A new public space designed by Field Operations built atop a former parking lot in downtown Pittsburgh is now open. Last month’s soft opening coincided with the release of seven public art installations interspersed throughout the park.
Arts Landing is designed to host festivals, performances, art exhibitions, recreation, and relaxation. The $31 million project has been called the most substantial investment in Pittsburgh’s Cultural District in the past 25 years.
Field Operations shared renderings of Arts Landing in February 2025. Today, the anchor of Arts Landing is a great lawn perched above the Allegheny River. The 1-acre lawn has views of the Three Sisters Bridges.
A bandshell located in Arts Landing’s northwest corner near Fort Duquesne Boulevard and Seventh Street provides shade for performers. The rounded, tensile roof structure is an architectural statement that can be seen from afar.
A garden walk, outdoor play room, and 30,000-square-foot mixed-use flex space with pickle ball courts, and other recreational options also abound at Arts Landing.
Pittsburgh Cultural Trust (PCT), a local nonprofit, worked on the project with Field Operations. The 4-acre park has a wide variety of native grasses and shrubs, and is located on Pittsburgh’s Eighth Street Block Civic Space.
vanessa german, who recently made bespoke installations for the Shirley Chisholm Recreation Center by Studio Gang in Brooklyn, has artwork on display at Arts Landing. Lifted by german puts a fun twist on traditional park benches—one painted bright green and the other a shade of hot pink.
The back of the recreational furniture by german consists of dozens of raised hands, making it both sculptural and functional. The artworks were curated by Anastasia James, PCT director of galleries and public art.
Other artists featured at Arts Landing include Lenka Clayton and Phillip Andrew Lewis who designed playscapes for birds made of perches and birdhouses. John Peña’s contribution is a cloud-shaped sculpture that displays the time and can be updated daily to share the day’s weather forecast.
Darian Johnson created a series of animal sculptures, including a snail, bear, and raccoon. And staged around the park are the late Thaddeus Mosley’s large, nature-inspired wood creations; and pieces by Mikael Owunna, Marques Redd, Sharmistha Ray, and Shikeith.
“Our goal with Arts Landing is to present thoughtful programming prioritizing artist-driven collaborations and public participation, while further highlighting Pittsburgh as a leader in contemporary public art,” James said in a statement.
Each of the artworks will stay up for at least a year. Some will remain in place for multiple years. PCT noted that, over time, new artworks will rotate into the civic space.
