###### Abstract  
Augmented reality (AR) technologies offer innovative possibilities for creating virtual networks that seamlessly blend digital and physical elements, thereby enhancing public spaces and engaging users with both their environment and the AR content. Key concepts for assessing user experiences in AR environments include immersion, with subcategories that further elaborate on this concept. This research aims to explore the potential of AR as a tool for presenting and evaluating artworks in public spaces, with a particular focus on user engagement and immersion in AR content. Additionally, it seeks to determine whether significant differences in immersion levels exist between specific categories of virtual sculptures. Ten sculptures were displayed as mobile AR experiences in a selected public square. To achieve these objectives, a standardized questionnaire designed to measure immersion in location-based AR applications was adapted, validated, and applied. The results provide valuable insights into user experiences with different categories of AR artworks, such as digitized versus digitally created models and figurative versus abstract representations. a 20251587  
continually rising [7]. Public art, now a prominent element of contemporary cityscapes, has been extensively employed to enhance and enrich the visual appeal of urban spaces [8]. Beyond merely elevating the aesthetic standards of these areas, public art also serves to draw attention to specific locations [9]. Its significance in urban aesthetics extends beyond superficial visual attraction; it contributes to the enhancement of urban quality of life and functions as a pivotal factor in shaping urban landscapes [10]. Sculptures in urban spaces represent one kind of public art. Public art sculptures not only define the character of public spaces but also immerse people in a rich cultural atmosphere within the urban environment [11]. Consequently, public art plays a critical role in the process of placemaking and fostering a sense of identity within urban settings [12; 13; 14]. Meanwhile, modern technologies offer innovative possibilities for creating public artworks that merge digital and physical elements, playing a significant role in enhancing and revitalizing public spaces. Augmented Reality (AR) allows for the creation of artworks that combine both the physical and the digital, enabling art to be experienced in places where it is not typically found, and where the audience may not have actively sought it out [15]. Recent advancements in AR, mobile devices, and network technologies have further empowered AR art to engage with social, environmental, and cultural issues in real-time, establishing it as a significant form of public art for the twenty-first century [16]. This research aims to identify the potential of AR technologies as tools for presenting and evaluating artworks in public spaces, specifically from the perspective of user engagement and immersion with AR content. The primary objective of this study is to evaluate the engagement with virtual artworks, specifically 3D models of the sculptures, in public spaces using AR technology, and to determine whether significant differences in immersion levels exist between digital sculptures (created exclusively in virtual space) and digitized sculptures (physical objects recreated in virtual form). The choice of AR as the primary tool for this investigation is underpinned by several compelling factors:  
* Enhancing public space experience: AR facilitates the projection of an effectively limitless number of virtual sculptures in the same urban location, thereby enabling a dynamic exploration of atmospheres and placemaking practices. This capability allows for the simultaneous evaluation of multiple artistic and spatial interventions, enhancing the depth and breadth of urban research. * Community participation: By enabling diverse visualizations, AR can serve as a participatory platform where community members are invited to interact with and provide feedback on potential designs.