What Makes Great Public Art?

By Karen Zwart Hielema

It’s a question I’ve been reflecting on this summer while collaborating with a colleague and a small group of artists who are preparing to take a bold step—bringing their studio practice into the public realm. More on that soon.

Great public art begins with a deep connection to place. It resonates when it’s site-specific—when it speaks to the physical, social, historical, and environmental context of its surroundings. And just as importantly, it unfolds over time.

That’s exactly what’s happening at the corner of Highway 7 and Jane Street, on the edge of the rapidly evolving Vaughan Metropolitan Centre. Here, one of the city’s first public artworks is quietly taking shape. I’ve been fortunate to be a part of this process as the public art consultant to the Cortel Group – who commissioned the artwork.

The piece evokes a sense of memory—hinting at what the area may have looked like 50 years ago. It marks the pedestrian entrance to Edgeley Pond and Park, nestled between the newly completed CG Tower and a future development site. It catches your eye as you drive past, prompting the question: What’s that all about?

By this fall, the sculpture will be complete. But its meaning will continue to evolve. For residents and passersby, it will be a slow reveal—an invitation to observe, reflect, and engage over time. That’s the power of great public art: it keeps you curious, offering something new with each encounter.

Stay tuned for the official unveiling of Fathom this fall.