Urban Art Projects (UAP) is an Australian company that works with artists, architects, designers, developers, curators, institutions and art commissioners to realize public art and architectural design elements.

History

The company was founded in 1993 in Brisbane, Australia by brothers Matthew and Daniel Tobin. Its initial name was Urban Artists. The Tobin brothers first purchased a small welding and metal fabrication company that worked on marine and construction projects. Over time, they invested the profits of this first company into the construction of a foundry that could be used for art projects. One of UAP's first clients was the Australian Waanyi multi-media artist

Judy Watson Judy Watson (born 1959) is an Australian Waanyi multi-media artist who works in print-making, painting, video and installation. Her work often examines Indigenous Australian histories, and she has received a number of high profile commissio ...

. The company has its main office and studios in Brisbane, and a satellite studio in Shanghai. In 2017, UAP acquired New York-based foundry, Polich Tallix. The same year, UAP began using a large industrial robot for selected projects at its Brisbane studio.

Notable projects

Hank Willis Thomas Hank Willis Thomas (born 1976 in Plainfield, New Jersey; lives and works in Brooklyn, NY) is an American conceptual artist working primarily with themes related to identity, history, and popular culture. Early life and education Hank Willis Tho ...

' oversized arm sculpture

Unity Unity may refer to: Buildings * Unity Building, Oregon, Illinois, US; a historic building * Unity Building (Chicago), Illinois, US; a skyscraper * Unity Buildings, Liverpool, UK; two buildings in England * Unity Chapel, Wyoming, Wisconsin, US; a ...

at the foot of the Brooklyn Bridge, cast at UAP's Polich Tallix foundry. *''Tow Row'', a bronze fishing net sculpture in front of the Queensland Gallery of Modern Art by

. * ''Arch'', part of

Ai Weiwei Ai Weiwei (, ; born 28 August 1957) is a Chinese contemporary artist, documentarian, and activist. Ai grew up in the far northwest of China, where he lived under harsh conditions due to his father's exile. As an activist, he has been openly ...

's 2017 project ''Good Fences make Good Neighbors''. *

Wahat Al Karama Wahat Al Karama ( ar, واحة الكرامة), which is also known by its English translation Oasis of Dignity, is a war memorial and monument in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates located across Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque to commemorate all E ...

, a 2018 memorial to fallen Emirati soldiers by Idris Khan. *''Kraken'' a giant 2017 octopus sculpture for a Shanghai playground. By

Florentijn Hofman Florentijn Hofman (born 16 April 1977) is a Dutch artist who creates playful urban installations like the ''Rubber Duck'' and the ''HippopoThames'', a 2014 installation on the River Thames in London. Life and career Hofman was born on 16 Ap ...

. * ''Messengers of Brisbane'', a series of oversized

finch The true finches are small to medium-sized passerine birds in the family Fringillidae. Finches have stout conical bills adapted for eating seeds and nuts and often have colourful plumage. They occupy a great range of habitats where they are usua ...

sculptures installed around Brisbane. By the artist Florentijn Hofman.

References

{{authority control Australian companies established in 1993 Foundries in Australia Foundries in the United States