Along with the 80+ works of active public art in NoMa, the neighborhood has seen a total of more than 150 murals, sculptures, and underpass exhibits installed since 2016. These banners celebrate 10 years of changing murals in NoMa by highlighting past installations that are no longer in NoMa today. Many of these works were created during the annual mural festival, NoMa in Color, which brings together established and emerging artists to create inspiring art that celebrates DC's culture. The festival showcases local artists along one of the most popular bike trails in the region, switching half of the murals at Alethia Tanner Park out for new murals every September.While much of the original mural art along the particular blocks on which these banners are installed has been lost to redevelopment, the BID pays tribute to them through this exhibit, inviting the neighborhood to experience the full spectrum of NoMa's public art, from sculptures along this block to more than 30 murals at and around Tanner Park.See which artists, who painted murals in NoMa over the last 10 years, are highlighted in this temporary banner exhibit: nomabid.org/murals
"Look, Look" Michelle McAuliffe 2022
Michele McAuliffe, a deaf artist, created this overpass mural, which spells out “NOMA” in American Sign Language. It celebrates NoMa and nearby Union Market as the home neighborhoods of Galluadet University for the deaf and hard of hearing. McAuliffe's works are joyful, colorful and explore the connection between art and communication. The colors and shapes she chose for this mural specifically represent the multitude of identities that make up her vision of NoMa.
"Rain" Thurlow Small Architects and NIO 2018
“Rain” is a beautifully crafted and thoughtfully designed lighting installation that transforms a practical pedestrian underpass into an inspiring public space. Through its responsive illumination and aesthetic appeal, it enhances both safety and the sense of urban connection across NoMa. It was created by the California-based Thurlow Small Architecture in collaboration with NIO architecten (Netherlands).The first 'art park' created by the NoMa Parks Foundation, "Rain" is comprised of 4,000 polycarbonate tubes, each housing energy-efficient LED lights, suspended from the ceiling in vault formations along the underpass sidewalk. The light responds to the activity of pedestrians or traffic moving its way through this connective space.
"Street Beats" Miss Chelove 2022
Created by one of DC's most beloved local muralists, who weaves together storytelling, powerful visuals, and cultural heritage. The artist is especially inspired by her Indonesian roots and D.C.'s rich street art culture. Miss Chelove was commissioned to create two outdoor murals for The Armature apartment complex at M and Third Streets, NE. This piece brightens up a space between the M Street rail underpass and the buildiing's garage entrance.
"Unwinding" Brian McCutcheon 2022
Evoking the image of unspooling wire, this impressively large bronze and steel artwork anchors the Central Armature Works development at Third and M Streets, NE. The piece was created by artist Brian McCutcheon, a founding owner of Ignition Arts in Indianapolis. In creating this piece, Brian was inspired by the form of the electric motor armatures once manufactured at this very site.
"Red Bear Brewing" Philip Pilgrim 2025
An elementary schoolteacher by day and a prolific artist illustrating some of the area's favorite beer cans by night, Philip created this mural design- installed on canvas- specifically for NoMa's Red Bear Brewing, and, of course, included their signature bruin in the story. This mural was installed with help by the NoMa BID's Retail Opportunity Grant, which provides funding for local businesses to improve their storefronts.
"Zook in NoMa" Marly McFly 2025
Marly McFly is a self-taught artist from Newport News, VA. He began pursuing his passion for art as a child drawing everything from cartoons, comics, action figures and athletes. Drawing influences from his surroundings and life growing up, he incorporates nostalgia and pop culture, to create narrative-driven works revolving around his original characters which are utilized to address ideas of self-expression, empowerment, hope and resilience. Zook isn’t just a character—he’s a living symbol of hope, resilience, and the power of dreaming big. Small in stature but larger than life in personality, he inspires children to break free from constraints, embrace their uniqueness, and follow their wildest dreams. Zook embodies the rebellious spirit of a young soul who believes that no dream is too big, and no box can confine his imagination.
"Flock" Acrylicize 2022
This striking blue duck sculpture, commissioned from the London-based design studio Acrylicize for the Cielo Apartments, pays homage to the large duck population that once thrived in the historic NoMa neighborhood.
"Cielo" Red Swan Walls 2022
This mural, in a stylized and colorful bird design, was commissioned by the Cielo Apartments and is typical of the beautiful work of Red Swan Murals, whose artwork can be seen all over the NoMa neighborhood.
"Untitled" Blake Jones
Chicago-based artist Blake Jones created this vibrant mural as part of NoMa’s annual mural festival but it is now an iconic piece situated in the NoMa ART GARDEN. Known for his bold graphic line work and vivid color palettes, the artist crafts intricate narratives populated by his signature characters, objects, and imaginative landscapes.
"Untitled" Kelly Towles, Mark Devour, Baghead, & Captain Jack Soren 2021
This mural, at 1225 3rd Street NE, was painted by artists Jack Soren, Mark Devour, Baghead, and Kelly Towles for the 2021 annual mural festival and still graces the wall of the Press House apartment complex. It provides a great backdrop for the steady stream of visitors to NoMa BID's temporary urban "art garden," which boasts a variety of seating, bistro tables, and some outdoor games.
"Untitled" Wing Chow 2021
This mural was installed on the side of the Press House building, enlivening the wall of the Third Street Art Garden park installed by the NoMa BID. This mural was created in partnership with DC Walls in 2021.
"Urban Optics" Glassatorium 2022
The three sculptures that make up this unique installation are named "Periscope," "Camera Obscura," and "Kaleidoscope" and all sit alongside the Third Street side of the Central Armature Works. Created by the designers of collective Glassatorium: (Joan Biddle, Charlotte Potter Kasic, Hannah Kirkpatrick, and Kristi Totoritis), each offers passersby a chance to view the street differently.
"Wings of Evolution" Miss Chelove 2022
This second mural by local artist Miss Chelove for the Central Armature Works complex draws its inspiration from the energy created by industrial mechanics. See the sweeping pair of cranes progress from left to right as if carried by the wind. The composition is dynamic and almost wave-like, signaling the spirit of invention, innovation, creation, and potential.
"The City" Nicole Wandera 2024
Each mural in this series created by artist Nicole Wandera elaborates on a distinct facet of The City, a poem by Langston Hughes. Using dynamic strokes and rich textured layers, she was inspired by scenes from NOMA's vibrant landscape. The images within each panel are guided by a timeline of a typical day, from the song of morning birds, a walk at the Alethia Tanner dog park, daydreaming while biking from work on the Metropolitan Branch Trail, and finally, an evening watching the city lights twinkle like stars. Each mural has an added component of Augmented Reality- by scanning the QR codes on the sign opposite the artworks allows viewers to activate the AR animations.
"Journeys" Barbara Grygutis with poet Dolores Kendrick 2004
Journeys is an environmental sculpture inspired by life's journeys installed into the NoMa BID by Washington metro (WMATA). Grygutis's sculpture is a collaboration with Dolores Kendrick, once Poet Laureate of the District of Columbia. The art installation uses a sculpture and four sculptural leaf patterns from the Scarlet Oak tree (the official tree of the District of Columbia) and poetry to remind viewers of their journeys through the seasons of life. One of the poems is integrated into the large leaf sculpture. The other poem is on the wall inside the station pavilion.Using laser-jet cut aluminum and welded steel, Journeys consists of a 27 feet-tall sculpture at the station entrance, a 400 feet-long wavy fence along the front of the station, and a poem engraved into a panel in the station pavilion. The artwork was created as part of the overall station design, making it WMATA's first integrated artwork installation. The leaf is illuminated from within at night, providing a beacon of light at the entrance to the station.
"Hairstyles" Adam Kidder 2025
Look around NoMa and Eckington and you see a lot of different wonderful hairstyles…and people. Artists always loves illustrating hair and how hair can sometimes tell you something about a person or maybe even a neighborhood. The artist tried to capture a wide swath of potential hairstyles and even included one iteration of the current Mayor's hair. Can you tell which one it is?
"No Way" Jesse Kirsch 2023
For his mural, ‘No Way,’ artist Jesse Kirsch subverts traditional wayfinding markers with a bold grid of graphic arrows that captures the energy of the built environment. The arrows serve as a metaphor for the choices we make in our lives—we can follow the path that is laid out for us or we can forge our own way. The playful nods to rebellion create a thought-provoking work that encourages viewers to reimagine their relationship with the world and embrace their own sense of adventure.
"Endless Summer" Andrea Limauro 2025
Created over 100 hours during May and June, this mural, commissioned by The Washington Post elevates this “third place”—a social space that's neither home nor work—into an inviting urban respite. The artist intentionally chose this site because of the area's vulnerability to summer urban heat, particularly given the lack of tree cover and the heat-retaining infrastructure of the rail yards and concrete surfaces nearby .Dominated by a radiant rising sun, the mural evokes the rising summer heat and offers an expanded view of D.C. north of what was once called Boundary Street (now Florida Avenue). The lush, wild flora depicted symbolize resilience—nature’s insistence on flourishing even under harsh conditions. An urban planner by day, the artist sees the mural as more than art—it’s an embodiment of equitable urban design.
"Chirp" No Kings Collective 2016
One of the earliest murals still on display in NoMa is a vibrant work by the art collective No Kings Collective, quietly tucked away just off the bustling Florida Avenue corridor. Created by artists Brandon Hill and Peter Chang, the mural reflects their long-standing commitment to bringing bold, accessible public art to underserved neighborhoods across Washington, DC. Although the No Kings Collective design studio has since disbanded, both artists each still work to shape the city’s visual landscape with their dynamic, community-driven creative work—locally and beyond.
"Gateway Wings" Kent Bloomer Studio 2013
"Gateway Wings" is located on the New York Avenue Bridge, just before the Florida Avenue, NE intersection, and was commissioned as part of a bridge overhaul. Commissioned by the DC Department of Transportation (DDOT) and the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities (DCCAH), these two 50-foot tall structures form an iconic gateway for the NoMa neighborhood.The sculpture features stylized aluminum leaves, creating a split-arch gateway over the New York Avenue bridge. At night, carefully aimed and orchestrated light beams, brought to life by locally-based lighting designer Alexander Cooper, envelop the Wings in a subtly shifting movement of color.
"Hounds," G.Pack 2025
G. Pack has developed a powerful art and cultural practice centered around a recurring theme: strong hound dogs, often misjudged as aggressive by the public. Through this imagery, he draws a parallel to how society frequently stereotypes young Black men. In contrast to their perception, the dogs in his work are depicted as loyal, gentle, and deeply misunderstood—mirroring the nuanced humanity often overlooked in these young men. Also a featured muralist in the first NoMa in Color Mural Festival, G. Pack's vibrant and thoughtful murals have resonated strongly with park and trail audiences, earning widespread appreciation.
"Home Rules!" Louis Antoine Gilbert 2025
The mural celebrates Washington DC buildings though vibrant colors that evoke a sense of joy and energy. The structures honor the city's brutalist architectural heritage, while also reflecting the contemporary growth of the NoMa neighborhood. At its core, the work expresses the joy of urban living, and the joy this Parisian artist has of belonging to the DC community.
"KIDS" Alex Serraton 2025
Created from a sketch, rather than the finished portraits, this intriguing mural features nine young children smiling and gazing out at the viewer. The first-time mural artist aimed to capture the youthful emotions and joy of being a kid and how as a community, we should cherish the future generations rather than tear them down.The Festival selection panel appreciated the complexity and uniqueness of the sketch even over the final portrait, and asked him to use the sketch as his final design.
"Intergalactic Hip-Hop Odyssey" Mike Pacheco 2024
Mike Pacheco artfully blends surrealism with elements of the natural world, crafting imaginative and visually captivating scenes. His work often features animated characters set within carefully composed landscapes, where fantasy and nature coexist. This distinctive fusion allows Mike to explore the interplay between imagination and the organic beauty of the environment in each of his creations. This mural for NoMa and Eckington was inspired by Hip Hop's 50th Anniversary, and depicts an astronaut with a gold rope necklace and a clock pendant, holding a boom box backpack. Floating in space around him are flowers and butterflies, representing the spirit of the culture and showing love.
"Flight of the Imagination" Rae Akino 2025
This piece celebrates the boundless creativity of childhood in DC. It captures the joy of learning and play—running through the Air and Space Museum, dreaming of flight, and transforming city parks into launchpads for adventure. It's a tribute to the freedom and wonder found in the early years of life, especially in a city that fosters so much curiosity and exploration.
"A Dance for Alethia" Nayila Moore 2025
This vibrant piece, by a first time muralist, is inspired by the story of Alethia Tanner, who the park is named for, and feelings that the artist imagined she felt emancipating herself. The imagery features women dancing against a backdrop of colorful stained glass, symbolizing movement, freedom, and joy. Through bold color and expressive form, the mural reflects Tanner’s legacy while offering inspiration to all who pass by.
"Ever Present" Tammy Barnes 2025
This mural honors the Nacotchtank (Anacostans) and Piscataway Peoples, original stewards of the Anacostia and Potomac rivers. At its center, a stylized Nacotchtank woman emerges from the riverbanks, her upward gaze embodying continuity, reverence, and renewal, surrounded by imagery that bridges past and present. Modern symbols—the American Shad, DC’s state fish, and the Wood Thrush, DC’s state bird—offer movement in the skies and waterways, while the Paw Paw blossom, a regional tree with custard-like fruit, anchors the mural to land. The figure’s fox fur pelt recalls the Nacotchtank as a “town of traders,” and the “three sisters” crops highlight their agriculture, with the Paw Paw leaves also referencing Roosevelt Island, the last place the Nacotchtank are recorded as having taken refuge.Truth and acknowledgment are vital to building respect across heritage and difference. This mural is created in that spirit—honoring their legacy, acknowledging the histories of displacement and violence, and remembering the resilience of all who came before us. We invite you to pause and reflect on the many legacies that connect us across time and community.
"Transfer Series DC" HOXXOH 2021
The artist, based in Miami, FL, used mundane items, such as a dustpan, to manipulate and transfer paint onto his canvas for this one in a mural series. They produce abstract designs that offer a foundation for the rest of the artwork. The process embraces the imperfections and glitches that arise from the transfer to create an organic and dynamic interplay between form and space. All of Hoxxoh's works seek to engage the senses and focus on rhythm and repetition.
"'Tis the Little Things that Soothe the Soul" Versatile Vice 2024
Versatile Vice aka. Eric B. Ricks is a celebrated and highly-skilled street artist and mentor whose murals can be found throughout D.C. and around the globe. In this work, his signature cube motif—along with other symbolic elements —represents a fully realized individual who has mastered their journey and reached their potential. The artist’s message is within the bright and uplifting design: the greater the challenges you face, the more exhilarating the game becomes. This mural invites viewers to embrace the joy of life and trust the path they are on.
"It Starts with a Dream of Housing for All" Liliane Blom 2024
In this mural, the artist tells a story about the hopes we carry for a better future—whether it’s justice, access to housing, or the right to vote. Its bright, colorful design draws inspiration from the iconic homes of the Eckington neighborhood and encourages positive and meaningful public dialogue around critical civic issues.
"Expand Again" Oluwatoyin Tella 2024
This mural draws inspiration from the enduring thread that connects pre-colonial African aesthetics to the contemporary Black culture the artist encounters in D.C. Rooted in her Yoruba ancestry of the Oyo Empire—an influence that has persisted and evolved despite the disruptions of the trans-Atlantic slave trade—the work embodies the energy, resilience, and determination required to preserve legacy across generations.
"Friends of NoMa" Camila Leao 2025
This mural by Brazilian artist, Camila Leao, is a love letter to NoMa’s dogs, inspired by one of her first jobs as a dog walker in the neighborhood. It celebrates the joy these furry friends bring to daily life, with their portraits meeting the vibrancy of Brazilian art and the spirit of friendship.
"Untitled" Red Swan Walls 2022
At the time of its installation, this was the largest mural that Red Swan Murals, a two-woman team based in Baltimore, had created to date. Their colorful, bold murals often evoke a tropical vibe and include realistically rendered, brightly- painted birds and plants.and vibrant abstract patterns.
"Eckington Encounter" Brian Michael Dunn 2025
This mural is a meeting of the senses inspired by a scene from the NoMa farmers market . A resident stops among the lush greenery to take in the scent of a nearby flower. Forms are repeated throughout the scene, drawing further connections between the subject and her object of attention. Plant life of the district is abstracted into repeating geometric forms, reflecting the rhythms and patterns of city life.
"Shaunte and Biko," Martin Swift
This beloved and enduring neighborhood mural, created by figurative painter and illustrator Martin Swift, was created over two years (2017 and 2018), and depicts Eckington artist Shaunte Gates and his son, Biko. It was the artist's first mural. Both Swift and Gates have shown their work internationally. Although the murals painted along the WMATA wall are typically changed every two years as part of the annual NoMa mural festival, this mural has, by community vote, stayed in place since it was created.
"NoMa on Wheels" Maeberry Arts 2025
Lecsi Pillar views Washington, DC—and the NoMa/Eckington area in particular—as a hub of energy, where people are constantly on the move. While many travel by train, she’s equally inspired by those navigating the city on bikes, skates, skateboards, and, more recently, scooters. Her design celebrates these car-free alternatives, reflecting a hopeful vision for a greener DC. She chose to feature a diverse group of women to represent her own perspective and to honor a growing cultural shift: one in which women confidently move through public spaces on their own. The work celebrates both independence and empowerment.
"Cool Cats in DC" Josette Matoto 2025
Fostering joy and pride in this city feels more important than ever.Josette, a graphic artist, was excited to find a chance to express her love for this city’s art, sports, music, and amazing green spaces. And for cats, of course.
"Fugue" JAHRU 2024
Annapolis-based artist JAHRU (Jeff Huntington) is a Filipino-American painter and the Executive Director and co-founder of Future History Now, a nonprofit that collaborates with underserved youth around the world to create transformative murals. Blending traditional mural techniques with a contemporary vision, he crafts striking wall works that both surprise and uplift. This piece is one of his striking double-offset glitch paintings, featuring two overlapping portraits divided by a geometric pattern—a “barcode” of color -that reflects the digital lens through which we increasingly view the world.
"Allegory of the Cave" Ashley Jaye Williams 2024
In this mural, the artist portrays a young girl immersed in the safe, imaginative world of reading and learning—a peaceful bubble of focus and possibility. Surrounding this calm center is a whirlwind of city life in Northeast D.C., depicted through vibrant imagery chosen by the artist: the chaos of constant construction, the blur of passing cyclists and pedestrians, and even a nod to local flavor with a slice of pizza—an homage to a favorite NoMa and Eckington pastime. While the Metropolitan Branch Trail (MBT) is a thoroughfare for daily commuters and urban movement, the mural reminds us that it also offers moments of reflection, escape, and quiet within the city’s relentless pace.
"Concert" Marc Pekala 2024
In this DC and Eckington-focused work, graphic artist Marc Pekala uses iconic 1980's- 90's Go-Go Performance Poster prints- published by the Baltimore-based Globe Printing Corporation- as inspiration. Images of the posters are cut up into playful pieces that are then re-arranged as a collage of colorful design, perfect for translating into a wall mural.
"The Embrace" Just RO 2025
This mural, a combination of spray paint and brushwork, is of a local woman and her child. The artist sees this first large mural as his gift to DC, and the woman as all the residents of the local community nurturing the baby neighborhood, NoMa.
"Locomotive" Anthony Dihle 2025
Why a locomotive? The artist can hear the NoMa trains from his studio; the nearby tracks are historic and date to the 1870s. He infused some historic DC elements with the contemporary to represent the neverending change of our city. Other images inside the locomotive include a bicycle (he often bikes the MBT), and some NE DC “wildlife” hidden throughout. Also included is a sample of DC’s street grid with a couple circles (taken from the artist’s home neighborhood in NW), the traffic circles with streets radiating outward hinting at the wheels and spokes of a bicycle or train wheel.
"Color of Love" Autumn Spears 2025
The contrasting yet complementary warm and cool color palette reflects the dual narratives of legacy and transience. The patterned, quilt-like background represents the city’s diverse communities—each distinct yet interconnected—creating a unified tapestry. Over this rests a bold, simple outline of “DC,” anchoring the composition. Culturally, braids symbolize strength, identity, and continuity. Visually, they also echo the city’s energy and movement—resembling track marks or paths in motion. This dual reference speaks both to cultural tradition and to the literal trails, roads, and rhythms of the city, including a nod to the Metropolitan Branch Trail.
"Self-Love" MJ On the Wall 2025
This mural illustrates for the artist the moments where all the voices in your head finally come together to heal you. Despite the piece having a multitude of characters they all represent one person who finally found a way to unify themselves to feel whole. With the color gradient layout of increased brightness from both right to left and left to right, this is a fun piece for bikers/runners to observe.
"Community" Anna Siniuk 2024
This mural offers a vivid celebration of the artist’s diverse and dynamic community, portraying people from all walks of life coming together in unity and joy. Through bold colors, striking patterns, and graphic figures, the work captures the essence of D.C.’s spirit while showcasing the artist’s distinctive style.
Untitled, Marcella Verchio 2024
This mural is part of a series that the mural artist calls "Galaxy Flowers" - Marcella's art explores the complexities of the human condition, philosophy, and contemporary life. Employing techniques that inherently lack control, she embraces the uncertainty.
"In Harmony" Brianna Pippens 2024
The artist painted this mural to cultivate a sense of community, belonging and connection in the Eckington/NoMa neighborhoods. For her first outdoor mural, she chose dynamic colors and depicted potraits of women in her blossoming graphic style.
"Chuquillanqui" Salvador Rubio Rivera 2024
The artist was inspired to paint this mural in honor of his Latino community in DC. The woman is a Peruvian friend, and he painted the floral background as an homage to traditional Mexican embroidery patterns.
"The Breeze Back Home" Mr. Zimbro 2024
This mural draws inspiration from the artist’s cherished childhood memory of visiting the metro station with his father, while growing up just ten blocks from what is now Alethia Tanner Park. He recalls being immersed in the vibrant colors, the constant hum of activity, and the graffiti that filled the city’s landscape. Returning years later to paint this, his second, mural in the same park, he reflected with a smile, “This is as good as it gets.”
"Sun Goddess" Cr8tion Rebel 2024
This mural portrays a Black female phoenix rising from the ashes toward the horizon, a powerful symbol of the neighborhood’s resilience and its ability to adapt and thrive through change. The rich, sunset-inspired palette—woven with lunar imagery and geometric patterns—evokes the interconnectedness of nature and urban life in NoMa, reflecting both its strength and its enduring spirit.
"Stay Pawsitive" Luther Wright 2024
In 2024, as part of the annual NoMa Mural Festival, the NoMa BID invited the artist to create a vibrant new mural for the beloved Alethia Tanner Park dog park—frequently recognized by the public as one of D.C.’s favorite spots for pups and their people. Commissioned to complement the individual artist works being painted during the festival, this mural was designed as a community painting project during the 2024 NoMa in Color event. Over 100 volunteers helped bring the piece to life, carefully filling in color within the artist’s pre-drawn guidelines. Known for his signature curves, bold color fields, and joyful depictions of animals, Luther transformed the park’s backdrop into a playful, uplifting celebration of the community’s canine companions.
This mural was created by the artist in partnership with the Heising-Simons Foundation and CulturalDC. The mural design was Inspired by the work of a Duke physicist studying quarks, and depicts women as subatomic particles, specifically quarks, which are components of protons. The artwork is part of a larger public art series called "Findings" that were commissioned by the Foundation. Designed by Amanda as a tribute to women in STEM, the bold, vibrant composition features two women surrounded by a burst of fragmented forms—symbolizing the fundamental building blocks of protons and neutrons that give rise to life itself.
"From This Point Forward" Brandon Slewion 2025
Painted on the exterior wall of the Stable Arts building, this mural, whose artist is also a teacher. depicts students who, like the artist once did, struggled to connect the dots and define their educational paths. Through this work, the artist encourages young people everywhere to look inward and explore their surroundings in pursuit of deeper knowledge and a clearer sense of purpose. The mural features symbolic figures—the seeker, the builder, and the storyteller—representing the journey of self-discovery and growth.
"And Yet, We Bloom" C.S. Corbin 2025
The inspiration behind the artist's design was an appreciation for DC architecture (with a specific nod to the Eckington community), and the breathtaking blooms that exist around this city.
"Joy Over Chaos" Kia Kelliebrew 2025
This mural celebrates the freedom of Black women to live authentically—beyond the constraints of societal expectations and imposed identities. A blackbird, its wings adorned with heart-shaped eyes, symbolizes inner vision, self-love, and the power to manifest one’s own destiny. The bird serves as a metaphorical resource, holding everything she needs to pursue her dreams. Echoing the spirit of “spread your wings and fly,” the artist wanted to reflect a journey of self-empowerment, where validation is self-given and the sky is no longer the limit, but the beginning.
"When Feelings Get Over" MurOne 2022
Hailing from Barcelona, Spain, this artist is renowned for his vibrant, colorful murals that blend geometric precision with influences from pop culture, graffiti, graphic design, and illustration. His work transforms urban landscapes into lively visual experiences, engaging passersby with bold shapes and striking color palettes. By merging street art’s raw energy with polished graphic elements, he creates pieces that are both playful and thought-provoking. Passionate about bringing art to public spaces worldwide, he continually seeks new cities and opportunities for painting murals, such as this one at the PEPCO transfer station in NoMa.
"Return of the Shaolin Pencil" Aniekan Udofia 2020
Part of a larger D.C. series by artist Aniekan Udofia, Return of the Shaolin Pencil is both the title of the work and a recurring motif. Inspired by the visual language of graphic novels, the series reflects a stage of creative and personal enlightenment, drawing influence from mythologist Joseph Campbell’s concept of the hero’s journey. At the heart of the piece, the yellow pencil serves as a powerful symbol—representing imagination, transformation, and the creative force within each individual portrayed.
"Untitled" Stom500 2019
Stom500 is a Swiss artist who began his career as a graphic artist and has morphed into a global muralist. His spectacular, cartoon-inspired creatures are often those who are endangered or less known. This mural features a diverse array of birds, illustrating their evolutionary journey from fish to dinosaurs and then to modern birds. The mural includes life-size depictions of various bird families, including songbirds and even large extinct species like the Pelagornis, with its impressive 19-foot wingspan.
"DC" Jeff Gress 2017
Jeff Gress is an artist, signmaker and muralist who lives in Hawaii and specializes in hand drawn letterforms, bold graphics and traditional techniques, often now using gold leaf. Jeff is also an operations director for the greater @worldwidewalls mural making enterprise and owns a 30-artist studio space in his hometown.
"Jasper '88" Baghead 2021
The artist has transformed the exterior of this car mechanic shop with a vibrant, high-energy mural. Among the swirling abstract shapes and bold, dynamic lines, a stylized fox emerges—subtly woven into the composition. True to his signature style, Baghead infuses the piece with pop-inspired abstraction and urban graphic elements, drawing from his creative roots in skateboarding culture, street typography, and early animation.
"Chromatical Opening" Astro 2019
French muralist Astro has crafted a distinctive visual world through his masterful use of light and shadow, bold color, and striking perspective. Known for his spontaneous, energetic style, Astro transforms flat surfaces into mesmerizing illusions—distorting facades and walls with sweeping curves and intricate depth that trick the eye and challenge perception. His work invites viewers to question what is real, creating a dynamic tension between two-dimensional space and three-dimensional experience.
"Untitled" Birdcap 2021
This mural’s aesthetic blends the playful spirit of childhood cartoons with deeper themes of mythology, collective memory, and contemporary anxieties—creating a visually layered commentary that feels both deeply personal and widely resonant. Its bold colors and striking design captivate viewers from afar and invite close-up exploration. Notably, its palette helped inspire the color scheme of the NoMa Third Street Art Garden.
"Mother" NOSEGO 2019
This Philadelphia-based artist has created a large tiger mural, saturated with vibrant color and inspired by the natural world.
"Mi Cuerpo, Mi Decision" Lauren YS/Squid Licker 2021
Lauren YS, also known as Squid Licker, is a Los Angeles-based muralist and artist known for their vibrant, surreal, and often fantastical murals that blend mythology, dreams, and personal experiences. Their work explores themes of identity, queer and BIPOC representation, and the search for self-hood, often drawing inspiration from their Asian-American heritage and queer identity. This mural features a person surrounded by mythical cat-like creatures, rendered in a bright, Lisa Frank-inspired color palette and named the mural to signify a woman's right to choose by calling it “Mi Cuerpo, Mi Decisión” or “My body, my choice."
"The Chicken and The Egg" Harry Mark 2019
The sculptures were designed by Harry Mark and his team at RSM Design to evoke the history of NoMa, particularly its past as a transportation hub and its connection to the former Union Market terminal, a wholesale food market that included live poultry. The chicken and egg theme also references the common philosophical question of which came first, a question that still reflects the neighborhood's own transformation. The egg is depicted in particular with CMYK colors (cyan, magenta, yellow, and black), which are used in printing and pay homage to the area's history as a printing center, including the Government Printing Office, also located in NoMa.
"Still In My Blue Period" Young Jarus 2022
For Canadian artist Young Jarus, the ability to reflect on personal experiences, relationships, and a simple love of life has helped shape his global reputation. His work tells stories of individual spirit that resonate with the unique rhythm and energy of each neighborhood. For this mural on the wall of NoMa's SoNYa apartments, Jarus chose to depict his interpretation of Vishnu—one of the principal deities in the Hindu Trimurti, revered as the protector and preserver of the universe.
"Circulations" Hannah Whitaker 2020
Wrapping around the facade of the NoMa DC Citizen M hotel, this striking outdoor artwork showcases silhouettes of female figures rendered in the artist’s bold, techno-inspired style. Through these dynamic forms, the piece explores the creative potential inherent in human error amidst an age increasingly dominated by digital automation. By emphasizing imperfection and individuality, the work challenges the often cold precision of technology, celebrating instead the unique and unpredictable spirit of humanity. Inside the hotel, visitors can also experience Whitaker’s captivating piece, Vibrations, further demonstrating the artist’s innovative approach to blending human expression with contemporary digital aesthetics.
"Torqued Tensility" NADAAA 2014
This sculpture was designed by NADAA (a Boston-based multidisiplinary design firm), and installed through a grant by the DC Commission for Arts & Humanities. The imposing sculpture stands at one of the busiest corners in NoMa, creates a strong reference point for those who pass by, and was an early addition to our neighborhood's art bank. It consists of three steel beams, rising three stories high, with the fourth beam held in suspension between them by torqued wires. No two wires intersect.
"Here Today, Gone Tomorrow" It's A Living 2017
Painted on the east wall of the AVA NoMa apartments, this typographic mural was created by designer and artist Its A Living, who splits his time between New York and Mexico City. Known globally for his distinctive script style, his work features intentionally ambiguous phrases that invite personal interpretation and dialogue. This mural mirrors the dynamic and evolving character of the NoMa neighborhood.
"AVA NoMa" James Bullough/Holy Bones 2017
James Bullough’s murals are known for their striking blend of realism and illustrative detail, often juxtaposing contrasting elements to create a sense of movement and depth. This large-scale mural, spanning two parts of the Slate at NoMa building (Formerly AVA NoMa) apartment complex, plays with perspective and narrative. At first glance, it appears to show a woman falling—but as your eye follows the artwork, you see she’s actually holding onto a rope. On the adjacent building, three children with playful grins grasp the other end, grounding the scene with a sense of connection and joy. Raised in D.C., Bullough has several murals across the city, each reflecting his signature style and storytelling approach.
"Spectrum at First Street" David Batchelor 2005
"Spectrum at First Street" by Scottish Artist, David Batchelor, is composed of steel and aluminium light boxes, acrylic, vinyl, polycarbonate, and fluorescent lights. The two columns are seen from the street into the building lobby at 1100 First Street, NE. David Batchelor's work is concerned above all things with color, a sheer delight in the myriad brilliant hues of the urban environment and underlined by a critical concern with how we see and respond to colour in this advanced technological age.
"Burn Together" Emily Ding 2022
Muralist Emily Ding finds inspiration in the vibrant world of flora, fauna, and the complexities of human emotion. Her animal-themed murals burst to life with bold, dynamic color gradients and a fluid, painterly style that vividly conveys her personal feelings and experiences. This striking tiger mural was created as a tribute to her friends—and herself—who have stood strong through times when “life is on fire."
"Neighbors and Friends" Kate Deciccio and Mazi Mutafa 2020
The people depicted in this mural are actual residents of the building, the Conway Residence, which houses veterans who have experienced chronic homelessness and other low-income residents. It embodies neighborhood connections and the authenticity of their connections. DeCiccio was a DC resident when the mural was painted, now living in California. Her work is deeply rooted in equity, community, mental health, and humor and she frequently collaborates with marginalized or institutionalized groups—including youth, incarcerated individuals, and people in mental health facilities—using art as a healing and connective tool.
"Untitled" Rich T. 2018
Rich T’s design captures the NoMa BID’s love of bold, saturated color and larger-than-life murals. His work swings between monochromatic restraint and vivid, full-spectrum intensity—a true “feast or famine” approach to color. With a spontaneous, almost automatic hand, he channels an absurd stream of consciousness, filtering fragments of popular culture to breathe life into the ordinary shapes of everyday life.
"Richard" Martin Swift 2020
The story behind this mural is especially poignant. In 2019, Richard Bangura—a student and emerging leader at Dunbar High School—took the initiative to invite staff from Pathways 2 Power to speak to his class about transforming grief into action through mural making. Pathways 2 Power is a DC-based organization dedicated to sparking community change and fostering citywide conversations about violence and healing. Tragically, Richard was killed in August 2020, just after graduating and preparing to begin college.In his honor, artist Martin Swift—who also created a mural in Alethia Tanner Park and had previously worked with the organization—was commissioned to paint a tribute mural at 25 K Street NE.To learn more about The Richard Project, visit: https://www.pathways2power.org/richard-mural-project
"Untitled" Hannah Soderholm 2019
Peachy Hannah, (AKA Hannah Soderholm), is a graphic designer living in the UK. She uses bold images to depict everyday life and created this, her very first, mural in 2019.
"Trigadilly" Chas Colburn 1989
Commissioned for the CNN building, this bright and colorful sculpture received its name from the phrase the artist used to describe the issue of balancing the large sculpture on its small base: “a dilly of a trig problem.” The 35-foot tall, 6½ ton sculpture was constructed of painted steel, and consists of three larger pieces, with a long band of steel curving upwards, and a smaller triangular piece holding up a hollow wheel. Floating on one side, a large rope of smooth steel winds along the main structure towards the sky, curving and looping upward.
"Threshold #1" Chas Colburn 1991
Threshold #1 is a painted steel sculpture by Chas Colburn, prominently positioned in front of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). This work is the second of two sculptures by Chas Colburn in the same area; his earlier piece, Trigadilly, was installed nearby.His work synthesizes interests in mathematics (chaos theory, crystallography), music, and computational design via CAD tools. The artist once said “My interest in creating this kind of artwork is one of provocation... I hope that my sculptures will help to set a course for the contemplation of the seemingly simple and inevitable things in our lives. Colburn FoundedChalco Metal Works in 1979, a custom metalworking and fabrication shop in Bethesda, MD. Later established 3D Metal Parts in Hyattsville, MD, which serves both industrial design and his own creative studio work.
"Composition for the Axeman" Ken Wyten 1989
"Composition for the Axemen" is a steel abstract sculpture, painted deep red. The sculpture's title is a reference to the slang term "axeman" for a blues guitarist, reflecting the artist's love for that genre of music. Ken Wyten passed away in 2008.
"Crush," John Clement 2019
This pair of striking circular sculptures by the Brooklyn-based artist, are positioned at either end of the linear parklet in front of the 100 K Street Apartments. Fabricated from steel pipe and painted in Clement’s signature bright red and cheerful orange, the works serve as bold visual anchors for the space. While rooted in the tradition of large-scale constructivist sculpture, these pieces explore curvilinear forms, inviting viewers to engage with the dynamic interplay of shape, movement, and space.
K Street Virtual Gallery: Rotating Exhibitions
The K Street Virtual Gallery is a public outdoor art gallery featuring original, digital art projected on to the walls of the Amtrak underpass between First and Second Streets NE in NoMa. 12 high-lumen laser projectors are synchronized to cast a series of images onto the historical, reticulated stone wall backdrop, illuminating this permanent outdoor gallery. The current exhibition is "Pushing Through" by Katty Heurtas. Previous artists: My Ly Designs, "Centuries" by Nekisha Durrett, "Stupendous" by Jackie Hoysted. Upcoming in January, 2026: work by Liliane Blom.
"Marriott Columns" JGrafX Studios 2023
These vibrant column wraps, located at the entrance of the Marriott Capitol Hill, were commissioned by the NoMa BID to add a playful and welcoming touch to the building’s exterior and the growing streetscape. Designed by the artist in response to the surrounding environment as well as the color palette of the hotel’s lobby, the wraps feature whimsical NoMa-inspired icons that playfully reflect the neighborhood’s character. The bold colors and cheerful imagery lend brightness and energy to the new hotel and for passers by, creating an uplifting first impression for visitors and passersby alike.
"Untitled" Sergio Stuff 2022
Puerto Rican artist Sergio Stuff, a.k.a Sergio Vasquez, created the mural at the garage entrance of NoMa Center. The style of this mural is very typical of his work and reflects his Carribean heritage, is full of movement and based in illustration, color and caricature.
Rodrigo Pradel 2025
Artist Rodrigo Pradel has created a floral mural on the southernmost entrance to the Metropolitan Branch Trail (MBT), the L Street stairs. This is the first-ever artwork in NoMa using stairs as a canvas, creating a unique and experimental pattern at the entrance to one of the most popular shared-use trails in all of Washington, D.C.
"Lightweave" Future Forms 2019
Designed by FutureForms as the second of three Underpass Art installations, Lightweave transforms the L Street underpass with six spiraling lattices of stainless steel and curved LED tubing suspended overhead. The installation responds to ambient sound and the vibrations of passing trains, producing waves of color that ripple through the space—like a pebble dropped into still water. As multiple sounds layer, the light patterns become more complex and immersive. Thoughtfully placed lighting enhances both safety and comfort, while the overall design brings beauty and connectivity to the underpass. NoMa’s series of immersive underpasses was envisioned to enrich the experience of those moving between the east and west sides of the neighborhood.
"Hug" Cris Zuniga 2021
This local artist and Art Director is a native of Chile based in DC. He created this impactful "hug" mural, located in the parking lot of The Washington Center to emphasize the importance of the gesture- citing positivity, energy, gratitude and celebration, and hope, most especially after the social distancing of 2020 and beyond.
"Stronger Together" Blue Hue Studio 2025
Lea Craigie Marshall, a native of DC, has produced murals and sculptures for the NoMa neighborhood before. Her last NoMa in Color mural, installed in 2023, was created as part of the You Are Not Alone Murals community, which showcases the importance of positive mental health through artworks all over the world. This new mural, located at The Washington Center property, celebrates women and the local community and being “Stronger Together."
These two murals were installed for Little Miner Taco in 2025 with help from the NoMa BID's Retail Opportunity Grant. The BID partnered with businesses to help them improve their storefronts, and these two artworks have brightened the entrances and streetscape on Congress Street NE.
