Rice Design Alliance // Marie Rodriguez // 10.16.19: Over the years, the University of Houston (UH) main campus has grown at a quick pace and has benefitted from an adaptive spirit. But it has also suffered consequences from that fast growth, with its sprawling parking lots, pastiche layout of buildings, overshadowed art pieces, and a general lack of cohesion between buildings. However, there are positives to mention as well. One major redeeming initiative is the university’s requirement that 1% of all new building construction funds go towards purchasing public art for the campus. This program is known as the Public Art of the University of Houston System (PAUHS) and has an equally dynamic board that steers an exciting vision of art commissions. With nearly 700 art pieces in its inventory, the PAUHS is celebrating its 50th anniversary year and is now a mature art collection that is ready for a thorough curatorial governance. While the PAUHS has community outreach programs, it also offers opportunities for interdisciplinary exchanges and public benchmarking. PAUHS Board member Judy Nyquist is a staunch believer that public art has a special quality of connecting a diverse cross section of Houstonians. She emphasizes that public art has the ability to be welcoming and that the art is able to democratize impromptu encounters. Dialogues are exchanged between citizens that come from all walks of life because every viewer is captivated by a public art piece. This is what Nyquist proclaims is the powerful impact public art offers: it provides a “concerted effort to equalize and not intimidate” communities that do not engage art on a daily basis. It’s this concern to facilitate and promote access to art for public enjoyment that makes Nyquist an ardent supporter and champion of the PAUHS.