Students in Art in Public Places Course Brighten Housing Complex with New Installation

Colorful desert-themed artwork now graces three Las Vegas Valley Water District (LVVWD)-owned utility boxes near The Degree student housing, adding a vibrant and charming aesthetic to one of the busiest parts of campus. The designs were created by some of UNLV’s brightest artists as part of the Art in Public Places course.

Developed 24 years ago by professor Pasha Rafat, Art in Public Places allows College of Fine Arts students from architecture, dance, theater, and art to partner with local organizations, such as the Clark County Arts Commission, to create art installations throughout the city. It also requires on-campus collaboration among students, faculty, and various UNLV departments.

“The course fuses theory and practice by allowing students to create designs for clients and build site-generated projects,” said Rafat.

Five undergraduate students and one graduate student from the School of Architecture were involved in the utility box project, including Jason Rangel, who designed and stenciled the drawings while his classmates filled them in with color.

“We wanted to reflect the colors of the building and the landscape around it,” said Rangel. “The project was a great initiation into public art. It makes me excited for what’s to come in my future here at UNLV.”

UNLV Planning & Construction Collaboration

UNLV’s Planning & Construction (P&C) interior design team used their expertise in directing UNLV’s interior (space planning, floor planning, finish and fixture selections, etc.) and exterior spaces to help make the project a success. 

P&C’s senior project manager Nichole Staker and director of design Patrick Castellano were involved from start to finish.

“Our team reviewed the student proposals, provided feedback, and approved the final artwork selection. We also worked closely with the students to generate an overall project timeline and project budgets,” Staker said.

P&C worked in partnership with UNLV Legal and LVVWD to secure the necessary permits and city approvals for the project to come to fruition.”

Past Projects

Since its inception, Art in Public Places has produced numerous site-generated temporary art installations, murals, and ephemeral performances on and off campus, including:

• The Lee Pascal Rose Garden, next to Donna Beam Fine Arts Gallery, dance/music/theater departments
• 80-foot-long walkway medallions entrances, sketched into Corten steel, in the seating area of the garden at the Las Vegas Cancer Institute in collaboration with Marnell Architects & MGM Resorts
•  Sunset Bridges in collaboration with Clark County Cultural Center
• 10 indoor/outdoor murals and installations at The Degree building in collaboration with Midby Companies and UNLV Planning & Construction

The utility boxes will remain decorated indefinitely, serving as a celebration of UNLV students’ spirit, drive, and creativity, as well as a showcase of the opportunities our institution strives to provide to students.