In recent years, there has been a growing interest in exploring the relationship between urban environments, art installations, and urban theories. Henri Lefebvre’s work has been influential in understanding urban space and the dynamics of everyday life within cities. His concepts, such as the production of space and the right to the city, offer valuable insights into how cities are experienced and navigated by their inhabitants. Urban environments, encompassing historic sites and cultural landmarks, serve as rich canvases for artistic expression, from urban utopias, like Constant Nieuwenhuys’ New Babylon, to worlds transposed in virtual reality. Cities provide scenographies that urban planners need to start considering for a thorough analysis of the social urban contexts. Art installations within these landscapes have the potential to transform people’s perceptions and connections to their cultural and historical heritage. They can challenge dominant narratives, evoke emotional responses, and foster community engagement within the urban setting. By drawing on Lefebvre’s theories, scholars and practitioners seek to explore how art interventions within urban landscapes can reshape spaces and reimagine relationships between inhabitants and their cities. Through case studies and theoretical analyses, this paper aims to illustrate the diverse ways in which art installations activate and animate urban environments, inviting inhabitants to reinterpret their surroundings and reconceptualize a city’s dynamics. The authors argue for the potential of art installations as transformative tools for reclaiming, revitalizing, and democratizing urban heritage, aligning with Lefebvre’s vision of a more inclusive and participatory urban society.