The City of West Columbia is excited to announce the successful completion of the “Public Works of Art” project, which began in July 2021. This initiative celebrates local artists by featuring their artwork on sanitation trucks. The final piece of the project was recently added to the fleet, marking the city’s commitment to promoting art, and enhancing public spaces, while contributing to the city’s clean and safe initiatives.

City Council has prioritized the investment of equipment in the Public Works Department over the past four years, allowing for the purchase of new and additional equipment to keep services running efficiently. The most recent addition, a packer truck, now displays the artwork created by artist Autumn Lily Leaphart. The newly decorated packer truck joins the lineup of other recently acquired equipment, including a street sweeper, a one-armed bandit, an additional packer, and a leaf truck, all of which enhance the efficiency of the city’s Public Works Department.

The “Public Works of Art” project features a group of local artists who have contributed their talents to this project. Among these artists are Trahern Cook, Laura Day, Ija Charles, Christine Lutfy Crawford, Michael Cassidy, and Autumn Lily Leaphart each leaving their artistic mark on the city’s sanitation fleet. Detailed information about the artists and their inspiring works can be found on the City’s website at www.westcolumbiasc.gov/public-works-of-art/.

This initiative highlights the City of West Columbia’s dedication to fostering creativity, incorporating local artists, and transforming utility vehicles into rolling masterpieces. Residents and visitors alike are encouraged to keep an eye out for these moving artworks on the streets, adding an extra touch of beauty and culture to the community.

Mayor Tem Miles said, “I am thankful the new equipment has been put in service. It will help our crews better serve our community and keep our town looking nice.”

About Autumn Lily Leaphart

Autumn Lily Leaphart is a 22-year-old artist born and raised in Columbia, South Carolina. Using oils, acrylics, mixed media, digital animations, and poetry, she expands her creative process to whatever medium she desires to carry her intended expression. Starting her love for drawing as a young child, she pursued art classes in public school and at the age of 15 attended her first oil painting class with professional artists. Learning from established creatives in high school during her free time, she attended live drawing sessions and painting courses at City Art, a local art studio. Following her time under the influence of professionals, she decided to pursue art in college at the University of South Carolina School of Visual Art and Design. After three years of honing her craft and exploring photography and video, she ventured alone to Europe, leaving her country for the first time to gain experience in Florence, Italy as a gallery assistant and taking traditional oil painting courses at Florence University of the Arts. As the first generation in her family to leave the US, she continued exploring her love of travel and language learning as she has spent time solo traveling through western Europe, and continues to pursue art as her passion. 

“Whenever two people meet, there are really six people present. There is each man as he sees himself, each man as the other person sees him, and each man as he really is.” William James.