23-06+23-12 TTUHSC-El Paso Clinical Sciences Bldg. + Comprehensive Cancer Center Public Art RFQ

Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso is soliciting qualifications through a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for the commission of a professional visual artist to create an original, large-scale sculptural public art installation for the Clinical Sciences Building and Comprehensive Cancer Center. The artwork will be site-specific and placed in an enclosed inner courtyard measuring approximately 52 feet wide by 80 feet long with 75-foot tall sidewalls, with a designated 670 square foot installation area and optional incorporation of the formal west-side entrance. The sculpture must reflect themes of hope, tranquility, and healing consistent with the healthcare and cancer research missions of the institution, with a maximum allowable height of 50 feet (preferably 30 to 35 feet) and a maximum weight capacity of 4,000 pounds. Eligible submissions must include a signed cover sheet, a two-page artist resume, 5 to 15 digital images of previous work, a 500-word artist statement, a 500-word letter of interest, and three professional references, all submitted through www.publicartist.org by 3:00 PM Central Time on March 25, 2026. Selected finalists, estimated at 2 to 5 artists, will be notified in May 2026 and will present design proposals in July/August 2026, with the commission award anticipated in early fall 2026 and completed artwork installation required by October 2028. Evaluation criteria emphasize originality and uniqueness, excluding mass-produced or standard manufactured objects and polemic or political concepts; reference to other campus public art installations including Helix Garden, El Intercambio, and Between Earth and Sky is encouraged. Selected finalists will receive a maximum stipend of $3,000 for travel and design fees.

No specific set-aside designations or restrictions targeting disadvantaged enterprises are identified in the RFQ documentation. The total all-inclusive project budget is $987,400, which must cover all costs including artist fees, consultant and subcontractor fees, insurance conforming to Texas Tech standards, engineering, materials, fabrication, transportation, installation, site modifications such as plinths, and post-installation documentation. The artist is responsible for hiring an engineer to guarantee proper weight distribution on the courtyard slab, for all lighting costs associated with the artwork (though general courtyard lighting and electrical infrastructure will be available for coordination), and for any crane installation costs necessary to transport the sculpture into the courtyard. Artists submitting from outside the United States may be subject to a 30 percent federal tax withholding. All selected artists will contract directly with Texas Tech University and must comply with state and federal requirements, maintain appropriate insurance coverage, and adhere to strict performance standards and liquidated damages provisions. The courtyard will be ready for artwork installation beginning in January 2028, providing flexibility for final site preparation and coordination with the artist's design specifications.