Since its inception, the Public Art on Campus Committee has guided the installation of 13 major pieces of outdoor sculpture and one interior hanging sculpture. In addition, the PAOCC guided the installation of a bronze replica of The Spartan, and approved the installation of various pieces presented to the university that met the goal of providing high quality public art that enriches the learning environment, stimulates lively discussion and evokes aesthetic appreciation of the MSU campus.

This tour brings together works highlighting the exceptional sculpture installed on the campus of Michigan State University. It can be completed in full on the website or as a mobile walking tour, piece by piece.

With this on-line exhibition, we demonstrate the vast range of the Friends of Kresge acquisitions, saluting past and present members for their enthusiasm and dedication to the arts. At a time when the value of many university art collections has been under question, this brief review of the Friends’ acquisitions serves to reconfirm the global teaching mission of the museum and university. These additions have been carefully chosen to demonstrate trends of artistic expression, to provide deep and detailed accounts of cultural history, as well as to represent artists of international importance.

As part of Kresge Art Museum’s 50th Anniversary celebrations, we offer this on-line exhibition that looks behind the scenes and below the surface.