Sculpting Society: The Positive Influence Of Public Art

The impact of public art on cities, local communities and people’s lives is central to building public places that meaningfully represent their inhabitants. Art can create a strong sense of place within the public realm, promoting social cohesion and benefitting the local communities’ mental health.

From towering sculptural masterpieces that adorn city squares to more subtle murals, public art embodies collective creativity and invites passers-by into a realm of artistic reflection. Public artworks can become deeply interwoven with our natural and cultural heritage, holding the power to humanise the most built environments by providing a point of connection.

Our most esteemed public art installations are crafted to reflect their surroundings in some way, providing an altered and enriched perspective. Whether they explore a deeper social message, reflect the cultural identity of the environment or simply provide a stunning focal point, public art projects are community driven and encourage you to pause for a moment in your day.

Why choose sculpture for public artworks?

Sculpting requires a high level of intuitive skill and exquisite craftsmanship that results in meaningful pieces that evoke an emotional response. Traditional sculpture techniques like engraving, gilding, welding and stonework, are heritage skills that have been perfected over generations of artisans. Sculptural public art pieces are deeply interactive, allowing creative participation and encouraging onlookers into the art world as part of their everyday life.

How do public art projects promote a sense of belonging?

The impact of public art is often widely felt among community members, and sculptures can be an influential asset of successful placemaking, particularly when a piece is crafted to forge strong emotional connections with a location. The visual play and physical interaction endorsed by the tactility of sculpture: different textures, materials and shapes, can be truly immersive and stimulate community engagement through artistic expression.

How can art improve quality of life in the public realm?

The correlation that exists between creativity and happiness is certainly no myth, and bringing art into the heart of communities, as a part of daily life, undoubtedly has a positive effect on their well-being and mental health. A sculptural artwork in the centre of a city square, an open park or any public space, allows us to pause and take a breath, away from the fast-paced modern world around us.

From our experience, the most grounding materials, such as oxidised or stainless-steel, reflect the environment in some way, deepening our creative connection to our lived-in spaces. Water features are particularly effective at permeating the public sphere as the soothing soundtrack of flowing water creates an atmosphere of tranquility.

How can public art benefit economic development and sustainability in urban design?

As well as beautifying public spaces, striking public art projects can be economically beneficial. Whilst sculpture can be emblematic of central community values, it can also become an iconic monument that attracts cultural tourism. Incorporating sculpture in urban design creates a space with unique character and charm.

Why choose David Harber for your public art project?

David Harber artworks grace some of the most prestigious stages around the world, and we relish the challenge of designing breathtaking, large-scale sculptures. With storytelling at the centre of our art form, every work of art crafted at David Harber encourages an enriched relationship to one’s environment, and therefore, a stronger sense of belonging in that space and moment. Our creative process is deeply personal, as every piece is hand-crafted and no two pieces are the same. We thrive working closely with our clients to create art that truly speaks to its surroundings.

Public art commissions

1. On The Shoulders of Giants

This dynamic public artwork leads up to the St James Quarter shopping mall in Edinburgh. Visual art that replicates the human form is unusual for David Harber, but the chance to design a meaningful embellishment for the city made this a special project that we couldn’t resist.

2. Starburst

This public art project, inspired by the explosion of energy from a splitting atom, is a captivating focal point and meeting place at the Harwell Science Park. The design represents cutting-edge scientific research, for which Harwell’s science campus is renowned. Creating art for local businesses is always particularly rewarding, celebrating the success in our nearby community.

3. RAF Brize Norton

RAF Brize Norton, the RAF’s largest aircraft base, commissioned David Harber to design a bespoke public art installation to celebrate its 80th anniversary. The sculpture is a sphere forged from multiple interlocking loops of stainless steel to represent the latitude and longitude lines of the Earth.

4. Glide

Like all public art installations, Glide is an expression of the human experience, designed to evoke an emotional response and bring people together. The contemporary sculpture showcases our oxidised steel finish, which exudes rich terracotta hues, making it a playful and visually captivating focal point outside Moderna Academic Village in Florida.

5. The Spinnakers

The art of sculpture is so diverse, and this arresting nautical piece was designed to welcome residents and visitors to Port St Lucie on Florida’s East Coast. Named The Spinnakers, the design draws inspiration from Port St Lucie’s proximity to the wild Atlantic Ocean and the city’s illustrious maritime heritage.

6. Saga Cruises

Hidden from view, yet the driving force of any voyage, propellers are the physical embodiment of discovery and adventure at sea. We took inspiration from the propeller, a ship’s most powerful tool, to create an elegant, seemingly continuous ribbon of metal that imitates its form. The sculpture techniques required to achieve this shape were challenging; however, our talented in-house team expertly executed the task, crafting it from duplex stainless-steel to ensure immaculate longevity.