From the first moments of existence, humans have formed communities by interacting with their environment. With the transition from nomadic to settled life, the first cities in history began to appear. After the industrial revolution, urban culture developed and the concept of public space emerged. Public spaces are directly related to art as places where individuals socialize and engage in cultural interaction. The presence of art in public spaces is an important element that strengthens the bond between individuals and society. In this context, public art stands out especially in areas such as architecture, sculpture and graphic arts, while it is present in ceramic art with wall ceramics, ceramic sculptures and installations. While there are many remarkable examples among public art works in world art, public works in Turkish ceramic art have generally focused on wall ceramics. However, in recent years, it is also possible to see ceramic sculptures and installations among public art works in our country. This article aims to expand the scope of previous studies and address the place and importance of ceramic art in public art with a deeper perspective. The study examines the use of ceramics in public art in national and international contexts by scanning a wide range from ceramic urban furniture to monumental sculptures. In the study conducted with the systematic literature review method, the concepts of public, public space and public art were analyzed within the historical process. While examining the public art works that have attracted attention worldwide within the conceptual framework, five wall ceramics and five ceramic sculptures and installation examples were taken into consideration specifically for Turkey. The findings obtained show that public art strengthens the identity of urban spaces and increases the interaction of individuals with art. Ceramic art first found a place for itself in public art with wall ceramics in Turkey, and over time it diversified with ceramic sculptures and installations and reached an important position within contemporary ceramic art. This development increases the expectations for the future of ceramics in public art.
Keywords: City, Public Art, Ceramic Art, Wall Ceramics, Sculpture, Installation