Art in Public Places - Aurora, Colorado

06/11/2026

Attending Aurora Fest this Saturday, June 13?

While you're enjoying live music, cultural performances, food vendors, and the community marketplace on the Aurora Municipal Center Great Lawn, take some time to explore Aurora's public art collection while you're there.

Within walking distance of the festival, you'll find several artworks throughout the Aurora Municipal Center campus, including:

• "One Nation" by David Ocelotl Garcia
• "The Enchantment of Reading" by James Haire
• "Field of Blue" by George Lundeen
• "Courthouse Panel" by Ayokunle Odeleye
• "Dawn Ring" by Carl Reed
• "Light of Dawn" by Rafe Ropek
• "Sun Shell" by Rafe Ropek
• "Sunrise" by Tim and Rick Upham
• "Twin Totems" by Mary Williams
• "Ascenciate" by Douwe Blumberg

Public art is woven throughout the Aurora Municipal Center campus, making Aurora Fest the perfect opportunity to discover artworks you may have never noticed before.

How many can you find while you're there?

📍 Aurora Municipal Center Great Lawn
📅 Saturday, June 13

[Image descriptions:
“Ascenciate” by Douwe Blumberg, an abstract outdoor sculpture at the Aurora Municipal Center featuring flowing organic forms and metal elements in a landscaped public setting.

“One Nation” by David Ocelotl Garcia, a public artwork at the Aurora Municipal Center celebrating community and cultural identity through symbolic imagery and vibrant design.

“The Enchantment of Reading” by James Haire, a public sculpture depicting figures engaged with books and storytelling outside the Aurora Municipal Center.

“Field of Blue” by George Lundeen, a bronze sculpture at the Aurora Municipal Center depicting figures in a realistic style within a landscaped plaza.

“Courthouse Panel” by Ayokunle Odeleye, a large-scale public artwork featuring decorative patterns and imagery integrated into the courthouse architecture.

“Dawn Ring” by Carl Reed, a circular abstract sculpture at the Aurora Municipal Center featuring geometric forms that frame the surrounding landscape.

“Light of Dawn” by Rafe Ropek, an abstract outdoor sculpture featuring curved forms and reflective surfaces inspired by the colors and movement of sunrise.

“Sun Shell” by Rafe Ropek, a public sculpture featuring sweeping shell-like forms that reference sunlight and natural patterns.

“Sunrise” by Tim and Rick Upham, a large-scale public sculpture featuring vertical forms and vibrant colors inspired by the rising sun.

“Twin Totems” by Mary Williams, a pair of sculptural forms standing side by side, incorporating symbolic shapes and textures in an outdoor setting.]

05/25/2026

This Memorial Day, we reflect on the ways public spaces can hold memory, recognition, and community.

Inspired by the historic ticker tape parades that welcomed soldiers home after World War II, “Ticker Tape” by David Farquharson transforms that sense of gathering and gratitude into a contemporary public artwork experience. The colorful sculpture features interactive LED lighting that briefly flickers in response to nearby visitors, creating a moment of connection through light and movement.

You can visit the artwork at Liberty View at Fitzsimons, 1959 N Quentin St. in Aurora, Colorado. “Ticker Tape” represents a partnership between the Aurora Housing Authority and Aurora’s Art in Public Places Program.

[Image Description: Daytime and nighttime views of “Ticker Tape” by David Farquharson, a colorful public sculpture in Aurora, Colorado featuring large ribbon-like perforated metal forms spiraling upward around a bright green structure. The nighttime image shows the artwork illuminated with interactive LED lighting in pink, blue, purple, and white tones.]

05/10/2026

05/10/2026

Happy Mother’s Day to the people who carry us through every stage of life. 💐

“Parent & Child” by Albert Rhea captures a simple interaction many parents know by heart: a child reaching up to be carried after a long day. With the child’s arms emphasized and the parent gently looking down, the sculpture reflects the quiet care, comfort, and connection found in everyday moments between parents and children.

Part of the 2024–2026 Art2C on Havana exhibition, the sculpture is currently installed at Piramides located at 1911 S. Havana St. and will be de-installed this fall. We invite the community to experience the artwork in person and reflect on the moments of love and support that stay with us long after childhood. 🌸

[Image Description: Abstract silver sculpture titled “Parent & Child” by Albert Rhea depicting a parent figure looking down toward a smaller child figure reaching upward.]

05/04/2026

🎨 Request for Qualifications: Martin Luther King Jr Library Mural 🖌️

The City of Aurora is seeking a Colorado Based Artist to create a mural or wall-mounted installation for Martin Luther King Jr. Library. Located in the Aurora Cultural Arts District, along the East Colfax Corridor, this newly expanded and updated library serves as an important nexus within the community. Offering youth/teen spaces, maker spaces, and fantastic programming.

📍 Location: Martin Luther King Jr Library, 9898 E Colfax Ave
✅ Apply via CaFE (link in bio)
💲Apply for Free
Open to Colorado-based Artists

🧑‍🎨 Approximate Budget: $10,000
Deadline: June 5th,2026 at 11:59 PM MT

For more information, or to apply please visit Auroragov.org/pulblicart or (Link in Bio)

[Image Description: Promotional Image of Public Art Call at MLK Jr Library in Aurora Colorado. Depicts an exterior view of the Library]

04/14/2026

Public art in Aurora is shaped through community involvement.

Art Selection Panels bring together residents, artists, and community members to help choose artworks for parks, libraries, and civic spaces across the city. This process helps ensure that each piece reflects the people, stories, and identity of Aurora.

No art background is required, just a willingness to share your perspective.

Interested in getting involved? Learn more and apply here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfLJ4KyROd5M9kJsmJy6VbujniVO0R-kKutz_Rvtir7m4ggQg/viewform

[Image description: Cover graphic reading “Help Shape Aurora’s Public Art” with AIPP logo and a photo of "Once Around" by Tim Upham, 2021.]

[Image description: A photo of "More Color" by Susan Cooper, 2024. Text explains what a public art selection panel is and notes no art background is required.]

[Image description: A photo of "Lenticular Dreams" by Reven Marie Swanson, 2018. Text about community voice in public art decisions.]

[Image description: A photo of "Kawil" by David Mazza, 2006. Text listing panelist responsibilities like reviewing proposals and attending meetings.]

[Image description: A photo of "Florescence" by Project One Studio, 2023. Text inviting community members to apply to serve on a panel.]

04/08/2026

Request for Qualifications: Skywatch Park Public Art
The City of Aurora, Colorado is seeking a public art installation to enhance Skywatch Park, a new elevated community space designed for connection, reflection, and recreation.
Located in southeast Aurora, Skywatch Park offers vast, sweeping views of the sky and surrounding landscape, with the park one of the highest in elevation in Aurora’s park system. The selected artwork should respond to this defining feature and create a meaningful experience for visitors.
“Skywatch” references both the FAA radar dome located within the park and the expansive sky above. Artists are encouraged to explore themes like sky, light, reflection, nature, and presence, whether interpreted literally or abstractly. The goal is to foster a sense of connection, pause, and awareness within this unique environment.
📍 Location: E. Smoky Hill Road and S. Ider Street, Aurora, CO
💻 Apply via CaFE (Link in Bio)
💲 Application is free
🌎 Open to artists in CO, WY, UT, NM, KS, NE
 
Approximate Budget: $50,000
Deadline: May 6, 2026 at 11:59 PM MT
 
For more information, or to apply please visit AuroraGov.org/PublicArt or (Link in Bio)
 
[Image description: A promotional graphic containing a rendering of Skywatch Park’s layout, with the image containing a title of “Skywatch Park Call for Artists”]

04/02/2026

“Fast as Lightning” honors the first responders at Fire Station #9 and the community they serve.

In this video, artist Michael Clapper shares how the freestanding sculpture takes form through a circular design referencing the Maltese Cross, pierced by an illuminated lightning bolt symbolizing speed, protection, and pride. Constructed of stainless steel with red-painted elements, the piece also features a perforated surface that maps nearby streets, grounding it in its surrounding neighborhood.

Clapper’s process begins with research, ensuring each artwork reflects the site and the people it represents.

🎥 Watch to hear directly from the artist about the meaning behind the work.

[Video description: Video stills of artist Michael Clapper discussing the “Fast as Lightning” sculpture, showing the circular stainless steel form, red accents, and illuminated lightning bolt detail.]

03/27/2026

Public art shapes how we experience the places around us.

It influences how we move through a city, how we connect with our community, and how a place feels and is remembered. From economic impact to personal reflection, its value shows up in ways both visible and subtle.

These perspectives highlight just a few of the reasons public art continues to matter in cities like Aurora.

Explore Aurora’s Art in Public Places through our Linktree in bio.

[Image description: Cover graphic reading “Why Public Art Matters” with Bimmer Torres, , “Multicultural Equilibrium,” 2024 artwork-filled lettering and AIPP logo.]

[Image description: Exterior installation with lightning striking through circle, Michael Clapper, , “Fast as Lightning,” 2026, Fire Station 9 at night. Text about identity and place.]

[Image description: Large exterior panel mural with cultural arts imagery, Susan Cooper, , “More Color,” 2024. Text about civic pride and development.]

[Image description: Indoor integrated artwork, Project One Studio, , “Florescence,” 2023, with people walking underneath. Text about public art as an economic driver.]

[Image description: Exterior sculpture with a large and small grouping of birds, Douwe Blumberg, , “Ascentiate,”2018. Text about accessibility of public art.]

[Image description: Exterior circular sculpture with a picnic area nearby. Nikki Pike, , “Ripple,” 2025. Text about transforming underutilized spaces.]

[Image description: Interior mural featuring birds flying and nesting. Mario Miguel Echevarria, , “Weaving Together Improves the Pattern,” 2025. Text about connection and community pride.]

[Image description: Bronze sculptures of people playing golf outdoors. Nancy Golden, “A Quintessential Gathering,” 2000, 2002, 2005, and 2006. Text about reflection and human experience.]

03/09/2026

In recognition of Women’s History Month, we’re highlighting women artists in Aurora’s Art in Public Places collection.

Lenticular Dreams by Denver artist Reven Marie Swanson was created with the help of the surrounding community. High school students from Aurora Central submitted drawings, and neighbors who participated in artist-led workshops shared ideas for a kinetic piece that reflects the natural world.

Installed at Nome Park, the sculpture shifts as you move around it, inviting viewers to experience the artwork from multiple perspectives.

📍 Nome Park
Artist: Reven Marie Swanson
Media: Powder coated steel

[Video description: Video showing several views of the public artwork Lenticular Dreams by artist Reven Marie Swanson at Nome Park in Aurora. The powder coated steel sculpture features layered, wing-like forms in hues of blue, white, and soft yellow mounted on tall poles. The elements gently sway in the wind under clear skies, creating a sense of movement against the open park landscape.]