary Public Art: From Being Collected to Becoming “Public”

Research Article

Open Access

The Dual Turn of Contemporary Public Art: From Being Collected to Becoming “Public”

Yanjie Sun ^1*

¹ University of the Arts London

^*Corresponding author: y.sun0220223@arts.ac.uk

Published on 9 September 2025

CHR Vol.76

ISSN (Print): 2753-7072

ISSN (Online): 2753-7064

ISBN (Print): 978-1-80590-146-4

ISBN (Online): 978-1-80590-284-3

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Abstract

This paper explores the evolving meaning of “publicness” in contemporary public art amid increasing privatization, shifting curatorial practices, and the expanding influence of market-driven cultural policies. Once defined by their physical presence in civic spaces and accessibility to diverse audiences, many public artworks now undergo spatial, legal, and symbolic transformations. Some are removed from the public realm and absorbed into private collections, while others are reintroduced foundations, corporate displays, or philanthropic initiatives. These developments blur the boundary between public good and private interest, raising questions about visibility, participation, and cultural ownership. Through case studies of Banksy, Richard Serra, and Augusta Savage, this research examines how changes in ownership and institutional control reshape not only access to art, but also its collective meaning and socio-political resonance. Drawing on Tony Bennett’ s theory of the “Exhibitionary Complex” and Pierre Bourdieu’ s concept of cultural capital, the paper argues that the value of public art lies not in static placement or legal designation, but in its ability to engage memory, foster dialogue, and remain visible to the public. Ultimately, it calls for a collaborative approach between private and public actors to preserve the cultural and civic functions of public art in a time of systemic transformation.

Keywords:

Art, Privatization, Cultural Capital, Exhibitionary Complex, Re-publicization

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References

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References

[2]. Bourdieu, P. (1984) Distinction: A Social Critique of the Judgement of Taste. Translated by R. Nice. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.

[8]. Rosenbush, S. (2015) ‘Of the Street, Into the Home’, Wall Street Journal, 9 June. Availableat: https: //www.proquest.com/docview/1713902339 (Accessed: 30 June 2025).

Cite this article

Sun,Y. (2025). The Dual Turn of Contemporary Public Art: From Being Collected to Becoming “Public”. Communications in Humanities Research,76,9-15.

Data availability

The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study will be available from the authors upon reasonable request.

About volume

Volume title: Proceedings of ICADSS 2025 Symposium: Art, Identity, and Society: Interdisciplinary Dialogues

ISBN: 978-1-80590-146-4(Print) / 978-1-80590-284-3(Online)

Editor: Ioannis Panagiotou, Yanhua Qin

Conference website: https://2025.icadss.org/Lincoln.html

Conference date: 22 August 2025

Series: Communications in Humanities Research

Volume number: Vol.76

ISSN: 2753-7064(Print) / 2753-7072(Online)

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