Public Art in Downtown

Downtown Albany hosts a wide variety of accessible, free public art by local, regional, and internationally renowned creators. The major public art and placemaking initiatives currently on view are listed and linked below. Click here for an interactive Google map highlighting all public art points of interest in Downtown.

Artful Albany podcast: Explore public art while hearing from the artists through the self-guided walking tour podcast: full information here.

Downtown public art exhibits include:

Capital Walls | More information
Capital Walls is a public art endeavor by Albany Center Gallery, Albany Barn and Albany Parking Authority. This project seeks to inspire our community with uplifting, educational, or thought-provoking works of public art. 

Downtown is Pawsome | More information
Downtown is Pawsome is a popular public art project based on Albany’s famous canine landmark Nipper. Though the exhibit has ended, numerous pieces remain on display in downtown Albany. 

Open Gallery | More information
Presented by The Downtown Albany BID and Albany Center Gallery, Open Gallery is a public art project that activates downtown Albany's side streets and alleyways into a vibrant, colorful, outdoor gallery featuring the work of a diverse range of talented artists. Existing artwork in various mediums was photographed in high resolution and printed on durable vinyl wraps, and installed on 14 doors throughout Downtown, inviting community members and visitors to explore new paths and find beauty in unexpected places. ​
View the Open Gallery walking tour map here

Signs of Greatness: Albany Stories | More information
Signs of Greatness: Albany Stories highlights unique points of interest in downtown Albany, many of which until now have been little known to the public. This exhibit of 12 interpretive permanently installed panels tells stories of Albany's settlement and development, trade and industry, and landmark social innovation, all wrought in our historic streetscapes and noteworthy buildings over the past 400 years.

Stand in the Sole of Albany Dutch Clog Sculptures
Stand in the Sole of Albany was the Downtown Albany BID's 2012 Sculpture in the Streets program. 10 giant "wooden shoe" sculptures celebrating Albany's rich Dutch heritage were creatively customized by local artists as part of the exhibit. While the majority of the sculptures were auctioned at the end of the exhibit, two sculptures remain permanently in Downtown at Federal Plaza Park and outside the Downtown BID and Capitalize Albany office at 21 Lodge Street.