Public Art

Our conservators have post-graduate degrees in art conservation and decades of experience in the conservation of art in public and corporate spaces in a variety of media from totem poles to contemporary sculptures to mixed media to painted murals. We work as a team for larger projects that require multiple conservators or quick time lines. We also collaborate with subcontractors where artisans and specialist fabricators are required.

Sculptures are cleaned to remove dirt, graffiti, corrosion and biological growth.  Unlike commercial cleaning companies, our education and our experience with care and conservation of art ensures that we use the materials and processes that are safe for delicate art surfaces, today and into the future; this ensures a high quality result, maintenance of value, and shows respect for the community’s art.  We use stable and tested materials and procedures for repairs to improve strength, for restorations to correct losses in surface media and for coatings to protect the object into the future.  Our conservators are covered by WCB and are certified for fall protection awareness and use of mobile elevated work platforms.

We are active in the area of assessment of public and corporate art in both indoor and outdoor spaces.  We assess condition and the risks to the artwork with an eye to decreasing these risks and extending the life of the artwork.  Conservation treatment such as cleaning, repair, restoration and coating can be recommended and estimated.  We can recommend maintenance actions and develop schedules to promote the preservation and appearance of public art, utilizing both conservators and in-house personnel.

We have worked with artists to produce durable art for public spaces and have advised public art custodians on durability in the choice of public art.  We have been consultants for the design and fabrication of several public art projects such as artwork in the Vancouver Broadway Subway Line, Gordon Smith murals for the Surrey Public Library, and a bronze monument for the National Indigenous Veterans in Ottawa.  Examination of artworks over time and analysis of conservation interventions to public artworks, adds to the relevance and sustainability of our public art conservation treatments.

To see examples of our work in public art conservation, please refer to our public art portfolio.