Central Library Art Pieces
| Atrium wall and 5th floor |
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By Christian Moeller. Prominently hung in the Library’s atrium, Caw is a 37-foot-tall kinetic piece that resembles a cuckoo clock, with a swinging pendulum. The red sculpture is accompanied by an artist-created video of a mystical black bird, presented in a round viewing screen on the Central Library's fifth floor. This public art commission was created by internationally renowned artist Christian Moeller. Caw was selected as part of the City of Austin’s Art in Public Places Program. When developing the artwork concept, Moeller said he was inspired by a visit to Austin where he encountered the ubiquitous great-tailed grackles – birds with a “unique kind of attitude towards their human co-habitants.” In the artist’s words: “Despite their commonplace nature, black birds have a strong presence in our mythology and literature. A piece representing these mystic yet commonplace creatures in a public Library seems to me a very good fit for Austin.” Though referred to as a clock, this is an art piece and does not tell time. |
| 2nd floor |
2Day and What's Your Purpose
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Art Description: This piece is titled 2Day and What's Your Purpose Our mission is to develop leaders, promote brotherhood and academic excellence, while providing service and advocacy to the communities that we serve. Each painting was a collaboration effort of Crocket High School and two local artists, Craig McNary and Jarrid Williams. Created on MLK day, these pieces were inspired by two things: the legacy left by Brother Dr. Martin Luther King and the words of Crocket High School Students. Our goals with this piece were to inspire the youth to continue to advocate for justice and understand that MLK's Dream is now their reality. The marathon continues and The Dream will never fade away but make a way. Thank You Austin Public Library for this amazing opportunity. Artist Bio: Jarrid J. Williams who goes by the artist's name DaProphet, is a multi-disciplinary artist from New Orleans, Louisiana. Traditionally, he practices as an aspiring Art Therapist and utilizes his skills as a way of advocacy and healing the community he serves. His artwork can be described as very textured display and holds a lot of emotion due to his heavy painting style. The majority of his work can be found at RichesArt Gallery located in Austin, Texas. Each piece is only preparation for his lifelong project DaMelinated Chapel a recreation of the world-famous Sistine Chapel by Michelangelo. |
| 3rd and 4th floors |
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By Susan Scafati. Seen from all floors, this site-specific installation overlooking Austin’s skyline is part of the Austin Public Library's permanent collection. The installation reimagines constructed landscape as a suspended spectrum of everyday urban forms in flux. Susan Scafati is an American conceptual artist who explores the ways in which individual versus collective identities, personal versus cultural mythologies, are constructed. She explores the iconography and materiality that contribute to the way meaning is organized and its impact on human experience. |
| 3rd floor |
Yoko’s Show-and-Tell
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By Rosemary Wells. Displayed in the Children’s Room, this semi-permanent collection consists of original illustrations and storyboards from the Rosemary Wells book, Yoko’s Show-and-Tell. The collection is the property of her children, but it is on loan to APL indefinitely. |
| 3rd floor |
You are Limitless
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By Misha Blaise. Series of images that runs along the back wall of the children’s room was specially created for the kids’ area. Blaise is an author and illustrator, and her images are designed to create a sense of wonder that is meant to inspire patrons to think about the various ways that everything on the planet is interconnected. The children’s area will occasionally have coloring pages of Blaise’s works available at the desk. |
| 4th floor |
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Artist: Gary Lee Price, Bronze sculpture, “Book Worm”, created 1993 Donated by Ellen Spertus “In Memory of Sylvia Spertus by her loving family. It is a fitting symbol of her lifelong love of books and of the many times in which her use of this library brightened her life and of those of so many others.” |
| 4th floor |
Ada Anderson Memorial Wall
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Display of Ada Anderson's art from her personal collection and several community service awards. Ada Cecilia Collins Anderson was an Austin civic leader, philanthropist, and arts advocate. Highly acclaimed for her civil rights work, Anderson was the recipient of many accolades including her entrance in the Texas Black Women's Hall of Fame and the African American Women's Hall of Fame both in 1986. |
| 4th floor |
Jeremiah the Innocent & Friends in Zilker Park
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By Jason Archer. The Austin Public Library commemorates the life and work of beloved musician and artist Daniel Johnston, who passed away in 2019, with a mural commissioned by the Library Foundation. The mural, on display in the Special Collections area, mimics Johnston's playful, surreal style and invokes themes Johnston explored throughout his life and work, including his struggles with mental illness. |
| 4th floor |
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Over the years Brenda Branch, Austin Public Library director from 1991 to 2017, collected quotations about reading, books and libraries that inspired her. A metal sculpture with some of those quotations is installed on the east side exterior of the Central Library. It can be seen within the building from the Teen Area and the Reading Room. |
| 4th floor |
The Readers
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By Carolyn Jean Rogers (1950-2016). On display in the 4th floor Reading Room, this oil painting on canvas depicts two elegantly dressed individuals reading Catch-22 and Life of Pi in cozy armchairs. In progress for over two years and completed in 2010, Carolyn always intended for the painting to be displayed in the Central Library where she began her library career in the 1970s. She continued as a librarian for the rest of her life, ever devoted to readers and the joy of reading. |
| 6th floor |
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By Sergio Bustamante. This resin sculpture is on display in the Living Room Gallery, near the south entrance to the Rooftop Patio. It is part of APL’s permanent collection and is currently on display at the Central Library, but it may be moved to different library branches. Sergio Bustamante is a Mexican sculptor known for his surreal work depicting animals and curious creatures. The Library is honored to receive this sculpture through the generous donation of Tom Gilliland. |
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Shoal Creek (outside) |
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Hank Willis Thomas's sculpture occupies a prominent space at east entrance of the Austin Central Library overlooking Shoal Creek. "The Truth Is I Love You" derives its name from a collaborative artwork and poem written by Thomas with artist Ryan Alexiev “All of my work is about framing and contexts,” says the artist. “Depending on where you’re standing, it really shapes your perspective of the truth, of reality, and of what’s important. I’m honored to see this work grow in a place like Austin.” "I believe libraries are among the few public spaces dedicated to our growth, and to finding the truth." |
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2nd Street (outside) - Part of the art installations for Seaholm District. |
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By Judd Graham. Array is a series of art bollards separating pedestrians from traffic. Spin is a standalone pillar and brings a moment of play. The heavily textured surfaces of these artworks were hand forged by the artist. |
| West Ave. (outside) |
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By Sharon Engelstein. Inspired by the many definitions of family, Crullers includes Tall Solo, Big Mama Baby, and Little Mama, which hint at familiar and huggable creature-forms while inviting interpretation and conversation. |
| 2nd Street (outside) |
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By New American Public Art. Interactive sculptures hiding secrets, these great horned owls observe the cityscape from their perch atop dodecahedrons (12-sided geometric shapes). Playful features await discovery by curious passersby. |
| West Ave. (outside) |
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By NADAAA. Power Picket is a set of colorful concrete pillars and perforated metal panels that enclose an active power substation, creating a dynamic response to surroundings while alternately shielding and revealing what lies at the center. |
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2nd Street (outside) |
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By Chris Gannon, Chadwick Wood, and Brockett Davidson. A series of red and white pipes arranged in a geometric upside-down teardrop, Wander is an interactive literary adventure for exploring Austin; the sculpture acts as the gateway to the project. Stand near the sculpture and visit www.wanderatx.com to begin. |
