---
title: "Civic art"
description: "Artwork commissioned by or for government (city halls, courthouses, parks), historically emphasizing shared ideals and the dignity of public institutions."
glossary: "https://www.civiccollection.com/glossary"
source: "https://www.civiccollection.com/glossary/civic-art"
---

# Civic art

> Artwork commissioned by or for government (city halls, courthouses, parks), historically emphasizing shared ideals and the dignity of public institutions.

Glossary: https://www.civiccollection.com/glossary  
Source: https://www.civiccollection.com/glossary/civic-art

The term predates "public art" and carries the flavor of its City Beautiful
era: allegorical figures, murals in post offices, ornamented infrastructure.
Today the two terms overlap almost completely, but "civic art" still tends to
signal government commissioning specifically (art as part of the public
estate), where "public art" includes work on campuses, hospitals, and private
development.

Related terms: [Public art](https://www.civiccollection.com/glossary/public-art), [Monument](https://www.civiccollection.com/glossary/monument), [Public realm](https://www.civiccollection.com/glossary/public-realm)