The museum-quality, contemporary public sculpture will be installed outside of the Hill Student Center as part of Birmingham’s Legacy Art Trail honoring local visionary leaders.Artists with ideas for a new outdoor sculpture are encouraged to apply now for a chance to see it brought to life.
The University of Alabama at Birmingham is inviting professional artists and artist teams to submit qualifications for the design, fabrication and installation of a museum-quality, contemporary public sculpture on campus.
The sculpture will be installed outside of UAB’s Hill Student Center as part of Birmingham’s Legacy Art Trail. The citywide public art initiative commissions site-specific sculptures honoring visionary leaders whose contributions have shaped the Birmingham community. Through the placement of significant works of public art, at meaningful locations throughout the city, the Trail enriches Birmingham’s cultural landscape while celebrating leadership, service and community impact.
Applications are open now through Oct. 22. Artists may see the request for qualifications for more information, including the guidelines, timeline and selection process, or email
The anticipated budget for the commission is approximately $150,000 and will support artist design services, engineering, fabrication, transportation and installation. Installation is expected next year in late summer 2027.
The search is led by the UAB Department of Art and Art History in the College of Arts and Sciences.
“As a participating institution, UAB is honored to commission a work of public art that will become both an official component of the Legacy Art Trail and a lasting addition to the university’s public art collection,” said Minkyu Lee, chair of the UAB Department of Art and Art History.
Following review of all submissions, a group of semifinalists will each receive a $500 honorarium to develop preliminary concepts for the commission.
Finalists selected will be given a $2,000 honorarium to develop a site-specific proposal, including a maquette. Each finalist’s submission will have a public exhibition, and members of the campus community and the public will be invited to vote on the selections. Evaluation criteria will be based on artistic merit, originality, quality of previous work, technical feasibility, durability and maintenance considerations, and overall suitability for the selected site.
UAB is an internationally renowned research university and academic medical center known for its innovative and interdisciplinary approach to education. Located in the Southside neighborhood of downtown Birmingham, Alabama, the campus occupies more than 100 blocks containing a mix of academic, commercial and residential spaces.
A high-traffic campus area, the Hill Student Center serves more than 20,000 students as a communal meeting place offering student services, meals, books and activities.