Spencer Purdy is a public artist and architect whose work merges art with architecture. Spencer has created large-scale installations that are both visually captivating and deeply rooted in design. His work is not just seen – it is experienced, drawing viewers into a dialogue with their environment, the project and inviting them to discover new perspectives at every turn.
Focusing on installations that, while fixed, seem dynamic with their surroundings, Spencer’s pieces evoke the sensation of movement and transformation. Though static in form, they respond to the passage of time, the play of light, and the subtle shifts in their environment. For Spencer, art is not just a visual experience, but a catalyst for reflection—each piece tells a story, whether it be reflecting on history, exploring familiar subjects in a new way, offering new perspectives, or imagining possibilities for the future.
Public art, to Spencer, is an intimate expression of architecture. Drawing on his architectural background, he sees each piece as a miniature construction project—complex, thoughtful, and designed to endure. Spencer’s keen understanding of materials, space, and durability allows him to create works that are visually compelling. He has the ability to navigate complex relationships with municipalities, engineers, and developers ensures his installations not only captivate but work.
Having worked closely with PC Urban, including a two-years as Senior Development Manager, Spencer now focuses on his design practice while continuing to collaborate with the firm on art projects with them. His vision aligns closely with PC Urban’s belief that development is an opportunity to engage meaningfully with the public realm, with public art as a crucial bridge between spaces and people.
Spencer’s exploration of materials like reflective steel invites a dynamic, fluid interaction with his work – encouraging viewers to experience it from multiple angles, revealing something new with each shift in perspective. His projects create, creating moments of surprise connection that he hopes linger in the mind of the viewer long after they have left.
Spencer has proudly partnered with PC Urban to bring public art to life in their upcoming developments. Together, they are infusing creativity into the next IntraUrban industrial project and the Urban Flats purpose-built rental community. This collaboration highlights a shared commitment to enriching spaces with meaningful and vibrant artwork that reflects the community’s unique spirit.
Spencer Purdy
