Explore the Public Art in Marquette
Use our Public Art Directory to discover the outdoor sculptures, murals, windows, monuments and memorials within the City limits. All locations can be viewed from the street, sidewalk or other public locations. Look through the directory or visit our Outdoor Public Art Map to find out what’s near you.
Explore the galleries of Marquette on the Marquette Art Tour and visit Peter White Public Library for free public art exhibits.
The City of Marquette's Public Art Policy
The City of Marquette has recognized that including art in public places has numerous benefits – including to promote our area’s cultural heritage and artistic development, enhance the City’s character and identity, contribute to economic development and tourism, add warmth, dignity, beauty and accessibility to public spaces, and expand the experience and participation of citizens with the arts.
The City of Marquette has established a public art policy to create a Public Art Commission and make funding available to support the inclusion public art in the City’s public spaces.
*No City permits are needed for a public art mural on private property. Murals must not advertise the business within the building.
Questions? Consult with us on your privately developed Public Art project
Contact: (906)228-0472 or arts-culture@marquettemi.gov
Public Art is Fun for the Whole Family!
Use Marquette Art Quest to discover your own backyard.
Meet your Public Art Commission
The Marquette Public Art Commission (MPAC) works to enhance our community with art in public spaces across the City of Marquette. The seven-member Commission was established in 2017 with the passing of the City’s Public Art Policy and is empowered to carry out the Marquette Public Art Policy.
Primary responsibilities include to:
- Provide a central point of contact for all phases of City owned public art – project planning, selection, creation, installation, and maintenance.
- Advise and consult on behalf of privately developed public art projects within the City limits
- Promote existing and planned works by building community awareness around public art.
- Coordinate and assist potential donors and sponsors, in partnership with Friends of MPAC, to raise funds in support of public art.
- Advocate for new opportunities to incorporate public works of art across the City.
- Maintain a framework of guidelines for governing the City’s Public Art Policy.
Current Public Art Commissioners:
Brianna Hobbins (Chair)
Emerson Graves
Alison Taras
Public Art Commission – 7 members
Meetings Held: Monthly on the second Wednesday at 6:00 in the Peter White Conference Room on the Main Level of Peter White Public Library.
Preferred Qualifications: In accordance with the Public Art Policy, at least four (4) members must be art professionals (e.g., artist, performing artist, architect, landscape architect, curator, arts writer, arts educator, arts administrator, or individual with a college-level degree in an art field). All members should have an interest in or demonstrated experience in public art, design, architecture, arts administration, or related disciplines.
Get Involved
Join MPAC: If you are a City Resident interested in shaping Public Art policy, apply to serve on the commission.
Research: Help us build up our City’s Public Art Directory. Each piece of public art has a story, help us tell it! Email tmorin@marquettemi.gov to learn more.
Contribute: The City’s public art program is supported by Friends of Marquette Public Art. To give or join the committee, email tmorin@marquettemi.gov
Upcoming Projects
Completed Projects
Featuring original art by local indigenous artists Sherri Loonsfoot-Aldred and Aiyana Aldred the shoreline cultural trail storymarkers offer both permanent and temporary public art pieces inspired by eight different sites along our city’s shoreline.
Oscillation was an interactive light and sound installation hosted at the Marquette Commons that invited people to play. A travelling installation created by the Urban Conga and tour produced by CREOS, Oscillation features five crystal-like sculptures that react to movement and proximity with changing color and sounds.
Bright Beginnings and Lucid Fyre Bellators Performance
The City of Marquette Arts and Culture Office partnered with the U.P. Children’s Museum to host “Bright Beginnings”. This family centered event provided hot cocoa, community fire pits, free glowsticks and hosted a performance by the Lucid Fyrë Bellators, a U.P. fire dance group.
January 2025
The Marquette Public Art Commission (MPAC) commissioned environmental artist Brian Wignall to create a piece of public art inspired by a dragonfly to be placed at the entrance of the new all-inclusive Kids Cove Playground in Mattson Lower Harbor Park.
The goal of the sculpture is to engage the city and its visitors, creating a sense of wonder and joy to reinforce the positivity of play while honoring Joani Reynolds Miller, a retired preschool teacher who had a vision of making life for children with disabilities more inclusive in our community.
WORKSHOP: Brian Wignall led a full day workshop about the business and process of large-scale public art. MPAC partnered with NMU Art and Design to offer this professional development opportunity free for local artists and students to attend.
The City of Marquette installed the ‘Seven Grandfather Teachings’ sculpture by artist Jason Quigno on September 6, 2024. The sculpture was commissioned by the City of Marquette Public Art Commission.
Quigno, an Anishinaabe contemporary stone sculptor and tribal citizen of the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe, has carved seven locally quarried boulders to represent each of the Seven Grandfathers and the teachings they offer. The stones will be placed in a circle at the entrance of the recent Spear Dock walking pier renovation in the City’s lower harbor.
Read more about the unveiling event HERE
“Words to Live and Bike By” – temporary installation featuring a series of motivational words along the bike path, all designed and painted by various local artists and groups (2020).
Words to Live and Bike By (Summer 2023)
Phase III will reimagine the original five words with new artwork.
Words to Live and Bike By – GRATITUDE II
Words to Live and Bike By – RESPECT II
Words to Live and Bike By – HOPE II
Words to Live and Bike By – REMEMBER II
Words to Live and Bike By – DREAM II
Words to Live and Bike By – Reciprocity
Words to Live and Bike By – Inspire
Words to Live and Bike By – Embrace
Words to Live and Bike By – Grow
Words to Live and Bike By – Play
Words to Live and Bike By – Persevere
The Queen City Courts project introduces art onto a local court’s playing surface to help increase park usage and attract players of all ages and levels of experience, from families to students and adults. The Marquette Public Art Commission commenced this project with the basketball court at South Marquette’s Hurley Field Park.
After a rigorous jurying session and public feedback, MPAC chose “Fast Break” by Detroit-based artists Ivan Montoya and Joey Salamon as the winning design. “Fast Break” was installed in 2022.
