As ASU’s West campus was born - emerging from a dusty 300-acre parcel with a handful of initial buildings in the late 1980s - so, too, was the idea of incorporating public art into design plans. In 1991, when the first phase of construction of seven buildings was complete, seven accompanying public art pieces also found their place on campus.
The pieces, commissioned to match the new campus architecture and layout, tell a story of the past, present and unlimited future history of the campus as well as the past, present and future knowledge represented by the University.
Strategically placed in various zones for maximum effect, the selected works incorporate a variety of media and concepts:
Albert Paley, The Paley Gates
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Paley has revived the art of architectural metalwork in the construction of a ceremonial gate. He views his design for the ASU West gates as a foil to the formality of the surrounding architecture. Campus entrance |
Muriel Castanis, Statue of a Woman Looking to the Future
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Castanis is known for her ability to make us see what we normally take for granted. Her work at ASU West is a conceptualization of a faceless, shrouded female figure with a book in hand, stepping into the unknown. East side of University Center Building |
Bob Haozous, The Coyote and the Rabbit
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Acknowledged as a major voice in Native American art, Haozous produces works conveying clear messages about ecological, political and sociological issues. Man’s interface with nature is the theme of his two metal sculptures at ASU West. South of University Center Building |
Susan Pfeiffer, The Five Senses
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Pfeiffer sees the depiction of the five senses as significant because “it is through our senses that we explore new environments.” University Center Building courtyard |
W.P Ebberhard Eggers, Hippokrene
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This work by Eggers, a renowned German sculptor, depicts two horses that are entwined physically and symbolically. The larger is an armor-clad warhorse, while the smaller Pegasus, a symbol of inspiration to poets, is portrayed as emerging in flight to an unknown future. University Center Building courtyard |
Jun Kaneko, Ceramic Tile Floor
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Kaneko has produced several noted works including Polka Dot Sidewalk at the Art Museum of South Texas, and his large dango ceramic sculptures at Sky Harbor International Airport, Phoenix. His work at ASU West is designed to direct attention toward the central fountain of the University Center Building courtyard. Eggers’ Hippokrene is located atop the fountain. University Center Building courtyard |
Anonymous, Limestone Urns
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Craftsmen, using skills passed down over many centuries, individually carved these two urns in Italy. Between Sands Classroom Building and Classroom Lab/Computer Classroom |
Zarco Guerrero, Carved Wooden Masks
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Guerrero’s work is influenced by the folk art of Japan and Mexico. The two masks now at ASU West are carved from 500-year-old cedar wood found in Hawaii. This naturally dark surface provides a striking background for the colorful painted features on each mask. Foyer of University Center Building |
