The Story of Public Art
MAPS presents its largest international exhibition to date, The Story of Public Art. The exhibition tells the story of groundbreaking artistic experiments in public spaces from the 1960s to the present.
MAPS presents its largest international exhibition to date, The Story of Public Art. The exhibition tells the story of groundbreaking artistic experiments in public spaces from the 1960s to the present. The Story of Public Art presents over 120 artists from more than 40 countries in an organic and dynamic exhibition format that will evolve throughout its four-year duration.
The Story of Public Art explores what artists do in public spaces. The exhibition draws connections to the lives we live and address, through the artist’s perspective, significant societal themes across time and geography. The exhibition offers an experience of art’s international reach and significance, created in dialogue with its contemporary context. It highlights time-based works that have become landmarks for future generations, as well as pieces that have changed our perception of identity, power structures, biopolitics, desire, labor, social relations, nature, and reality.
Lawrence Lek, NOX – ‘Day Five: Equine Therapy’, 2023. Video Still. Commissioned by LAS Art Foundation, Berlin. Courtesy of the artist and Sadie Coles HQ. MAPS – Museum of Art in Public Spaces: The Story of Public Art – Dancing in the Streets (On Power). Photo: Jan Søndergaard.
The Story of Public Art transforms the museum building and branch out into public spaces.
The exhibition is divided into two parts:
Dancing in the Streets (On Power) – The first part of the exhibition showcases artists’ performances, actions, manifestations, and media interventions in cities worldwide. From Warsaw and Rio de Janeiro to Tamale and Times Square – and across media from the 1980’s Spectacolor billboards to today’s AI world-building.
Explosions (On Expansion) – The second part of the exhibition explores artistic experiments in landscapes and the tension between nature and the human-made. From the 1960’s Arte Povera and Earth Art to contemporary artistic investigations of art forms that merge with organic life forms and artificial nature.
MAPS’ atrium is, as part of The Story of Public Art’s opening, transformed into a live performance installation by the Cypriot artist Maria Hassabi. The installation explores the museum space through movements, reflections, and encounters, offering new perspectives on art as independent public spaces.
Exhibition views of The Story of Public Art - Dancing in the Streets on Power) ©MAPS - Museum of Art in Public Spaces. Photo: Jan Søndergaard.
Dancing in the Streets (On Power) opened on March 22, 2025. The second part of the exhibition,Explosions (On Expansion), opens on October 4, 2025. The Story of Public Art is curated by PhD Charlotte Sprogøe, and designed by Milan-based, internationally recognized design fi rm FormaFantasma, which has previously designed the main exhibition Milk of Dreams at the Venice Biennale 2023 and received numerous international design awards.
Concept og Design: Andrea Trimarchi, Simone Farresin
Design Development: Gabriele Milanese
Graphic Design: Alexis Mark
Danh Vo, We The People (detail), 2011-2016. Courtesy of SMK – Statens Museum for Kunst. MAPS – Museum of Art in Public Spaces: The Story of Public Art – Dancing in the Streets (On Power). Photo: Jan Søndergaard.
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Jenny Holzer from Truisms (1977–79) and Survival (1983–85) © 2025 Jenny Holzer, member ARS.
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Ibrahim Mahama, 'A Friend', Caselli Daziara Porta Venezia, Milan 02 - 14 April 2019 © the artist. Courtesy Fondazione Nicola Trussardi, Ibrahim Mahama, A Friend. Curated by Massimiliano Gioni. Installation view Caselli Daziari Porta Venezia, Milan 2019. Courtesy Fondazione Nicola Trussardi Photo Marco De Scalzi
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VENUS vol. 2 by Göksu Kunak with Felix Beer, Buğra Büyükşimşek, Markus Hausmann, Chima Okerenkwo, and Nomi Sladko at Copenhagen City Square Hall, 2025. Production manager Florian Gress. Commissioned by MAPS - Museum of Art in Public Spaces as a part of the exhibition The Story of Public Art - Dancing in the Streets (on Power). VENUS was originally commissioned by Neue Nationalgalerie. Photo: Jan Søndergaard.
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© Pope.L; Courtesey of the artist and Michael-Innes & Nash, New York.
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Suzanne Lacy, Auto on the Edge: Doing Time Revisited, 1994 / 2025. Courtesy of the artist. MAPS – Museum of Art in Public Spaces: The Story of Public Art – Dancing in the Streets (On Power). Photo: Jan Søndergaard.
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VENUS vol. 2 by Göksu Kunak with Felix Beer, Buğra Büyükşimşek, Markus Hausmann, Chima Okerenkwo, and Nomi Sladko at Copenhagen City Square Hall, 2025. Production manager Florian Gress. Commissioned by MAPS - Museum of Art in Public Spaces as a part of the exhibition The Story of Public Art - Dancing in the Streets (on Power). VENUS was originally commissioned by Neue Nationalgalerie. Photo: Jan Søndergaard.
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Rosemary Mayer, Balloon for a Birthday, 1978. Courtesy of the Estate of Rosemary Mayer
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Alfredo Jaar, A Logo for America 1987-2014 Public Intervention Times Square, New York
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VENUS vol. 2 by Göksu Kunak with Felix Beer, Buğra Büyükşimşek, Markus Hausmann, Chima Okerenkwo, and Nomi Sladko at Copenhagen City Square Hall, 2025. Production manager Florian Gress. Commissioned by MAPS - Museum of Art in Public Spaces as a part of the exhibition The Story of Public Art - Dancing in the Streets (on Power). VENUS was originally commissioned by Neue Nationalgalerie. Photo: Jan Søndergaard.
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Heidi Bucher, Skinning the Gentlemen Study, 1978. The Estate of Heidi Bucher
Header credit:
Maria Hassabi: passage, 2025. Installation view at MAPS – Museum of Art in Public Spaces, during the performance forwards, march 21, 2025. Performer: Elena Antoniou. Courtesy the artist; The Breeder, Athens. Part of MAPS – Museum of Art in Public Spaces The Story of Public Art. Photo: Jan Søndergaard.
