Johnson City Public Art

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Johnson City Public Art Enhancing the livability and creative identity of the community through arts-based engagement with the public.

From the artist: My work entitled "Spring" is a powder coated aluminum work. It was completed in 2024 to 2025. It is a s...
10/14/2026

From the artist: My work entitled "Spring" is a powder coated aluminum work. It was completed in 2024 to 2025. It is a sculpture in the round meant to be seen in the round, which increases the scope of the viewer’s experience. It is said of my sculpture that it is the integrity of something grown rather than assembled. I subscribe to this emphasizing process of growth in not only nature but also in our our very own human nature.

“Spring”
$22,000
Powder coated aluminum
3.5’w x 11’h x 3.5’d

Located at the intersection of Browns Mill Rd. and W. Mountainview Rd., this piece is included in the Phil Pindzola Biennial Sculpture Exhibition and is leased from the artist for a two-year period. Leased sculpture are available for purchase, either for personal enjoyment or donation to the City.

For more info about Richard Pitts and his work, visit https://jcpublicart.com/gallery/

🚶‍♂️ Interested in a guided sculpture walk? Check out the audio guide for the current exhibition: https://app.otocast.com/guide/JohnsonCityTN_Biennial

Looking for a unique arts opportunity this fall? This is it! The Johnson City Public Art Committee is seeking proposals ...
10/13/2026

Looking for a unique arts opportunity this fall? This is it!

The Johnson City Public Art Committee is seeking proposals from artists or art teams for the commission of stencil designs to be installed on sidewalks by storm drains in Downtown Johnson City, TN and surrounding neighborhoods.

The stencil designs will be installed using the product called "Invisible Spray" manufactured by the Rainworks company which, when applied, creates a superhydrophobic coating that repels water. The designs made with the spray are practically invisible when the concrete surface is dry, but when they become wet, the artwork will appear! 💧✨

Artists may submit up to 3 designs. The designs will be printed and cut to 51 in. x 114 in. (4.25 ft. x 9.5 ft.), so THINK BIG! The stencil template is available at the link below.

ELIGIBILITY: This opportunity is open to all professional artists over the age of 18 with previous art and design experience.

BUDGET: Up to eight proposals will be selected for the project, and each finalist will be paid a $300 honorarium for their finalized design. The artist will be responsible for submitting a digital file of the design only; they will not be responsible for fabrication of the stencil or installation.

PROJECT THEME: The designs will be installed next to storm drains to raise awareness about the importance of environmental stewardship in relation to water quality. They will contain imagery and text that remind passersby that the storm drains feed directly into creeks and rivers, and therefore, pollutants around them (chemicals, litter, pet waste, etc.) should be minimized.

All designs must include the text, “Only Rain Down the Drain” to create a consistent educational message across all the designs on exhibit. The text formatting, text size, and all associated imagery will be left up to the discretion of the artist.

🔗 Learn more and submit your design(s): https://jcpublicart.com/storm-drain-stencil-project/

📅 DEADLINE: November 11, 2026 by 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time

This project is partially funded by the Tennessee Arts Commission.

From the artist: The Watcher started with a pen drawing on the back of the monthly issue “minutes of the last meeting” d...
09/18/2026

From the artist: The Watcher started with a pen drawing on the back of the monthly issue “minutes of the last meeting” during a particularly boring faculty council meeting at the University of Tennessee in 1977 and continues today.

Over the years I have added Watchers in wood, copper, brass, stainless steel, painted steel, and aluminum. Each Watcher is unique either by material, color, size or location. The peaceful figure of the seated man has progressed to approximately 100 individual sculptures and can be found in both public and private collections from Maine to Florida with the majority located in the southeastern United States. Several years ago, the Watcher Family went international with the Black and Amber Watcher perched at Langton’s Pub in Kilkenny, Ireland and two Watchers are sitting at the County Council Building in Limerick, Ireland.

“Pharaoh Watcher”
$10,000
Bronze, powder coated plinth
26″w x 9.75’h x 15″d

Located at Founders Park, this piece is included in the Phil Pindzola Biennial Sculpture Exhibition and is leased from the artist for a two-year period. Leased sculpture are available for purchase, either for personal enjoyment or donation to the City.

For more info about Jim Collins and his work, visit https://jcpublicart.com/gallery/

🚶‍♂️Interested in a guided sculpture walk? Check out the audio guide for the current exhibition: https://app.otocast.com/guide/JohnsonCityTN_Biennial

09/18/2026

Help celebrate Dolly Day on 9/25! 🎨🦋🩷 Visit Johnson City is searching for chalk artists to create Dolly Parton-inspired artwork on the sidewalk outside the Johnson City Visitor's Center. Click the link in the post below to apply!

From the artist: I designed the "Guide" sculpture to represent an abstract bust of a figure whose head is marked with ho...
09/04/2026

From the artist: I designed the "Guide" sculpture to represent an abstract bust of a figure whose head is marked with holes mapping an excerpt from a Messier astronomical chart. Messier star charts are parts of a catalog of non-comet objects observed in space by Charles Messier. I selected this chart because it is observable and static compared to comets that move across the sky, and by doing so incorporates time into our understanding of their existence. We know that everything on earth changes with time. The "Guide" sculpture’s static star chart suggests that with distance, time can slow. ✨

“Guide”
$25,000
Steel, reclaimed LP gas tank
6’w x 10’h x 4’d

Located at Founders Park, this piece is included in the Phil Pindzola Biennial Sculpture Exhibition and is leased from the artist for a two-year period. Leased sculpture are available for purchase, either for personal enjoyment or donation to the City.

For more info about Mike Wsol and his work, visit https://jcpublicart.com/gallery/

🚶‍♂️Interested in a guided sculpture walk? Check out the audio guide for the current exhibition: https://app.otocast.com/guide/JohnsonCityTN_Biennial

THANK YOU to everyone who came out to support Johnson City Public Art at the 5 x 5 Art Exhibit & Fundraiser last Friday ...
08/11/2026

THANK YOU to everyone who came out to support Johnson City Public Art at the 5 x 5 Art Exhibit & Fundraiser last Friday evening! We were thrilled to witness so much enthusiasm for the arts and for our local artists.

We are deeply appreciative of all the artists who gave their time and effort to create artwork for donation. This event would not be possible without you! It's truly amazing to view the work of so many talented artists in a single exhibit.

The funds raised will be allocated to future public art projects, bringing more artwork into our public spaces for residents and visitors to enjoy.

See you next year!!

Join us TOMORROW for an evening of art, community, and live music at Johnson City Public Art’s eighth annual 5 x 5 Art E...
08/06/2026

Join us TOMORROW for an evening of art, community, and live music at Johnson City Public Art’s eighth annual 5 x 5 Art Exhibit & Fundraiser! This year’s event will feature over 300 artworks that have been generously donated by over 100 area artists. 🤩🎨

Each piece will be sold for $25, and proceeds from the fundraiser will support Johnson City Public Art initiatives.

The exhibition is free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be provided, and attendees will enjoy live musical performances by bluegrass groups The Bidgoods and the Little City Upsetters. 🎶

THANK YOU to all the participating artists! A complete list of artists can be found on our Facebook event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/1763311948136237/

📆 August 7, 2026
🕧 5:55 - 8:00 p.m.
📍The Pavilion at Founders Park in Downtown Johnson City (105 W. Main St.)

Don't forget to join us for the 5 x 5 Art Exhibit & Fundraiser THIS FRIDAY, August 7! The exhibit of over 300 5-inch x 5...
08/04/2026

Don't forget to join us for the 5 x 5 Art Exhibit & Fundraiser THIS FRIDAY, August 7!

The exhibit of over 300 5-inch x 5-inch artworks is free and open to the public, and any purchase you make supports Johnson City Public Art. All pieces are $25 and have been generously donated by over 100 talented regional artists.

📆 August 7, 2026
🕧 5:55 - 8:00 p.m.
📍The Pavilion at Founders Park in Downtown Johnson City (105 W. Main St.)

SNEAK PEEK!! 👀 Check out some of the fabulous artworks that will be for sale at this year’s 5 x 5 Art Exhibit & Fundrais...
07/30/2026

SNEAK PEEK!! 👀 Check out some of the fabulous artworks that will be for sale at this year’s 5 x 5 Art Exhibit & Fundraiser! All pieces are $25 and have been generously donated by over 100 talented regional artists. Proceeds benefit Johnson City Public Art, which means that your purchase will help bring more public artworks to Johnson City!

Join us for an evening of art and community:

📆 August 7, 2026
🕧 5:55 - 8:00 p.m.
📍The Pavilion at Founders Park in Downtown Johnson City

This event is free and open to the public.

Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/1763311948136237/

2 WEEKS LEFT TO SUBMIT ARTWORK! The Johnson City Public Art Committee is seeking an original artwork design for a traffi...
07/17/2026

2 WEEKS LEFT TO SUBMIT ARTWORK! The Johnson City Public Art Committee is seeking an original artwork design for a traffic control box wrap by Hands On! Discovery Center and the Gray Fossil Site & Museum! 🎨🤩

Traffic control boxes sit at signalized intersections and are a great place to incorporate art. The selected design will be printed on vinyl and installed on the box.

The chosen design will align with the spirit of the Hands On! Discovery Center and ETSU Gray Fossil Site & Museum and their place in the community, highlighting the sense of curiosity and discovery that these facilities inspire within individuals of all ages. The wrap artwork for this location should reflect the science and arts-based exhibits, activities, and programming provided by the Hands On! Discovery Center and ETSU Gray Fossil Site & Museum and utilize the following key terms as inspiration for the design: CURIOSITY, DISCOVERY, and STEM/STEAM (educational frameworks).

Submit your proposal today! Artists may submit up to 3 designs. Artwork may be designed at any size as long as it is proportionally suited to the traffic control box dimensions (58”w x 26”d x 57”h). Find the box template at the link below.

View complete eligibility and submission requirements in the RFP document, download the traffic control box template, and submit your proposal(s) at: https://jcpublicart.com/traffic-wrap-art-call/

The submission deadline is July 31, 2026 by 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

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Johnson City, TN

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+14239752706

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