Art in Public Buildings

In 1991, the 51st Legislature of the State of Wyoming passed the Art in Public Buildings legislation. One percent of construction costs of new, state-owned buildings are to be utilized for placing artwork in the public setting, helping to beautify our public buildings and draw attention to the wealth of artist experience within our region.

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About the Art in Public Buildings Program

The artwork for each project is selected by a committee specifically selected for that project. Each committee typically consists of representatives from the community in which the building is located, representatives from the user agency, artists or other representatives from the art community, the architect for the building, and a representative from the State’s Construction and Management Office.  The Wyoming Arts Council coordinates and leads the committee meetings to help administer the project, but does not vote on the selection of artists or artwork.

Requests for Qualifications

The Wyoming Arts Council posts all public art calls and RFQs on CaFE. Details including eligibility requirements, deadlines, and project budgets are available within each RFQ on CaFE. Wyoming artists are given preference. CaFE is free for artists to use.

University of Wyoming 

The University of Wyoming is in the process of constructing the new Student Housing Project on the Laramie Campus. These two buildings will open in 2025 near the intersection of 15th Street and Willett Drive and will house 900 students. The Student Housing Project will replace the current dormitories while bringing students closer to the heart of campus. The committee for this public art call will be seeking work for the space in the upcoming months. The RFQ will be available on CaFE once the committee has formed guidelines for the project.

Sheridan College

Sheridan College is renovating an existing prefabricated metal building with a new building addition to create a new Advanced Manufacturing and Applied Sciences Center, scheduled to open in fall 2024. The public art committee for the facility has selected artist Matt Baral for the artwork which will be installed in 2024.

Northwest College

Northwest College (NWC) in Powell is constructing a new Student Center, scheduled to open in 2024. The commissioned work will be integrated into the two-story fireplace by the selected artists Shelley Beishline and Rob Beishline of Tooza Design (UT). The work will be installed in summer of 2024.

Casper College

Casper College is currently constructing a new Visual Arts Building on campus in Casper. Missouri artist Nathan Pierce recently installed a large stainless steel and acrylic sculpture, “In the Wind.” A building dedication was held in the spring of 2023.

Central Wyoming College

Central Wyoming College, located in Riverton, constructed a new Rocky Mountain Complex, which houses its agriculture and animal science programs. Chicago artist Michael Young has fabricated a large stainless steel sculpture, “Wigwam” which incorporates LED lighting, seating, and a fire pit. The sculpture was installed in the spring of 2023.

Skilled Nursing Facility

The Wyoming Department of Health, along with the Veteran’s Commission and State Construction Department, recently completed the Veteran’s Home of Wyoming Skilled Nursing Facility, located in Buffalo, Wyoming. Lander artist David Alan Clark installed a life-size bronze sculpture, “The Family Business” (pictured above) in the fall. A building dedication was held in October.

University of Wyoming Engineering Education and Research Building

The University of Wyoming recently completed construction on the Engineering Education and Research Building (EERB) in Laramie. The new facility includes various laboratory spaces, a makerspace, student innovation and project space, and the Dean’s office. The committee has selected WindDriven Studios (Laramie, WY) to create an outdoor sculpture on the Lewis St. side of the EERB. The sculpture will be an interpretation of a historic engineering transit that incorporates the various engineering departments housed in the building. It will be installed in the spring of 2024.

Sheridan College Technical Education Center

Sheridan College in north-central Wyoming recently completed construction on the new Technical Education Center. Photographs by former Sheridan College faculty member Dave Marquith have been installed. The exterior powder coated steel sculpture, “Tech Center Quad Carousel” by local artist Lonnie Wright, was installed in 2023.