UF Dental Sciences Building Addition - Public Art Commission

The Art in State Buildings Program at the University of Florida is commissioning an artist or artist team to create a site-specific work of art for the new UF Dental Sciences Building Addition. The addition will house the expansion of the Dental Sciences program and serve as the new west entrance to the UF Health Sciences Center Campus. The building features modern design with a thoughtful focus on natural light.

The art selection committee is particularly interested in art for the Atrium, with suspended works or building integrations desired. The Atrium serves as the main concourse for the Dental Sciences Building and the entire UF Health Sciences Campus, and art should focus on visitor engagement, enhancing the patient experience by being both welcoming and stress reducing. There is also opportunity for placement of exterior works of art along the west drop off loop and active pedestrian pathway, although this site is secondary to the Atrium.

Art Budget: $95,000-$98,000 for site-specific art. Finalists will receive an honorarium to create and virtually present a site-specific proposal. The total amount available for all honoraria payments is expected to be between $2,000-$5,000 and is separate from the art budget. There is a separate travel stipend to offset the cost of finalists visiting Gainesville, FL for an in-person site visit. Project Timeline: Application Review and Finalists Notification Spring 2026; Finalist Site Visit October 2026; Proposal Presentation and Selection December 2026; Installation ~December 2027; Construction August 2026-August 2028.

Application Requirements: Submit a letter of interest describing why your artwork is appropriate for the project; current professional CV or Resume demonstrating public art experience meeting at least 2 required criteria; 10-20 digital images of artworks (first five images will be shown to the committee in initial blind review); brief descriptions of each artwork image including title, medium, dimensions, date, price, site/location, and commissioning agent/client/collection/exhibiting museum or gallery. Artwork with sound or motion may be submitted as video or audio file (up to 6 files, each counting as an image). Promotional videos or "making of" videos should not be included. International eligibility.