This article reviews the literature on the evolving role of public art in the making of city spaces, with implications for global developments and area accounts in the specific context of the Chinese city of Chengdu. Public art, no longer merely monumental and ornamental, now focuses on creating inclusive, interactive, identity-driven public spaces. Drawing on literature published across the cross-disciplinary field between 2015 and 2024, this review categorises the evidence under three thematic threads: social interaction, cultural identity, and physical environment. As an example, Chengdu is identified to contribute a lively cultural climate and undergoing urban revitalisation.