Site specific art emerged in the 1960s as a reaction to the commodification of modernist art objects which could only exist in galleries or museum spaces. To find a way out of this situation, artists began creating works for specific sites, often in outdoor environments. They were influenced by many different movements, among them Conceptualism, Minimalism, De Stijl, Cubism and Arte Povera.

Initially, it was determined that a site specific work could not be moved from its original place without being destroyed. However, this concept has evolved and moved away from the idea of unrepeatability. It is now widely accepted that a work can be refabricated and relocated to a new site and still be relevant.

Included in this collection are a range of site specific works, from the Land art of Richard Long to the outdoor sculptures of Liliane Lijn.