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Arts NC State
People stroll past the Reds and Whites installation on Centennial campus by the Hunt library. Photo by Marc Hall

Public Art at NC State

A Campus-Wide Canvas for Creativity, Collaboration, and Storytelling

Image above: Reds and Whites by Larry Bell, located on Centennial Campus

What is Public Art?

Public art is art created for the people and placed in spaces that are open and accessible to everyone. At NC State, public art is intentionally designed for both indoor and outdoor environments — from libraries and lounges, to plazas, walkways, and gardens. Each work is sited to invite interaction, encourage reflection, and enrich the rhythm of daily life.

Snapshot of Art to Discover

The gallery below is a small sample of the art you will find across NC State’s campus. Select an image for more information.

Public art exists in the public spaces of NC State’s campus, and they are also designed to be maintained for safety, accessibility, and quality, ensuring that future generations of the Wolfpack can enjoy it. Public art belongs to the community—it is a shared cultural resource that reflects our creativity, stories, and sense of place.

“Public art is for the people – art that is accessible for all to see, enjoy and experience.”

Chandra Cox

Public artist and Distinguished Professor of Media Arts, Design, and Technology

Experience Art Across Campus

Public art is woven into the rhythms of campus life. Explore the Brickyard, stroll through plazas, the Gregg Museum of Art & Design, the Free Expression Tunnel, or pause in the library to encounter works that enrich learning and build community.

Public Art Highlights

– New artwork by CHASS with Rough Edge Collective
– Popular artwork: Wolf Walk on Wolf Plaza
– Award-winning artwork: Dream of Flight located in the Global Courtyard
– Make your mark in the Free Expression Tunnel

Interactive map – Coming soon!
Dream of Flight by Heath Satow, located in NC State's Global Courtyard. Winner of the 2025 Sir Walter Raleigh Award for Community Appearance. Photo by Marc Hall
Dream of Flight by Heath Satow, located in NC State’s Global Courtyard.
Winner of the 2025 Sir Walter Raleigh Award for Community Appearance.
Photo by Marc Hall

Get Involved

  • Students — Participate through internships, assistantships or capstone projects with the Gregg Museum Director on art across campus endeavors and proposals.
  • Faculty and Staff — Collaborate with the Public Art Committee to integrate art into teaching, research or new campus projects.
  • Community and Donors — Support new commissions, conservation and interpretation.
  • Artists — Watch for open calls for commissions and residencies.

Support Public Art

Public art at NC State thrives through generosity and collaboration. Contributions fund artist commissions, care of the collection, interpretation and student learning opportunities.

Every mural, sculpture and installation enriches the Wolfpack experience. Support ensures that each path across campus tells a story and reflects the diverse voices of our community.

Submit ideas about art, artists, or an early stage proposal

Submit ideas about art, artists, or an early stage proposal to Sara Segerlin, Chair of the Public Art Committee and Gregg Museum Director at NC State, via this inquiry form. If you’re looking for additional guidance to get started, please email Sara. Once we receive your proposal, we will respond to follow up within 2-4 weeks.

Support for installing art, delivery, construction and long-term care is required, and all collection additions in public spaces of NC State must be reviewed by the Public Art Committee.

Guidelines and Vision

Public art at NC State is guided by:

  • NC State Physical Master Plan (2020). Anchored in principles of Design for People, Campus Cohesion, Learning Everywhere, and Community & Belonging.
  • Wolfpack 2030: Powering the Extraordinary. Aligning public art with student empowerment, research integration, inclusive storytelling, and sustainability.

Tips for submitting a proposal and budget planning

Proposals should include a clear concept, audience goals, background information, budget, staff support and timeline. A typical budget breakdown:

  • 50% artist fee
  • 30% fabrication and installation
  • 20% art management, maintenance, and conservation

Public Art In the News

The woven bronze wolf statues on Wolf Plaza on a sunny fall afternoon

Weaving Art Into NC State’s Identity

The installation of bronze wolf statues, geometric glass sculptures and other public art is part of a long-term, strategic effort to beautify NC State’s campus.

NC State graduate Matt McConnell with his "Evolution Field" sculpture in the NC State Brickyard.

NC State Alum Matt McConnell’s ‘Evolution Field’ Featured in Brickyard

NC State students, faculty and staff and interested passersby on Hillsborough Street will notice a mesmerizing blend of light and color in the Brickyard over the next three months.  Three sets…

People standing in water-flooded path next to pole markers

Memorializing Flooding: How a Chance Collaboration Led to a Landmark Public Art Project

In the world of design and public art, serendipity often plays a pivotal role. This was certainly the case for a group of designers and artists who, after initially crossing paths in the College of Design, found themselves working together years later on a significant public art project in Raleigh. This project, which began as an educational initiative, ultimately evolved into a large-scale installation that engages the community on multiple levels.

Global Courtyard Earns Sir Walter Raleigh Award

For years, NC State alumnus Heath Satow’s large-scale Dream of Flight sculpture was one of the first things travelers saw when they ventured through the general aviation terminal at the Raleigh-Durham International Airport. Now the work of art is the centerpiece of NC State’s Global Courtyard, serving as a symbol of the university’s international community and partnerships…

The new mural in Caldwell Lounge.

CHASS Unveils Mural Celebrating Creativity, Human Connection

A new mural in Caldwell Hall Lounge highlights the transformative power of the humanities and social sciences, capturing the College of Humanities and Social Sciences’ impact on students, society and the human experience.

A closeup of the Reds and Whites art installation at the Susan Woodson Plaza on Centennial Campus.

Reds and Whites: A Work of Art Anchors Centennial Campus

Thanks to an NC State connection, a masterwork by world-renowned artist Larry Bell is cementing a sense of place on the university’s Centennial Campus.

The Public Art Committee

The committee provides guidance and vision for the growth of public art across campus.

Members (2025–2026):

  • Sara Segerlin – Chair of the Public Art Committee, Director of the Gregg Museum of Art & Design
  • Chandra Cox – Founder and Committee Member, Alumni Distinguished Professor, College of Design
  • Michelle Hayford – Committee Member, Associate Dean & Executive Director, Arts NC State
  • David Hill – Committee Member, Head of the School of Architecture; Co-Founder, Coastal Dynamics Design Lab
  • Lisa Johnson – Committee Member, Assistant Vice Chancellor of Campus Planning & Strategic Investment
  • Meredith Osborne – Committee Member, Curatorial Assistant, Gregg Museum of Art & Design
  • Tom Skolnicki – Committee Member, University Landscape Architect

More Articles and Interesting Links

'Of Pleasure, Of Curiosity, Of Intelligence' by Danielle Hatch. An outdoor textile installation at the Gregg Museum from April 5-June 1, 2025.
‘Of Pleasure, Of Curiosity, Of Intelligence’ by Danielle Hatch. An outdoor textile installation at the Gregg Museum from April 5-June 1, 2025.