Creativity may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of convention centers, known for their cavernous, utilitarian spaces. Yet these gathering places have long championed public artworks. Over the past decade in particular, convention center designs have sought to be more than just functional, and are now striving to inspire and reflect cultural values. Their vast lobbies, atriums, and outdoor plazas also provide prime locations for large-scale works. Below, we highlight some notable pieces and collections from convention centers across North America, from British Columbia to Miami.
Moscone Center
San Francisco’s Moscone Center is home to a public art program commissioned by the San Francisco Arts Commission (SFAC). As part of Moscone’s 2019 expansion project, SFAC commissioned new large-scale artworks for the convention center and reinstalled works already in the Moscone Collection. The convention center’s art collection now includes murals, sculptures, mixed media, and paintings by world-renowned artists.
A highlight? This LED light sculpture, called “Point Cloud” (see main image), created by Leo Villareal. Located in the new pedestrian bridge over Howard Street, the work is composed of more than 50,000 colored LEDs arranged in three dimensions. Approximately 1,300 reflective stainless steel rods hang from the ceiling and support the LED matrix to produce an optical illusion.
Miami Beach Convention Center
As the home of Art Basel and a vibrant visual arts scene, it’s no surprise that Miami’s dedicated convention space has an extensive art collection. In 2018, the Miami Beach Convention Center underwent a major renovation and expansion that included a $7 million investment in public art throughout the center. Six contemporary artists were chosen from over 500 artists from around the world to contribute to the art program. Each created a large-scale, site-specific installation that related to Miami Beach.
The work featured here is “Morris Lapidus” by New York artist Sarah Morris, a large tile installation on the exterior walls of the center’s northeast entrance. Other highlights include a series of outdoor sculptures called “Humanoids” by Dutch artist Joep van Lieshout in the grounds of the northeast ballroom.
Phoenix Convention Center
The Phoenix Convention Center has long featured art that reflects the Sonoran Desert environment, including a desert “beach” at the Third Street entrance featuring stoneware ceramics and life-size sculptures. But perhaps our favorite piece is the one pictured here, Louise Bourgeois’ “Art Is a Guaranty of Sanity,” located in the West Building atrium.
Standing 27 meters tall and designed by a world-renowned French-American sculptor, the monumental work features a mirror cut into shapes reminiscent of a spider’s web, a recurring theme in Bourgeois’ work. The mirror itself is meant to reflect one of the artist’s signature phrases, which also serves as the work’s title.
Seattle Convention Center
In 2023, the Seattle Convention Center expanded its public art program with the opening of Summit, a new convention building designed as a way to “explore the city without leaving the building,” convention center sales director Michael McQuade told BizBash in 2022. To that end, expect abundant views and an extensive art collection that pays homage to the many cultures of the Pacific Northwest.
The Summit Collection features 23 commissioned artists and a variety of media. Notable works include a laser-cut Douglas fir wood chandelier and a carved arbutus wood sculpture of a downward-pointing hand set in 18 fused glass panels. “Mowitch Man” (pictured) by sculptor and artist Andrea M. Wilbur-Sigo greets delegates at one of the entrances. The piece is a nod to the welcoming figures that once stood on these Coast Salish lands. He holds a talking stick, which is a powerful symbol and communication tool used to foster listening and respect during a gathering.
Greater Columbus Convention Center
The Greater Columbus Convention Center features more than 350 unique works of art, including paintings, sculptures, photographs and interactive installations that represent a wide range of central Ohio artists. One of the most notable works is “As We Are,” a 14-foot-tall interactive sculpture by Columbus artist Matthew Mohr. The piece is made up of ribbons of ultra-bright LED screens and contains a 3D photo booth that captures and displays guests’ portraits on the sculpture’s face for 30 seconds.
Baird Center
Milwaukee’s new Baird Center (formerly the Wisconsin Center) opened last May after a $456 million expansion. Its expansive new art collection is particularly notable. Visit Milwaukee notes that “nearly every surface of the Baird Center showcases a unique collection of artists, mostly from Milwaukee,” and that all of the works “tell the story of Milwaukee through the eyes of its residents.”
Notable works include “The Great Five,” created by Bluworld of Water, located at the north entrance. It is a water installation that pays homage to the city’s location along Lake Michigan and is a nod to the beauty of the five Great Lakes. Another notable work is “Always,” pictured here, by Milwaukee artist Tommy Sweeney. The piece, located along the Baird Center’s grand staircase, is a multi-story mural of Milwaukee. It uses thousands of images Sweeney has taken over the past four decades, blending perspectives and timelines.
Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center
The artworks on display at San Antonio’s Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center aim to reflect the city’s growth and its connections to Texas and Mexico. The collection spans a wide range of media, from paintings and murals to site-specific installations.
Particularly admirable is the “Liquid Crystal” piece, which serves as the centerpiece of the center’s grand concourse. Created by London-based studio Jason Bruges, the 30-foot-tall tower sculpture is comprised of 3,510 active digital LCD panels controlled by custom electronics to transmit and reflect light in varying degrees. When the panels modulate, they create a shimmering, undulating “liquid” effect. The studio took inspiration from the San Antonio River and the flow of people through the convention center.
Victoria Conference Center
In Canada, the Victoria Conference Centre is home to First Nations artworks, which are intended to echo the centre’s ethos of representation and community. In the lobby, delegates are greeted by a towering 7.5-metre totem pole (pictured) crafted from red cedar by master carver Tony Hunt. The centre’s atrium also houses the first Wolf Dancer totem pole and the Haida clan pole, positioned on either side of the entrance doors. At the entrance to Frank S. Carson Hall, the Whale People’s Spindle greets visitors from above. Each artwork in the venue is intended to represent the specific cultural heritage of the Indigenous First Nations who call Victoria home.
This article was originally published in our sister publication, BizBash.
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