{{Short description|Australian art fabricator}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox organization | name = Urban Art Projects | full_name = | logo = | formation = 1993 | founder = Matthew Tobin and Daniel Tobin | founding_location = Brisbane | status = Privately owned company | location = {{ubl | Brisbane | Shanghai, New York }} | num_staff = 300 | website = {{url|uapcompany.com}} | former_name = Urban Artists }}
'''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.<ref name="NYTmention">{{cite web |last1=Mohn |first1=Tanya |title=In New York and More, Public Art Is Taking on Thorny Social Issues |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/19/arts/rockefeller-public-art.html |website=The New York Times |date=19 May 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Zeiba|first=Drew|date=June 19, 2018|title=Visiting UAP, the studio fabricating many of the biggest projects in art and architecture|work=The Architect's Newspaper|url=https://www.archpaper.com/2018/06/an-visits-uap-fabrication-studio/|access-date=June 19, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-06-30|title=Specialist foundry UAP aims to "make art happen"|url=https://www.dezeen.com/2020/06/30/uap-metal-foundry-vdf-studio-profiles/|access-date=2021-01-25|website=Dezeen|language=en}}</ref>
==History== The company was founded in 1993 in Brisbane, Australia by brothers Matthew and Daniel Tobin.<ref name="WallpaperProfile">{{cite web |last1=Magazine |first1=Wallpaper* |title=Urban Art Projects |url=https://www.wallpaper.com/art/urban-art-projects |website=Wallpaper* |date=12 October 2010}}</ref><ref name="Metropolis">{{cite web |title=From a Tucked-Away New York Town, UAP Brings Large-Scale Art to Life |url=https://www.metropolismag.com/design/arts-culture/uap-art-new-york/ |website=Metropolis |date=25 March 2020}}</ref> Its initial name was Urban Artists.<ref name="Metropolis"/> The Tobin brothers first purchased a small welding and metal fabrication company that worked on marine and construction projects.<ref name="Artsy">{{cite web |last1=Forman |first1=Sarah |title=The Shanghai Art Factory That's Constructing Massive Public Artworks |url=https://www.artsy.net/article/artsy-editorial-shanghai-art-factory-constructing-massive-public-artworks |website=Artsy |language=en |date=14 March 2018}}</ref> Over time, they invested the profits of this first company into the construction of a foundry that could be used for art projects.<ref name="SCMP" /> One of UAP's first clients was the Australian Waanyi multi-media artist Judy Watson.<ref name="WatsonABC"/><ref name="SCMP"/>
The company has its main office and studios in Brisbane, and a satellite studio in Shanghai.<ref>{{cite web |last1=McDONALD |first1=PATRICK |title=The amazing 5-metre inflatable sculpture |url=https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/entertainment/arts/inflatable-sculpture-reveals-tom-moores-art-of-glass-as-part-of-adelaide-biennial-exhibition/news-story/12972253e963792b185d7db4d15ed080 |website=adelaidenow |language=en |date=22 February 2016}}</ref> In 2019, UAP acquired New York-based foundry, Polich Tallix.<ref name="Metropolis" /><ref>{{Cite news|last=Franklin|first=Sydney|date=April 11, 2019|title=Two major art and design fabricators merge into new powerhouse|work=The Architect's Newspaper|url=https://www.archpaper.com/2019/04/uap-polich-tallix-merger/|access-date=April 11, 2019}}</ref> The same year, UAP began using a large industrial robot for selected projects at its Brisbane studio.<ref name="BIA">{{cite web |last1=Pash |first1=Chris |title=Meet the Australian robot creating unique pieces of public art |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/meet-the-australian-robot-creating-unique-pieces-of-public-art-2017-8 |website=Business Insider Australia |language=en |date=10 August 2017}}</ref>
==Notable projects== *Hank Willis Thomas' oversized arm sculpture Unity at the foot of the Brooklyn Bridge, cast at UAP's Polich Tallix foundry.<ref name="Metropolis"/> *''Tow Row'', a bronze fishing net sculpture in front of the Queensland Gallery of Modern Art by Judy Watson.<ref name="WatsonABC">{{cite web |title=Judy Watson for GOMA Turns 10 |url=https://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/archived/booksandarts/judy-watson-for-goma-turns-10/8085062 |website=Radio National |language=en-AU |date=2 December 2016}}</ref> * ''Gilded Cage'' and ''Arch'', part of Ai Weiwei's 2017 project ''Good Fences make Good Neighbors''.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2017-10-11|title=Ai Weiwei launches controversial public art project focused on immigration|url=http://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2017/oct/11/ai-weiwei-launches-controversial-public-art-project-focused-on-immigration|access-date=2021-01-25|website=the Guardian|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Arch: Good Fences Make Good Neighbors |url=https://www.codaworx.com/projects/arch-good-fences-make-good-neighbors-public-art-fund/ |website=CODAworx}}</ref> * Wahat Al Karama, a 2018 memorial to fallen Emirati soldiers by Idris Khan.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2017-03-31|title=British artist Idris Khan designs first memorial dedicated to Emirati soldiers|url=https://www.architecturaldigest.in/content/artist-idris-khan-uae-memorial/|access-date=2021-01-25|website=Architectural Digest India|language=en-US}}</ref> *''Kraken'' a giant 2017 octopus sculpture for a Shanghai playground. By Florentijn Hofman.<ref name="SCMP">{{cite web |title=Meet the dream builders bringing Ai Weiwei's art to life in New York |url=https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/tech-design/article/2124951/ai-weiwei-zheng-lu-meet-uap-dream-builders-bringing-art |website=South China Morning Post |language=en |date=19 December 2017}}</ref> * ''Messengers of Brisbane'', a series of oversized finch sculptures installed around Brisbane. By the artist Florentijn Hofman.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-08-13|title=Brisbane Festival 2020: Beware, giant Gouldian finch birds are coming from big rubber duck creator Florentijn Hofman in September|url=https://www.afr.com/life-and-luxury/arts-and-culture/beware-brisbane-giant-birds-are-striking-in-september-20200806-p55j74|access-date=2021-01-25|website=Australian Financial Review|language=en}}</ref> * ''NOW,'' a sculpture installed on the rooftop Courthouse of the Appellate Division, First Department of the Supreme Court of the State of New York. By the artist Shahzia Sikander.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tuchman |first=Phyllis |date=2023-04-11 |title=Having Excelled as a Painter, Shahzia Sikander Is Mastering an Unexpected New Medium: Sculpture |url=https://www.artnews.com/art-news/artists/shahzia-sikander-madison-square-park-courthouse-sculptures-1234663485/ |access-date=2023-08-04 |website=ARTnews.com |language=en-US}}</ref> * City of Parramatta public art sculptures for artists Reko Rennie and Claire Healy and Sean Cordeiro.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Busby |first=Ellie |date=2023-07-28 |title=First Nations artwork honours the eel |url=https://www.parranews.com.au/news/first-nations-artwork-honours-the-eel/ |access-date=2023-08-04 |website=Parra News |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-02-27 |title=Artists bouncing back |url=https://www.bluemountainsgazette.com.au/story/7103716/artists-bouncing-back/ |access-date=2023-08-04 |website=Blue Mountains Gazette |language=en-AU}}</ref> * Lindy Lee's Ouroboros an immersive public art commission for the National Gallery of Australia<ref>{{Cite news |last=Convery |first=Stephanie |date=2021-09-23 |title=National Gallery of Australia orders $14m Ouroboros sculpture – its most expensive commission so far |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2021/sep/23/national-gallery-of-australia-orders-14m-ouroboros-sculpture-its-most-expensive-commission-so-far |access-date=2023-08-04 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> * George Stanley's Oscar Statuettes<ref>{{Cite news |last=Almond |first=Kyle |date=March 8, 2024 |title=Inside the Making of an Oscar Statuette |url=https://www.cnn.com/interactive/2023/03/entertainment/oscar-statuette-design-cnnphotos/index.html }}</ref>
== References == {{reflist}}
{{authority control}}
Category:Australian companies established in 1993 Category:Foundries in Australia Category:Foundries in the United States