Urban Art Projects Explained

Urban Art Projects
Formation:	1993
Founder:	Matthew Tobin and Daniel Tobin
Founding Location:	Brisbane
Status:	Privately owned company
Location City:	Brisbane
Addnl Location City:	Shanghai, New York
Staff:	300
Formerly:	Urban Artists

Urban Art Projects (UAP) is an Australian company that works with artists, architects, designers, developers, curators, institutions and art commissioners to realize public art and architectural design elements.^{[1] [2] [3]}

History

The company was founded in 1993 in Brisbane, Australia by brothers Matthew and Daniel Tobin.^{[4] [5]} Its initial name was Urban Artists.^[5] The Tobin brothers first purchased a small welding and metal fabrication company that worked on marine and construction projects.^[6] Over time, they invested the profits of this first company into the construction of a foundry that could be used for art projects. One of UAP's first clients was the Australian Waanyi multi-media artist Judy Watson.

The company has its main office and studios in Brisbane, and a satellite studio in Shanghai.^[7] In 2019, UAP acquired New York-based foundry, Polich Tallix.^[8] The same year, UAP began using a large industrial robot for selected projects at its Brisbane studio.^[9]

Notable projects

• Hank Willis Thomas' oversized arm sculpture Unity at the foot of the Brooklyn Bridge, cast at UAP's Polich Tallix foundry.^[5]
• Tow Row, a bronze fishing net sculpture in front of the Queensland Gallery of Modern Art by Judy Watson.^[10]
• Gilded Cage and Arch, part of Ai Weiwei's 2017 project Good Fences make Good Neighbors.^{[11] [12]}
• Wahat Al Karama, a 2018 memorial to fallen Emirati soldiers by Idris Khan.^[13]
• Kraken a giant 2017 octopus sculpture for a Shanghai playground. By Florentijn Hofman.^[14]
• Messengers of Brisbane, a series of oversized finch sculptures installed around Brisbane. By the artist Florentijn Hofman.^[15]
• NOW, a sculpture installed on the rooftop Courthouse of the Appellate Division, First Department of the Supreme Court of the State of New York. By the artist Shahzia Sikander.^[16]
• City of Parramatta public art sculptures for artists Reko Rennie and Claire Healy and Sean Cordeiro.^{[17] [18]}
• Lindy Lee's Ouroboros an immersive public art commission for the National Gallery of Australia^[19]
• George Stanley's Oscar Statuettes^[20]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Mohn . Tanya . In New York and More, Public Art Is Taking on Thorny Social Issues . The New York Times . 19 May 2021.
2. News: Zeiba. Drew. June 19, 2018. Visiting UAP, the studio fabricating many of the biggest projects in art and architecture. The Architect's Newspaper. June 19, 2018.
3. Web site: 2020-06-30. Specialist foundry UAP aims to "make art happen". 2021-01-25. Dezeen. en.
4. Web site: Magazine . Wallpaper* . Urban Art Projects . Wallpaper* . 12 October 2010.
5. Web site: From a Tucked-Away New York Town, UAP Brings Large-Scale Art to Life . Metropolis . 25 March 2020.
6. Web site: Forman . Sarah . The Shanghai Art Factory That's Constructing Massive Public Artworks . Artsy . en . 14 March 2018.
7. Web site: McDONALD . PATRICK . The amazing 5-metre inflatable sculpture . adelaidenow . en . 22 February 2016.
8. News: Franklin. Sydney. April 11, 2019. Two major art and design fabricators merge into new powerhouse. The Architect's Newspaper. April 11, 2019.
9. Web site: Pash . Chris . Meet the Australian robot creating unique pieces of public art . Business Insider Australia . en . 10 August 2017.
10. Web site: Judy Watson for GOMA Turns 10 . Radio National . en-AU . 2 December 2016.
11. Web site: 2017-10-11. Ai Weiwei launches controversial public art project focused on immigration. 2021-01-25. the Guardian. en.
12. Web site: Arch: Good Fences Make Good Neighbors . CODAworx.
13. Web site: 2017-03-31. British artist Idris Khan designs first memorial dedicated to Emirati soldiers. 2021-01-25. Architectural Digest India. en-US.
14. Web site: Meet the dream builders bringing Ai Weiwei's art to life in New York . South China Morning Post . en . 19 December 2017.
15. Web site: 2020-08-13. Brisbane Festival 2020: Beware, giant Gouldian finch birds are coming from big rubber duck creator Florentijn Hofman in September. 2021-01-25. Australian Financial Review. en.
16. Web site: Tuchman . Phyllis . 2023-04-11 . Having Excelled as a Painter, Shahzia Sikander Is Mastering an Unexpected New Medium: Sculpture . 2023-08-04 . ARTnews.com . en-US.
17. Web site: Busby . Ellie . 2023-07-28 . First Nations artwork honours the eel . 2023-08-04 . Parra News . en.
18. Web site: 2021-02-27 . Artists bouncing back . 2023-08-04 . Blue Mountains Gazette . en-AU.
19. News: Convery . Stephanie . 2021-09-23 . National Gallery of Australia orders $14m Ouroboros sculpture – its most expensive commission so far . en-GB . The Guardian . 2023-08-04 . 0261-3077.
20. News: Almond . Kyle . March 8, 2024 . Inside the Making of an Oscar Statuette .