Brisbane has an incredible array of public art and we’re about to get more. Two long awaited public art projects have just been announced. Queen’s Wharf Brisbane pledged around $13 million for public art and despite Star Entertainment Group’s troubles they have, more power to them, stuck to the plan.

Now comes the icing on the cake – $2 million worth of international art featuring sought after sculptures from world renowned British artist Sir Antony Gormley (famous for North of England public sculpture Angel of the North) and the American contemporary artist Tom Friedman.

One art pundit I spoke to described these two as “the big guns”.

Their works will join seven Australian artworks already announced and nearing completion to be installed across 12 football fields worth of public space in the heart of Brisbane’s CBD as part of Queen’s Wharf Brisbane.

The hero piece of Australian content is former Brisbane artist Lindy Lee’s eight metre bronze sculpture Being Swallowed by The Milky Way which will adorn the George Street atrium entrance to the Queen’s Wharf Brisbane precinct.

An artists rendering of Lindy Lee’s “Swallowed by the Milky Way”, to feature at Queen’s Wharf when the development opens next year. (Image: Supplied)

All the artworks will be in place at the $3.6 billion development in time for its planned staged opening from April 2024.

Meanwhile, just across the river and soon accessible by the swish new Neville Bonner Bridge is QPAC where a new theatre is taking shape on the corner of Grey and Russell Streets.

After a competitive process it has also just been announced that a major public art commission will adorn the entrance to the new as yet unnamed theatre.

Queensland artist Brian Robinson has been selected to develop the commission (estimated to be worth more than $500,000) entitled Floriate for the location. This curvaceous four-metre-high bronze sculpture focuses on seven flowering plants that grow in abundance across the state.

Arts Minister Leeanne Enoch says the work will tell “a story that connects the beauty of Queensland’s natural environment with First Nations culture and knowledge of country”.

“This beautiful sculpture will showcase Queensland First Nations culture to national and international visitors ahead of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games,” Minister Enoch says.

Brian Robinson says he is “extremely humbled to have been selected”.

He got international attention (an estimated one billion viewers) when he designed the parade track for the 2018 Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast.

His Brisbane art dealers, directors of Onespace gallery at West End, John Stafford and Jodie Cox describe Robinson as “undoubtedly Australia’s leading Torres Strait Island public artist”.

Across the river Antony Gormley’s Fold II will be a thought-provoking iron and steel sculpture depicting a couple in a tender embrace

Meanwhile a larger-than-life three-metre-high aluminium man created by Tom Friedman, called Looking Up, previously on display in New York’s Rockefeller Centre, will be showcased at the grassed riverfront space, The Landing.

Respected art figure Philip Bacon, who leads the Specialist Arts Advisory panel to curate the public art gallery for Queen’s Wharf Brisbane says “the inclusion of these two pieces from such internationally revered artists further highlights the quality and appeal of Queen’s Wharf Brisbane as a cultural destination.”

“The Star’s commitment to art and cultural content has been unwavering,” Bacon says. “The end result once all are in place will be one of the most complete arts precincts in the country and a major point of difference for Brisbane.”

He says the two international art pieces have their own distinctive appeal and message with both artists known for exploiting unusual materials to stimulate public interest and discussion. Fold II is made of corten steel, also known as weathered steel, which will develop a rusted earthy appearance over time when left to the natural elements.

He says Looking Up will become an iconic addition to the tourism precinct and that “the scale and size of the polished stainless-steel sculpture will be a drawcard,”

“Up close it will be overwhelmingly fascinating as people will be able to identify a range of aluminium household materials used by the artist. Unexpectedly, there are items such as steel strainers, forks, colanders, roasting trays and so much more, all crushed and moulded into this very special place which invites people to stand and look up to the clouds, sky or the stars.”

The Star Entertainment Group’s Managing Director and CEO, Robbie Cooke says all artworks will soon be installed and unveiled ahead of the development’s opening.

“Brisbane already has a vibrant cultural reputation and The Star and our partners are proud to help amplify that further with the inclusion of these two latest internationally credentialled sculptures,” Cooke says. “From the outset we have been committed to support Queensland, First Nations and local Australian artists to help drive visitation and community connection.”

Now in a final flurry the art has gone global.