After a busy 2025, lots of new public-art projects are on the horizon
What we learned by taking a close look at public art in Wichita over the course of this year.
This year saw installation of the first works of art funded by Wichita's percent-for-art ordinance, which passed in 2019. Public art also became a hot political topic in 2025, factoring into mayoral talking points and attack ads against at least one incumbent candidate for the city council.
As an arts publication, we saw the fracas as an opportunity to dig into the city's public-art process and its art collection. Since January, SHOUT contributors have written about artworks including an installation that responds to the movement of library patrons, railway infrastructure that "celebrates past nomadic life but permanently sits in a place where homelessness is present," even that controversial sculpture on the site of the new water treatment plant.
We've also been in attendance at many of the meetings of the Design Council, a citizen body composed of architects, landscape designers, artists and others who help guide the city's spending on public art and design. At its monthly meetings, the council has previewed plans for works you'll soon be able to see in person.
Here's one project we've yet to share: The Design Council approved the 90% design concepts for a project on Douglas Avenue from Seneca to Meridian in its meeting last month.
This $400,000 project extends the "Delano Corridor" on Douglas Avenue westward. Wichita-based artist Armando Minjarez of Del Norte Studio designed a gateway that will be installed just east of Meridian Avenue.
The second site is located near the railway crossing on Douglas Avenue on opposite corners of Fern Avenue. George Peters and Melanie Walker of Boulder, Colorado-based Airworks Studio designed "Feather Flight," multiple feather-like sculptures that will move with the wind.
Wichita City Council elections held last month likely preserved a majority in favor of maintaining the existing percent-for-art ordinance, which means we'll have more news to share next year.
— Emily Christensen is one of the co-founders of The SHOUT.
This article was originally published in our newsletter. Sign up for weekly emails and stay informed about Kansas art and culture.
Support Kansas arts writing
The SHOUT is a Wichita-based independent newsroom focused on artists living and working in Kansas. We're partly supported by the generosity of our readers, and every dollar we receive goes directly into the pocket of a contributing writer, editor, or photographer. Click here to support our work with a tax-deductible donation.
