Westside : City Offers a New Perspective on Public Art

Fences bordering construction sites are usually far from inspiring--most strewn with movie posters and flyers--but not in Beverly Hills, where such fences have become the newest art form.

The city’s first “barricade art” was unveiled last week: 13 vinyl panels painted by artist Billy Al Bengston and mounted above the fence surrounding the construction site of a municipal parking structure on Beverly Drive.

The event kicked off Beverly Hills’ public art program that focuses on temporary construction-fence artwork, officials said. Bengston’s brightly colored creation was commissioned by the city for $2,500.