Project Art at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics

Project Art oversees the care of more than 5,800 objects, including more than 2,200 framed posters and 3,900 works of original art. These feature a variety of media, such as drawing, printmaking, painting, sculpture, ceramic art, fiber art, photography, and mixed media. The artwork selected seeks to soothe, stimulate, and educate the hospital audience.

UI Hospitals and Clinics supports the policy of purchasing many works of art to ensure a wide variety of artwork to meet the needs of the diverse hospital audience. By selecting a greater number of art objects, Project Art is able to place works throughout most of the public corridors, reception areas and family lounges.

Acquisitions are approved by the UI Hospitals and Clinics' Art Acquisitions Advisory Committee, which reviews purchases for quality, suitability to the hospital environment, credentials of the artist, and appropriateness of the work to the collection.

The history of Project Art

DALE CHIHULY
Untitled, from the Seaforms series, Blown glass, 1986

Many of the artworks commissioned through the Art in State Buildings program are created by Iowa artists, but not all. Dale Chihuly is world-renowned for his spectacular glass works, and his exhibits are always blockbusters: more than 1 million viewers visited the Tower of David Museum to see his "Chihuly in the Light of Jerusalem" installations there! Mr. Chihuly was born in Tacoma, WA, and was first drawn to working with glass while studying interior design at the University of Washington. Later he studied glass more intensively at the University of Wisconsin, home to the first glass program in the country. He would eventually go on to establish the glass program at the Rhode Island School of Design. Be sure to follow the link below to read more about one of the most innovative artists in the country, and to feast your eyes on more of his art!

Dale Chihuly online