What Every Artist Should Know About Public Art: Elizabeth Lewis from Tilt

The Installation Art Podcast

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In this episode, we speak with Elizabeth Lewis, Public Art Division Manager at Tilt Industrial Design, who offers a fascinating insider's perspective on how large-scale public artworks are engineered, managed, and brought to life. Elizabeth reveals the complex ecosystem of stakeholders involved in creating public art and shares invaluable advice for artists looking to break into this challenging but rewarding medium.

What you will learn:

• How industrial designers like Elizabeth act as "translators" between artists' creative visions and the technical requirements needed to bring monumental works to life

• The truth about public art budgets and practices

• Practical advice for artists wanting to venture into public art, including starting with temporary installations and test sites

• How indigenous artists are bringing multidisciplinary approaches to public art that may reshape the entire field

About Elizabeth Lewis:

Elizabeth Lewis is the Public Art Division Manager at Tilt Industrial Design, an Australian firm specialising in technically complex and ambitious public art projects. With a background in industrial design, she has overseen numerous large-scale installations throughout Australia, working with established artists, emerging creators, and First Nations storytellers to translate artistic visions into enduring public works.

03:17 Early Life and Inspirations

04:39 Educational Journey

05:39 First Job Experiences

08:01 Transition to Tilt

14:58 Challenges in Public Art

18:29 Skills and Learning

33:50 Project Timelines

35:55 The Lifespan of Public Art

45:49 The Role of Public Art Curators

48:01 Building Networks and Identifying Artists

50:49 First Nations and Indigenous Art

53:01 The Growth of Public Art in Sydney

59:09 Convincing Developers to Invest in Art

01:05:08 Advice for Emerging Public Artists

01:24:53 Current and Upcoming Projects

01:26:08 Where to Find More Information

Tilt Industrial Design: https://tilt-industrialdesign.com/ | https://www.instagram.com/tiltindustrialdesign

Also mentioned in this episode:

ResMed: https://shop.resmed.com.au/ | https://www.instagram.com/resmedanz/ | @resmedanz5242

BOC: https://www.boc.com.au/shop/en/au/home | @boclimited

Tim Phillips: https://tilt-industrialdesign.com/news-media/media/tilts-tim-phillips-managing-director-featured-in-boutique-developer/ | https://www.linkedin.com/in/timphillipsdesigns/

Ateliers Jean Nouvel: https://www.jeannouvel.com/ | https://www.instagram.com/ateliersjeannouvel/

Yann Kersale: https://yannkersale.com/ | https://www.instagram.com/yannkersale/ | @studioyannkersale

Reko Rennie: https://rekorennie.com/ | https://www.instagram.com/rekorennie/

Barbara Flynn: https://barbaraflynn.com/ | https://www.instagram.com/barbaraflynnptyltd/

Test Sites: https://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/public-art-test-sites-program | https://www.instagram.com/publicartmelbourne/

Sculpture By The Sea: https://sculpturebythesea.com/ | https://www.instagram.com/sculpturebythesea | @sculpturebythesea

Vivid Sydney: https://www.vividsydney.com/ | https://www.instagram.com/vividsydney/ | @vividsydney

Placemaking NSW: https://www.planning.nsw.gov.au/about-us/our-work/placemaking-nsw

Art And About: https://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/art-about | https://www.instagram.com/cityofsydney | @CityofSydney

Kilometre of Sculpture: https://www.facebook.com/KilometreofSculpture/?profile_tab_item_selected=mentions&_rdr

NAVA: https://visualarts.net.au/ | https://www.instagram.com/nava_visualarts/

Janet Laurence: https://www.janetlaurence.com/ | https://www.instagram.com/janetlaurence/

ASPECT Studios: https://www.aspect-studios.com/au/ | https://www.instagram.com/aspectstudios

Warren Langley: https://www.warrenlangley.com.au/ | https://www.instagram.com/warren_langley_artist/

Jacob Nash: https://www.jacobnashdesign.com/

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Mentioned in this episode:

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