Vienna Public Art Commission
Public Art in Vienna
“Public art, in all its diversity, can mediate all spaces as Places.”
- Public art pioneer John Newling
The Town of Vienna encourages public art as a means of distinguishing the community, creating a unique sense of place, and bringing beauty, creativity, and culture to everyday life.
Public art in Vienna is created and supported through private efforts, community organizations, and the Town of Vienna’s Vienna Public Art Commission, which advises and assists Town Council on matters related to the advancement of public art.
Taking Flight

- Bronze statue created by Seth Vandable and located in 2017 at the Vienna Community Center entrance.
- Dedicated in honor of all community volunteers, but particularly late Mayor M. Jane Seeman.
- Coordinated by Vienna Public Art Commission and supported by an array of community groups and individuals who raised $45,000 for the artwork and its base.
Small Town, Big Community
- 200-foot long mural on the back of the Vienna Shopping Center, visible from Cottage Street, created in 2018 by Eleanor Doughty and Emily Herr, with support from Madison High School art students.
- Funded by Rappaport Management Co. and coordinated by the Vienna Public Art Commission.

#LOVEViennaVA
- In March 2020, an anonymous local couple donated a LOVE sign made of metal tubes that was installed at the entrance of Northside Park along the W&OD Trail.
- Share your photos and share the love on social media using the hashtag #LoveViennaVA.
- Organizations or individuals can reserve dates to decorate the LOVE sign for holidays and special occasions. The Vienna Public Art Commission manages the decorating calendar. For more information, please send an email. LOVE sign decorating agreement


Take a Seat, Vienna

- In celebration of its 50th anniversary in 2020, Vienna Arts Society painted, displayed around Town, and then auctioned more than 40 benches.
- Several of the benches remain on public display through donations to the Town or via community organizations. Bench locations include the Vienna Dog Park, Vienna Community Center, Town Green, Freeman Store, and Patrick Henry Library.
Sustainability-themed Painted Storm Drains

- Student representatives on the Vienna Public Art Commission and Madison High School art students painted about a half dozen storm drains around the community center and along Church and Mill streets in 2019 and 2020.
- The water conservation-themed paintings were designed to be temporary.
Additional Murals
- Several private businesses have murals painted on their facades, including Whole Foods, Spokes, and a Dominion Street office building near the red caboose.
Public Art Donations
Help bring additional public art to the Town of Vienna by making a donation. Donations made to the Vienna Public Art Foundation may be tax deductible; consult your accountant.

The Vienna Public Art Commission advises and assists the Town Council on matters related to public art, including program development and funding.
Public art is defined as art in any media that has been planned and executed with the intention of being staged on Town property, the public right-of-way, or as part of common areas in developments subject to architectural review. Artwork may include statues, murals and more. You know it when you see it. The train, the “map” of Vienna, children taking flight, LOVE, butterfly wings - public art makes a place you’ve known all your life suddenly new, a destination, a place to go.
VPAC Master Plan(PDF, 5MB)
Get Involved
There are a few ways to be part of public art in Vienna. You don’t need to be an artist—just to care about building community through art.
- Consider applying to become a Vienna Public Art Commission member.
- The Vienna Public Art Foundation (VPAF) was established to act as the philanthropic arm of VPAC; it provides funding and other resources to support projects recommended by the commission. The Foundation is currently seeking board members with experience working for a foundation or with the grant-writing process.
- The Friends of Vienna Public Art volunteer on an ad hoc basis at community events and in support of public art projects. We contact our entire volunteer list when the need arises; you can choose which efforts work for you. We anticipate 2-4 hours, once or twice a year.
There is so much potential for public art in our town. It just takes time, coordination, funding and often, more hands! Apply to Serve on a Board / Commission today and be a part of Vienna public art!
Donate
Please consider donating to support public art in Vienna. Organizations or individuals can reserve dates to decorate the LOVE sign for holidays and special occasions. The Vienna Public Art Commission manages the decorating calendar. For more information, please send an email.
LOVE sign decorating agreement(PDF, 272KB)
For application submission and questions contact Lu Cousins at lucousins@gmail.com
Meetings
The Vienna Public Art Commission meets at 7 p.m. the third Tuesday of each month.
Meeting location
Northside Room
Vienna Community Center
120 Cherry St. SE
Agendas and minutes
Commission Members
- Michael Cheselka, Chair
- Midge Biles, Vice-Chair
- Lu Elizabeth Cousins
- Michelle Kang
- Maureen Barrett
- Chloe Dehn
- one vacancy
- Conservation and Sustainability Commission representative (vacant)
- High School Senior representative (vacant)
Contact
Staff Representative Kathy Blevins
kblevins@viennava.gov
703-255-7801