WHY PUBLIC ART?

"Public art has become a mark of high-quality, urban design because public art brings the sense of vibrancy that cities are seeking—it’s the essence of place-making… Public art can highlight shared history, showcase a city’s unique qualities, memorialize special people and memorable times, bring people together and communicate something about the character of a community and its inhabitants….The African Burying Ground sculptures are probably the most eloquent answer to, 'why public art?' but it is exciting to think that we now have other opportunities."

— Chris Dwyer, chair Public Art Review Committee

Public Art Collection (February 13, 2025 - PDF)

Following the recommendations of the Governance Committee, the Portsmouth City Council in 2023 directed the creation of a Public Art Review Committee (PARC) to assist the City in reviewing proposals for public art and conduct practical assessments of the feasibility of installing and maintaining such art works in the public sphere.

PARC responsibilities include: 

• Fostering the development and awareness of public art within the City of Portsmouth, and advising the City Manager and City Council with respect to matters relating to the development of public art awareness within the City of Portsmouth;
• Collaborating with the City on the acquisition, maintenance and marketing of its public art, and developing a stewardship policy and accepting referrals from the City Council or any other public body concerning public art and art issues, generally;
• Establishing a Public Art Acquisition Policy and guidelines for review of public art, reviewing applications for public art, including sponsored works, following that Policy and advising the City on issues related to its “Percent for Art” policy;
• Providing input on public art and art issues in connection with Master Plans, zoning ordinances and strategic planning documents and overseeing public art programs established by the City of Portsmouth in accordance with any policies and guidelines either established by the City or established by the Public Art Review Committee at the request of the City Council; and
• Identifying and soliciting funds to supplement the public art budget and the Public Art Trust, for either temporary or permanent use for the acquisition, maintenance and/or installation of public art.

In January 2024, PARC launched the process to plan for, create, and install a signature work of art on City property at Peirce Island using funding from the City’s Percent-for-Art program. The installation of "Spiraling Serenity" by sculptor Vito DiBari, principal of DiBari Associates of Miami FL was completed in July 2025.

City-owned public art includes the following:

"S-1" from "Portsmouth Harbor Salt Piles Series" by Carl Austin Hyatt

"Cod and the Mortal Sea" in Bohenko Gateway Park, by Terrence Parker

9/11 Memorial & City Hall Artwork | City of Portsmouth

"My Mother the Wind" (1975) on Four Tree Island, one of four public art works in Portsmouth by sculptor Cabot Lyford

"Ingenuity" (2010) in Bohenko Gateway Park by Jeanne Givens, created for the second "Overnight Art" exhibit for ArtSpeak

African Burying Ground Memorial (2015) by Jerome Meadows

Foundry Place artworks (2018) "Working" by Terrence Parker and Seth Emerson Palmiter and by Peter Happney in Rock Street Park

"Odyssey" (2020) in Prescott Park by Richard Erdman

"Endeavor" (2023) Portsmouth NH 400 Legacy Project by Sijia Chen

City-owned art works are also displayed in City Hall, the Portsmouth Public Library and other facilities.