City Hall Plaza Public Arts Project Graphics
We commissioned artist Yuke Li to create graphics for the exterior of Boston City Hall and Boston City Hall Plaza.
This is one of two public art projects to complement the renovation of City Hall Plaza. The total budget for this project is $5,000.
We also commissioned a short-term artwork for the north entrance to Boston City Hall (total budget of $50,000).
Project Details
Project Context
As the epicenter of civic activity, Boston City Hall Plaza is a place for inspiration, convening and celebration. The plaza is currently under construction. The renovation aims to:
- renew the cultural and architectural legacy of the plaza, and
- create a welcoming civic and front yard for City Hall.
It will include interpretive wayfinding, including nearby landmarks and open spaces.
This international Call to Artists was open to all artists, with a strong preference for artists with a connection to the themes of the project.
The graphics
The new display system on the west exterior wall of City Hall will serve as a rotating artist opportunity. Yuke created high resolution digital files and coordinated with the City and the contractor providing the fabrication of the panels. An additional set of graphics was installed at the Civic Pavilion on City Hall Plaza.
The Project Theme
We envision these projects as the first of a series of artworks for this site. Through these artworks, we want to recognize and celebrate the stories of Boston and City Hall Plaza.
For centuries, we have been missing the following communities in our artistic landscape:
-
BIPOC/ALAANA (Black, Indigenous, People of Color/African, Latinx, Asian, Arab, Native American) individuals
-
women
-
local activists
-
LGBTQIA+ individuals, and
-
many others.
This site offers a unique opportunity to tell those and other stories.
The site of City Hall Plaza has changed dramatically over time, especially in relation to the Boston Harbor. It will continue to transform as the climate changes. We encourage the selected artists to examine the past, present, and future of the plaza. The artwork should provide context and meaning for residents and visitors. It should also recognize that the land is the traditional homeland of the Massachusett tribe and the neighboring Wampanoag and Nipmuc tribes.
Meet the Artist
Meet the Artist
Yuke Li
Artist, City Hall Plaza Graphics
Yuke Li is a New York-based visual artist and a storyteller who was trained by the MFA Illustration Program at the School of Visual Arts in New York City. She has been working in the creative field for more than ten years, and she works both digitally and traditionally. Yuke has worked on public art projects in New York City, San Francisco, Scottsdale, and Missoula. She has led a team to do an indoor traditional acrylic mural, as well as a street vinyl art installation. Her creative process contains designing with Photoshop to Illustrator,meeting with the fabricator and creative team, and installing on-site. Yuke uses visual language to express emotions and thoughts. Her work has been recognized by the MoCCA Art Festival (MoCCA Arts Festival Awards of Excellence), ADC Award (Bronze Award), American Illustration (Winner), 3x3 International Illustration Awards (Bronze Awards), and Bologna Children’s Book Fair. Her goal is to inspire people with another possibility, to comfort sadness; to plant a hopeful seed in the mind. Yuke believes magic happens, and art is the way.
Related Resources
Related Resources
-
Have questions? Contact:
