Beautiful Bus Shelters (Yes, really!)

Bus shelters aren’t exactly the most enjoyable places in the world. I should know. I don’t drive, and I rely exclusively on public transport to get around. I’ve been catching buses in Brisbane for seven and a half years. Prior to that, I caught buses in Sydney, and before that I was a Subway enthusiast in New York. For some of you, I’m sure those statistics are more pathetic than commendable, but just imagine how much I’ve reduced my carbon foot print over the years!

 

Anyway, the point is, if anyone is familiar with how stressful, smelly, and cold a bus shelter can be, it’s me. Thankfully, a new public art program is helping to alleviate what can be a less than pleasant environment by injecting a bit of beaut(y) into our commute.

Artwork from the Brisbane City Council's latest public art project, Urban Easels.

Urban Easels is a public art exhibition spread across 44 Brisbane suburbs and featuring 28 artworks by 13 local artists. Taking up the spaces usually dedicated to advertising imagery, Urban Easels innovatively provides public access to art in unexpected places.

The art showcased in Urban Easels ranges from photography, to sculpture, digital art, painting and installation. Drawing on the talent among the Local ARIs (artist-run initiatives), the project allows the selected artists to access a diverse public audience through the chance encounter of public transport networks.

Alongside physically experiencing the artworks on your daily commute, Brisbane City Council has made the public exhibition available online through an interactive map and Flickr page that you can access here.

Where: A range of bus stops across Brisbane
When: 13th August – 9th September