Creativity might not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of convention centers, known for their cavernous, utilitarian spaces. But these meeting meccas have long promoted public artwork. In the last decade especially, convention center designs have aimed to be more than just functional and now strive to inspire and reflect cultural values. Their expansive lobbies, atriums, and outdoor plazas also make prime locations for large-scale works. Below, we highlight a few standout pieces and collections from convention centers around North America, from British Columbia to Miami.

Moscone Center

San Francisco’s Moscone Center is home to a public art program commissioned by the San Francisco Arts Commission (SFAC). As part of Moscone's 2019 expansion project, SFAC commissioned new large-scale artworks for the convention center and reinstalled works already in the Moscone collection. The convention center’s art collection now includes murals, sculptures, mixed media, and paintings from world-renowned artists.

A highlight? This LED light sculpture, called “Point Cloud,” (see lead image) created by Leo Villareal. Located within the new pedestrian bridge over Howard Street, this piece is composed of over 50,000 full-color LEDs arranged three-dimensionally. Approximately 1,300 mirrored stainless steel rods hang from the ceiling and support the LED matrix to produce an optical illusion.

Miami Beach Convention Center

As the home of Art Basel, as well as a dynamic visual arts scene, it’s no surprise Miami’s dedicated convention space features an expansive art collection. In 2018, the Miami Beach Convention Center completed a major renovation and expansion that included a $7 million investment in public art throughout the center. Six contemporary artists were chosen from more than 500 around the world to contribute to the art program. Each created a large-scale, site-specific installation relating to Miami Beach.

The one pictured here is “Morris Lapidus” by New York-based artist Sarah Morris. It’s an extensive tile installation on the exterior walls of the center’s northeast entrance. Other highlights include an outdoor sculpture series called “Humanoids,” by Dutch artist Joep van Lieshout, in the northeast ballroom park.

Phoenix Convention Center

The Phoenix Convention Center has long featured artwork that reflects the city’s native Sonoran Desert environment, including a desert “beach” at its Third Street entrance with stoneware ceramic and life-size sculptures. But our favorite might be the piece pictured here, “Art Is a Guaranty of Sanity” by Louise Bourgeois, located in the West Building’s atrium.

At 90 feet high and designed by a world-renowned French American sculptor, this monumental piece features a mirror face cut into shapes reminiscent of a spider web—a recurring theme in Bourgeois’ work. The mirror itself is meant to reflect one of the artist’s hallmark phrases, which also serves as the title of the piece.

Seattle Convention Center

In 2023, the Seattle Convention Center expanded its public art program with the opening of Summit, a new convention building designed as a way to “explore the city without leaving the building,” the convention center’s director of sales Michael McQuade told BizBash in 2022. To that end, expect abundant views and an extensive art collection that pays tribute to the many cultures of the Pacific Northwest.

The Summit collection features 23 commissioned artists and a variety of mediums. Notable works include a wood chandelier made of laser-cut Douglas fir and a carved madrone wood sculpture of a hand pointing down, set with 18 fused glass panels. “Mowitch Man” (pictured) by carver and artist Andrea M. Wilbur-Sigo greets conventioneers at one of the entrances. This piece is a nod to the welcome figures that once stood on these Coast Salish lands. He holds a talking stick, which is a powerful symbol and communication tool used to foster listening and respect during a gathering.

Greater Columbus Convention Center

The Greater Columbus Convention Center features more than 350 unique works of art, including paintings, sculptures, photography, and interactive installations that represent a diverse range of artists from Central Ohio. A standout work is “As We Are,” a 14-foot interactive sculpture by Columbus artist Matthew Mohr. The piece is made from ribbons of ultrabright LED screens and contains a 3D photo booth that captures and displays guests’ portraits on the sculpture’s face for 30 seconds.

Baird Center

Milwaukee’s new Baird Center (formerly the Wisconsin Center) debuted this May after a $456 million expansion. Its new extensive art collection is especially of note; Visit Milwaukee says “nearly every surface within Baird Center spotlights a unique collection of mostly Milwaukee artists” and that all works “tell the story of Milwaukee through the eyes of its residents.”

Standout pieces include “The Great Five,” created by Bluworld of Water, located at the north entrance. The piece is a water installation that pays tribute to the city’s location along Lake Michigan and is a nod to the beauty of the five Great Lakes. Another notable work is “Always,” pictured here, by Milwaukee artist Tommy Sweeney. The piece, located along the Baird Center’s grand staircase, is a stories-high mural of Milwaukee. It uses thousands of images Sweeney has taken over the past four decades, mixing perspectives and timelines.

Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center

The artwork found throughout the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center in San Antonio aims to reflect the city’s growth and its connections to Texas and Mexico. The collection spans a wide range of media from paintings and murals to site-specific installations.

An especially admirable work is “Liquid Crystal,” which serves as the centerpiece for the center’s grand lobby. Created by London-based Jason Bruges Studio, the piece is a 30-foot-tall tower-shaped sculpture comprised of 3,510 active digital LCD panels that are controlled by custom electronics to transmit and reflect light to varying degrees. As the panels modulate, they create an undulating, shimmering “liquid” effect. The studio drew inspiration from the San Antonio River and the flow of people in the convention center.

Victoria Conference Centre

In Canada, the Victoria Conference Centre is home to First Nations artwork, which aims to echo the center’s ethos of representation and community. In the entryway, conventioneers are welcomed by a towering, 25-foot totem pole (pictured) by master carver Tony Hunt made from red cedar. The center’s atrium is also home to the First Wolf Dancer Totem and the Haida Clan’s Pole, positioned on either side of the entry doors. At the entry to the Frank S. Carson Hall, the Whale People Spindle Whorl greets visitors from overhead. Each artwork across the venue aims to represent the specific cultural heritage of the Indigenous First Nations people who first called Victoria home.

This article was originally published in our sister publication, BizBash.

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