Scaife Hall with bright orange and cool mint green walls.

CMU Art Unlocked

The University's First-Ever Public Art & Art Properties eMuseum

CMU Public Art & Art Properties

written by
Margaret Cox

From the playful ascent of Jonathan Borofsky’s "Walking to the Sky" to the industrial history embedded in Robert Lewis Lepper's "Reliefs," public art is an integral part of the Carnegie Mellon University experience. Yet, for a collection so rich and expansive — spanning over 1,500 objects by more than 1,000 artists from five continents — accessing its full breadth required a great deal of serendipity ... until now.

To make this incredible inventory accessible, the newly formed Public Art & Art Properties has developed CMU’s first-ever dedicated Public Art website and collections portal.

“This launch throws open the digital doors to one of CMU’s most valuable, and often hidden, assets,” said Julia Corrin, associate dean for Distinctive Collections, Hunt Library. “This digital platform is both a database for managing the collection and a public portal that contextualizes a collection that’s now searchable and accessible.”

This accessibility is a critical step in fulfilling the art’s broader purpose on campus. As Elizabeth Chodos, Johnson Family Public Art Curator, noted, the digital portal reinforces the vital role of the physical collection.

Public art elevates and enriches the campus experience and helps to define the creative spirit that students and faculty share across all the colleges.” The eMuseum ensures this creative spirit is now just a click away.

Descansa Espíritus/Spirits Rest by Guadalupe Maravilla

"Descansa Espíritus/Spirits Rest" by Guadalupe Maravilla in the Highmark Center for Health, Wellness and Athletics.

The Digital Collection: A Window into CMU's Artistic Heritage

The Public Art & Art Properties eMuseum now serves as the central online repository for the university's extensive holdings, encompassing both permanent, large-scale public art installations and the more intimate pieces classified as artistic properties (paintings, prints, sculptures and decorative arts held within campus buildings).

The collections portal is designed for discovery and ease of use, transforming the way the CMU community engages with art. Visitors — including students, faculty, alumni and art enthusiasts — can instantly filter the collection by criteria like artist, medium, location or thematic elements, making it a valuable tool for researchers and a fascinating resource for the simply curious.

"For each artwork, the eMuseum shows high-quality images, detailed descriptions, artist information and location on campus,” said Margaret Cox, collections registrar and communications assistant director for Public Art, who developed the site. “This rich content allows for both virtual exploration and the planning of physical art tours.”

Inverted Dancer by Thaddeus Mosley.

"Inverted Dancer" by Thaddeus Mosley at Fifth and Clyde House.

Curated Experiences and Self-Guided Tours

One of the most compelling features of the eMuseum is its ability to offer curated pathways through the collection. Recognizing that the volume of art can be overwhelming, the platform organizes pieces into engaging thematic groups and accessible tours, such as:

These themed collections are particularly valuable for prospective students, new faculty and community members looking to quickly grasp the breadth of CMU’s artistic holdings, transforming a collection of objects into a living educational resource.

Beyond the web portal, CMU has also embraced mobile technology to make the art even more accessible. The Bloomberg Connects digital guide directly complements the eMuseum, enhancing self-guided tours with maps and transcribed audio content. In the near future, art on campus will also have standardized labels with QR codes linking to the web portal for detailed information.

Six Panel Cabinet and Bookshelf by George Nakashima.

"Six-Panel Cabinet and Bookshelf" by George Nakashima in Warner Hall.

A Legacy Preserved, A Future Unveiled

The Public Art & Art Properties website and collections portal is an active tool for research, learning and engagement that supports the university's Public Art Committee and the management of Artistic Properties. The launch of this digital gateway successfully bridges the gap between historical collections and recently curated artworks around campus — and it will continue to grow as there is a clearer understanding of the university’s holdings. This eMuseum stands as a testament to CMU’s dedication to the arts, cementing the university’s place as an institution where art is not peripheral, but central to its identity and, now, instantly available to the world.