APSU Public Sculpture Loan Program
In 2024, Austin Peay State University launched a Public Sculpture Loan Program to bring large-scale, outdoor sculptural works to the Arts Quad on campus.
Located between the Art + Design and Trahern buildings, selected works are displayed for 2-3 year loan periods, with support from the Tennessee Arts Commission and the Center of Excellence for the Creative Arts.
The program aims to create a dynamic, engaging environment that enhances the daily experience of APSU students, faculty, and visitors. Each selected work demonstrates strong conceptual depth while challenging traditional ideas about the role of public art in shared spaces. Works are professionally executed, visually compelling, and appropriate for a public university setting.
This project is supported by:
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Current Works on View
The following sculptures are currently on display in the Art + Design Quad, located between the Trahern and Art + Design buildings.
Cracked Earth — Araan Schmidt
Cast iron and steel, 2022
Cracked Earth is a twenty-sided sphere of identical triangles, its surface shaped by a digital landscape of fissures drawn from a photograph of cracked earth. Cast at Sloss Historic Furnaces in Birmingham, Alabama, the work merges traditional iron casting with 3D digital modeling. Learn more about Cracked Earth and Araan Schmidt
Dumpty Humpty — Brett Douglas Hunter
Papercrete, stucco, EPS foam, acrylic paint, 2019
Dumpty Humpty is a bold, four-sided mixed-media sculpture presenting a whimsical combination of smiling and frowning faces. Nashville-based self-taught artist Brett Douglas Hunter explores joy, grief, and social commentary through simple, striking form. Learn more about Dumpty Humpty and Brett Douglas Hunter
Twist — Howard Russo
Steel, 2016
Twist is a 63-inch steel sphere constructed from square-profile rods cut, bent, and welded into place. Left untreated, its surface develops a natural patina of rust over time—a balance of positive and negative space that gives the work a sense of volume without mass. Learn more about Twist and Howard Russo
Resources for Educators
Public Sculpture Lesson Series
Bring public art to life for your students with our collection of downloadable lesson plans and educational activities.
“Faces, Feelings, and Imagination” Framework for Grades K-6
“Structure, Systems, and Perception” Framework for Grades 6-8
“Interdisciplinary Inquiry Through Sculpture” Framework for Grades 8-12