Public Art @ SU

Syracuse University has a rich tradition of incorporating art into campus life, beginning in the 1870s when it became the first U.S. institution to award a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. The initiative to display art in everyday environments—like the Quad, buildings and libraries—started with the placement of portraits and sculptures. This vision expanded in 1957 with the acquisition of Rico Lebrun’s Crucifixion Triptych (Heroy Geology Building), sparking a broader program to install large-scale murals across campus. A notable milestone in this effort was the 1967 installation of Ben Shahn’s mosaic, The Passion of Sacco and Vanzetti (façade of Huntington-Beard- Crouse). Over the past four decades, as the campus has expanded, more than 30 artworks have been installed as well as a self-guided walking tour, found here: https://rb.gy/v2h48d