Murals increased perceived experiences of beauty, calm, and inspiration more than unadorned walls.

Viewing public art also positively changed how people judged surrounding neighborhood quality.

Public art may be a low-cost way to promote urban well-being.

Co-authored with Vicente Estrada-Gonzalez

City dwellers often adapt to profoundly unnatural aspects of their environment. Traffic noise, air pollution, concrete surfaces, and crowded streets become the backdrop of everyday life. We habituate to them so thoroughly that we often don’t notice how unpleasant and potentially harmful they are.

Do we have to tolerate these urban assaults on our well-being? Moving to the countryside is one option—though unrealistic for many people. Alternatively, accessible clean transportation, thoughtful urban planning, and policies that reduce pollution and noise offer systemic ameliorations. While desirable and effective, these changes require considerable time and investment. Maybe one part of the solution to these urban maladies starts with something ordinary: the walls we walk past every day.

Art is often thought of as something nice to have, but ultimately nonessential. People can seek art in their free time, display it in their homes, or encounter it in museums and galleries. These activities require intention, leisure time, and disposable income, contributing to the perception that art engagement is a luxury with unclear practical value.

Public art, by contrast, is woven into daily life. Experiencing it does not require admission costs, specialized knowledge, or permission to engage with it. Although some public artworks spark controversy—think of Banksy's politically charged murals—cities increasingly commission and embrace public art. Murals, sculptures, and installations can interrupt the monotony of urban spaces and offer........

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