Public Art Commission seeks artist for aviation-inspired project
The City of Hickory’s Public Art Commission (PAC) is seeking an artist to create a large-scale public sculpture for outdoor installation along the Aviation Walk in Hickory.
The work will be a sculpture placed near the entrance to the new Hickory Aviation Museum at Hickory Regional Airport and will be visible from public streets and pedestrian walkways, free of any admission fee. The committee is especially interested in work that highlights community, creativity, artistry, and craftsmanship.
The PAC invites applications from professional artists or designers, age 18 or older, who are eligible to work in the United States. Applicants must also be based in a western North Carolina region that has been impacted by Hurricane Helene.
The selected artist will collaborate with the PAC to create a work of art inspired by aviation and/or the Hickory and Catawba County region.
Interested artists must submit an application, including a statement of interest, work samples, resumes, and references, by 5 p.m. on May 13. Applications may be submitted electronically to sgreene@hickorync.gov or mailed to the following address:
City of Hickory Public Art Commission
c/o Sarah Greene
P.O. Box 398
Hickory, NC 28603
A review committee composed of members of the Public Art Commission and project stakeholders will evaluate applications and invite finalists to interview. The committee will then recommend an artist, or artist team, to the Public Art Commission for approval. The selected artist will be notified on June 12. The commissioned project must be completed by late fall of 2025.
Additional details about the project and application process are available on the Public Art Commission’s webpage, www.hickorync.gov/public-art-commission, or by clicking here. For questions about this project, please contact PAC Liaison Sarah Greene at 828-261-2275 or sgreene@hickorync.gov.
The Public Art Commission, an advisory group to the Hickory City Council, works to enrich Hickory by integrating a wide range of art into public spaces that will create a visual sense of the community, improve quality of life, represent all facets of population, commemorate history, and inspire all citizens and visitors. Hickory’s Public Art Collection is comprised of over 100 works of art, including paintings, sculptures, murals, and benches.