Art in public space in the city of Leipzig – an introduction
Leipzig – local context and ongoing urban development concepts
Since 1990, Leipzig has been undergoing a continuous and sometimes contradictory process of transformation. The city has responded to this with various strategies and concepts, some of which form the basis of the work of Stadtkuratorin Leipzig.
Considerations on art and public space
Art in public space encompasses a wide range of artistic expressions found in urban environments and publicly accessible buildings. This includes not only sculptures, monuments, installations, and architectural art, but also temporary performances and actions, interventions, street art, as well as sound and media art.
Art in public spaces in Leipzig
This text provides an exemplary overview of the permanent, mainly historical projects relating to art in public spaces in Leipzig, explaining the themes they deal with and the debates arising from them. It also identifies some of the gaps in Leipzig's urban environment, i.e. perspectives and topics that remain largely invisible.
From Talk to Action – Complicity in Art in Public Space
Forms of collective action are constantly being re-examined. Gesa Ziemer proposes the term “complicity” to describe the spark that ignites talk into action. Complicity means developing and implementing ideas together – temporarily, affectively, individually, and deliberately.
Safer Spaces – Curating to Challenge Discrimination
(In)securities of BI_PoC and FLINTA* artists working in public space
Discussion and exchange format as part of the “Safer Spaces” symposium on December 7, 2024
Representation of Diverse Urban Society: Discrimination-Critical Curation of Memory and Art in Public Space
Which perspectives and themes dominate memorialization in Leipzig's public space, and where are the gaps? In a contested social field, city council decisions, strategies, and concepts offer guidelines on which topics are currently pressing, and which deserve more attention. But what do these plans mean, from a discrimination-critical perspective? Which specific topics should be addressed?
Resistant Archives
In this text, performer Ali Schwartz reflects—through the perspective of an audience member—on a performance that took place during the symposium “Safer Spaces in Public Space – Art as Medium and Method” on December 7, 2024, at the Ihmelsstraße Community Center.
Together with amaeze, one of the four artists, they paint a picture of artistic resistance.
Softer Paunsdorf – putting softness together
We're sorry, but this content is currently available only in German. An English translation is in progress.
Architecture-related Art and Public Spaces in East Germany
Leipzig’s Mosaics from 1949 to 1990 – Documenting, Evaluating, Preserving
Unfortunately, this content is currently only available in German. An English translation is on the way.
The „Utopische Tafel“ as Format and Concept - Encounters in Grünau-Nord
Documentation of the contribution to the “Zukunft Jupiterplatz” day of action on Architecture Day 2024
Offene Denkmale – Beiträge zu Erinnerung und Stadtgesellschaft
“Heritage is the answer! But what was the question?” – Museums, monument preservation, and the right to heritage in a society of migrants
On June 14, 2025, Gülşah Stapel gave a lecture in front of the Soldier's Memorial at Neustädter Markt.
What does it mean to think of cultural heritage in a society defined by diversity, human rights, and the pursuit of social justice? Why is it important to understand the negotiation processes surrounding cultural heritage not only as a cultural policy issue, but also as a social issue?
Warming up a stone – exchange format on Leipzig's colonial stone
We’re very sorry, but this content is currently only available in German. We’re working on a translation.
Horizontal Memory: The Fall of the Colston Statue in Bristol
The Stadtkuratorin Leipzig regularly follows processes around public monuments which raise debates about the appropriate handling of historical objects, and questions of contemporary memory culture. A look at Bristol, as an example, shows the transformative potential of curatorial projects to initiate socially charged debates about monuments.
