The world of “public art” may seem cloistered, with its esoteric terminology and often anonymous celebrities, but in reality it’s all about bringing people closer together. Public spaces belong to all of us, and the best public artists create works that illustrate the ways in which people live, survive, work, and love in relation to one another.An obvious precursor to public art and street art is traditional graffiti, which has antecedents dating back to the oldest paintings discovered on cave walls. Many modern artists emulate graffiti in style and/or themes (such as the anonymity of the creator and the often potent ideological associations), leading to the term “post-graffiti” to describe certain works.However, graffiti isn’t the only type of street art. Some other common styles include:

• Sticker art: Images or messages pasted in public spaces. These may be hand-drawn (on name tags or mailing labels, for example) or printed through a commercial service or home printer.
• Wheatpasting: A specific style of adhering posters to walls using a paste made from vegetable starch and water.
• Video projection: Publicly displayed videos. These can be harder to display anonymously and require the use of more technology.
• Art intervention: Interacting with an existing piece of art. Can raise issues of legality (more so than other street art).
• Street installations: 3-D objects displayed in public spaces, such as the roundabout dogs which began appearing in Sweden in 2006.

Public art can also include public performance art, including flash mobbing. Public art is usually differentiated from street art in that it is often commissioned by a government or corporate groups, and that the artists may or may not reveal their identities. If you are considering a career in public art, follow all appropriate laws and regulations.The Citylights Project is a non-profit site dedicated to raising awareness about public art in ethical and responsible ways, while challenging the manner in which modern America views art creation. Many people haven’t thought about art since their school years, and these memories often involve field trips to the local art museum. However, art is being made all around us, if you only know where to look for it. Thanks to Citylights, now you do. Be sure to visit the “Artists” page for more information on current artists.