Art collecting is often imagined as an exclusive pursuit — something reserved for those with wealth and refined taste. Yet in every city, works of art are already part of our shared lives. The sculptures in plazas, installations in metro stations, and murals on public walls are funded through public resources. They belong not to a few, but to all of us.

Most of us may never purchase a masterpiece for our own homes, but we are nonetheless surrounded by valuable works every day. These pieces invite us to pause, to look more closely, and to discover new layers of meaning in the spaces we inhabit.

The 2025 Taipei Art Week: City Collection sets out to reframe our connection with public art. Alongside officially commissioned projects, we also highlight works created and installed by private institutions. Through public engagement, online networks, and interactive mapping, the project encourages audiences to rediscover the city as a living museum. Here, public art is no longer a silent backdrop to urban life, but a vital part of our collective memory and cultural experience.

After all, the role of collector is not limited to a select few — we all share it.