State Street Campus Garage Public Art Project
Madison invites three finalist artists to design large-scale public art incorporating light for new State Street Campus Garage and Hawthorne Court.
The City of Madison is hosting a community meet & greet on November 14, 2025, from 5:30-6:45 PM at the Chazen Museum of Art to introduce three finalists selected for the State Street Campus Garage/Hawthorne Court Public Art Project. This is a prestigious public art commission resulting from a call that attracted 66 eligible submissions from around the world and locally.
The three finalists advancing to the design phase are Matthew Mazzotta, STUDIOKCA, and Area C Projects. Matthew Mazzotta works at the intersection of art, activism, and urbanism, integrating civic participation into built environments. He is a TED Fellow, Guggenheim Fellow, and Fulbright Grantee. STUDIOKCA is a Brooklyn-based architecture and design firm led by Wisconsin native Jason Klimoski and Lesley Chang, exploring how context and materials create meaningful spaces. Area C Projects is a Providence-based public art practice consisting of Erik Carlson and Erica Carpenter, working across multimedia installation, architecture, and experimental techniques.
Finalists must develop design proposals that incorporate light while remaining visible day and night, integrated with the new garage design including a regional bus terminal and Hawthorne Court. The designs should reflect Madison's unique character, diversity, and values. Design proposals are due January 13, 2026. Following submission, the city will share proposals in a community survey. The Ad Hoc Public Art Committee will review presentations in February 2026, with selection recommendation to the Madison Arts Commission. The winner will likely be announced in March 2026, with installation planned for Fall 2026. This is an opportunity to see leading public artists present their creative visions and participate in shaping Madison's cultural landscape.