BOSTON GETS BOLD: THE CITY’S FIRST-EVER PUBLIC ART TRIENNIAL ARRIVES WITH A BANG
“Triennial 2025: The Exchange” launches a six-month creative takeover across Boston and beyond.
Get ready, Boston – the streets, parks, and public squares are about to burst into colour, conversation, and contemporary creativity. The inaugural Boston Public Art Triennial, dubbed Triennial 2025: The Exchange, has officially landed. It’s ambitious, it’s city-wide, and it’s bringing over 20 major art commissions to life in more than 21 sites – from East Boston to Cambridge – with performances, sculptures, installations, and public programming that will keep Boston buzzing all summer and into the autumn.
This first-of-its-kind celebration of public art is helmed by the Boston Public Art Triennial, the city’s pioneering organisation committed to transforming public space into public imagination.
Bold Art. Big Ideas. Local Impact.
Curated by the ever-curious Pedro Alonzo and Tess Lukey, The Exchange is more than a title – it’s the heartbeat of the whole show. This isn’t just about looking at art; it’s about engaging with it. Artists have teamed up with local voices—think climate scientists, public health experts, historians, and grassroots organisers—to create work that’s deeply rooted in both place and purpose.
Expect to encounter themes that matter: Indigeneity, Climate & Biodiversity, Health & Recovery, and Shared Humanity. These commissions aren’t here to sit pretty—they’re here to spark conversations, challenge perspectives, and invite us to listen more deeply in a world that’s increasingly shouting.
As Alonzo puts it: “Rather than fixed answers, these works are jumping-off points—emotional, social, and spiritual invitations to think differently and connect more meaningfully.”
The City as Canvas
From Julian Charrière’s Triennial Hub in Back Bay to Cannupa Hanska Luger’s statement piece at UMass Boston, from the vibrant storytelling of Swoon at the Boston Public Library to Chiharu Shiota’s webbed wonder at the ICA Watershed—this is a veritable who’s who of global and homegrown artistic talent.
And they’re popping up in every pocket of the city:
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Charlestown welcomes the multiverse imaginations of Beatriz Cortez and Alison Croney Moses.
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Fenway hosts Nicholas Galanin and Alan Michelson, two powerhouses examining land, lineage, and loss.
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Mattapan, Roxbury, Dorchester, and more are alive with creativity that’s as community-rooted as it is boundary-pushing.
Find the full lineup and map your art adventure at thetriennial.org.
Art for All – And It’s Free
With more than 75 partners, from major museums to grassroots groups, the Triennial is a true love letter to Boston’s collaborative spirit. Whether you’re a seasoned art lover, a curious newcomer, or just looking for a free day out, there’s something for everyone.
Programming includes:
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The “Let’s Talk” series—dynamic discussions with artists, curators, and cultural change-makers.
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Live performances in collaboration with the Boston Symphony Orchestra and Castle of Our Skins.
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A public art film series courtesy of the Goethe-Institut Boston.
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Activities for families, kids, teens, and elders alike.
And for those craving deeper dives? Hit the closing symposium on October 24, hosted with Roxbury Community College and the New England Foundation for the Arts.
A Movement, Not Just a Moment
This Triennial isn’t just a one-off spectacle. It’s the result of over a decade of work from what was once known as Now + There—an evolution into something more ambitious, more expansive, and more needed than ever.
Kate Gilbert, Executive Director, sums it up perfectly: “This is the beginning of a movement. One that invites curiosity, connection, and imagination across neighbourhoods and disciplines.”
With over $8 million in backing from the likes of Alnoba / Lewis Family Foundation, the City of Boston, Barr Foundation, and many generous supporters, the Triennial is a powerful reminder that public art matters. That free, accessible, ambitious creativity belongs in our cities. That dialogue is more important than ever.
Mayor Michelle Wu, who’s championing the initiative, adds: “This exhibition symbolises Boston’s commitment to creativity and community. It’s a powerful reminder of the role public art plays in shaping who we are and how we live together.”
How to Dive In
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Visit the Triennial Hub at Lyrik Back Bay, 400 Newbury Street, for maps, guides, and real-time updates.
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Use the Bloomberg Connects mobile app for a self-guided tour through art and neighbourhoods.
So grab your trainers, charge your phone, and prepare for some serious cultural cardio. Triennial 2025: The Exchange isn’t just Boston’s biggest public art moment—it’s a reimagining of how art lives, breathes, and belongs in the life of a city.
BOSTON GETS BOLD: THE CITY’S FIRST-EVER PUBLIC ART TRIENNIAL
Boston Public Art Triennial – For Boston, by Bostonians. 100% free. 100% yours.
