Denver Zoo/City Park Public Art Commission

The Denver Arts & Venues Public Art Program seeks to commission an artist or team of artists to create an original work of art for the exterior façade of a building on Denver Zoo's property. The building is located on the southeastern side of the Zoo, adjacent to Denver's City Park and facing City Park's Duck Lake. The building is 28 feet tall. There is also the possibility of extending the artwork or other elements along the nearby fence line and onto an adjacent service gate, or integrating the artwork(s) into the natural area between the building, fence and the lake itself. The commission amount is $285,000 USD.

The selection panel is particularly interested in artworks that explore the interplay between the built and natural environment, that celebrate the Denver Zoo and City Park and highlight the transition between the two, that are sensitive to nearby wildlife and are calming yet innovative, and provide visitors with another reason to pause at the site. The artwork should have a daytime and nighttime presence. The primary view shed is from across Duck Lake and into City Park and across the south shore of Ferril Lake looking north to Duck Lake and the service gate area. The artwork might reflect off the water of Duck Lake and Ferril Lake and be seen from 17th Ave., depending on the scope of the artwork. All applicants are expected to consider the issues of maintenance and durability. The project should be fabricated of highly durable, low-maintenance materials, and the panel is open to the use of natural materials that tie in with the landscaping in and around the project site.

This project is open nationally to all artists working in any media. Artists with experience integrating artwork(s) onto existing building façades are encouraged to apply, as are emerging artists. Applicants will submit eight digital images, a résumé, and a statement of interest no longer than 2,000 characters. From these applications, the selection panel will choose between three and five semifinalists who will be required to present their proposal to the Art Selection Panel. Colorado artists will be provided an honorarium of $1,000, and out-of-state artists will be provided $1,500 to prepare and present the proposal in person. Applicants may apply as a single artist or multi-person collaborative group. If applying as a team, submit one résumé for the team, with 1-2 pages per team member. Semifinalists will be required to submit a Diversity & Inclusiveness Form. Artists or artist teams selected to create proposals will be required to consult with Denver Zoo staff, Denver Parks and Recreation staff and Denver Public Art Program staff prior to the submission of a final proposal to discuss site parameters and areas of opportunity.