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Palm Beach County recently welcomed public art professionals from across the state to the annual Florida Association of Public Art Professionals’ conference, highlighting how public art beautifies communities, strengthens civic identity, and creates positive experiences for residents and visitors throughout the county.

Co-hosted and co-curated by Elayna Toby Singer of Palm Beach County Art in Public Places and Sybille Canthal, Arts, Culture and Community Building, City of West Palm Beach, additionally, colleagues who lead public art programs in Boca Raton, Boynton Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, Riviera Beach and West Palm Beach helped shape the conference program to showcase how thoughtfully integrated artwork enhances public spaces and enriches everyday life across the County.

Public Art Creates Welcoming Community Experiences

The conference opened with a bus tour featuring a dozen County-commissioned “Public Art Places,” centered around the theme “Artists Transforming Public Places.” Throughout the tour, County colleagues shared how public art contributes to a more welcoming, inspiring, and engaging environment for residents of all ages.

At CACTI Park of The Palm Beaches, Assistant General Manager Chris Easom discussed Perfect Game and Sequence by Blessing Hancock, explaining that, from an operations perspective, he thinks about how people arrive and their experience even before they get to their seats. The art shade panels and pedestrian bridge panels play a huge role in setting the tone, with themes of repetition, timing, and the pursuit of a perfect game that everyone can relate to.

At the County’s Main Library, System Services Director Lynlee Lebsenart described how Books on the Library Floor by Suzi K. Edwards transforms the library entrance into an inviting journey of discovery, reinforcing the library’s role as a welcoming place for learning, creativity and connection.

At the Four Points Office Building, Youth Services Director Elisa Cramer shared how Wind Through Four Points by Gary L. Moore creates a calming and uplifting environment for youth and families visiting the facility for outpatient therapy services.

At the Tourist Development Council, Communications Manager Michele Anapol reflected on Guidepost by Washington Glass Studio, noting that public art plays an important role in reinforcing Palm Beach County’s identity as Florida’s Cultural Capital while enhancing residents’ and visitors’ sense of arrival, orientation and connection to place.

At the Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections facility, Alison Novoa, Public Information Officer and Director of Strategic Initiatives, highlighted how VOTE! by Matthew Mazzotta sparks curiosity, conversation and civic engagement while making the public space more vibrant and memorable.

At the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office, Deputy Louis Potter discussed Guardian by Washington Glass Studio, emphasizing that the sculpture honors law enforcement’sdedication and commitment to the community.  Adding that the sculpture’s ‘thin blue line’ element commemorates the fallen and shows support for living law enforcement officerswhile creating a space for reflection.

Art in Public Places Enhances Palm Beach County

Art in Public Places Administrator Elayna Toby Singer shared additional stories about the art installations, along with insights about their meanings and inspirations. 

At Mounts Botanical Garden, Elayna explained how Windows on the Floating World by Mags Harries, Lajos Heder, and Kristen Siegel complements the garden’s educational mission while creating a visually immersive experience that deepens appreciation for wetlands, water quality, and subtropical landscapes.

At Centennial Plaza, Elayna noted that The Green Wall by Barbara Grygutis celebrates Palm Beach County’s centennial while beautifying the plaza with a design inspired by the County’s native coastal hammock environment.

During Susan Narduli's visit to SKYROOM at the Palm Beach County Convention Center, Elayna described how the courtyard’s sculptural screen, seating, paving, landscape and sun transform the outdoor space into a uniquely Palm Beach County experience.

Elayna also highlighted Wave by Barbara Grygutis, whose flowing silver arcs and illuminated forms, inspired by the nearby Atlantic coastline, created an iconic landmark and unique event space at the Convention Center. 

Through projects like these, Palm Beach County continues to demonstrate how public art can beautify shared spaces, strengthen community identity, and provide residents and visitors with meaningful and positive experiences wherever they go.

Facilities Development & Operations (FDO) Director Jennifer Ferriol added, FDO’s work is ultimately about serving people and strengthening quality of life. When we build, improve, or maintain public spaces, we have an opportunity to create places that are purposeful and reflective of Palm Beach County. Public art adds character to those spaces and helps bring them to life for the residents who use them every day.