Mural Wall at Alethia Tanner Park Preview

"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.

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.

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.

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.

This mural celebrates emotional release as integral to our growth, and to the life cycle itself. It invites in a moment of tenderness and celebrates our vulnerability as organic and beautiful.

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.

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.

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.

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.

This colorful mural is a delightful reflection by the artist on how the metro, community, and the natural world all coexist in Noma. She lives nearby and really enjoys watching her neighbors rest, play, and connect in Alethia Tanner Park as the train rushes past above them. The colors used are inspired by the metro map.

This artist produces work inspired by his fascination with the cosmos and a belief in our future as space explorers. Each work centers the night sky and the NoMa Spaceport as a launch point. Tessi, a curious individual, is being recorded in 4K while waiting for the train at the NoMa Spaceport - an imagined official launch pad of Washington, DC!

This mural design is a bold, graphic, and colorful interpretation of collective healing in our times through the eyes of the artist. Tiger Balm salve is a nostalgic remdy within her culture, and the composition was inspired by the hexagonal bottle, and the yellow and blue label from her childhood. The typical flying tiger has been replaced with one at rest. Healing chamomile and calendula flowers adorn the sides, along with stars and decorative elements to spark joy.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

This established DC muralist, who is also a longtime graffiti artist, loves to depict his massive portraits as wooden sculptures shown in different stages of decay. Rooted in the idea of wooden figureheads rotting at the bottom of shipwrecks, but also to show how decay can grow new and beautiful life, these close- up depictions incorporate both scifi and natural elements.

The weave work throughout celebrates the strong community spirit of the neighborhood. The continuous patterns speak to how our lives overlap and influence one another, how individual passions and efforts come together to support something larger than ourselves. The mural emphasizes that growth is not a solitary act; it is nurtured through shared experience, collaboration, and collective care. We all share the fundamental human need for a moment of peace, of calm- some find it in by walking in the park, some getting coffee with a friend, practicing yoga, journaling, etc- Alethia Tanner Park is a perfect example of that place of repose for so many in the city, and the mural's center celebrates that- a symbol for balance, life, calmness and stillness positioned on grassy fields and a blue sky.

In this mural, a family of chickens rolling along, with each of them showing a different discipline found within their activity. They are all skating together and having a great time. The artist is an integral member of DC's roller skating community and skates the MBT trail with his friends every single week, from Noma all the way to Fort Totten and back. This joyful design shows the importance of getting outside with friends and family and having fun together!

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.

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.

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.

The design by an emerging mural artist who typically works in 3-D, reflects Alethia Tanner Park as a place of connection and forward movement. “ONWARD” and “UPWARD” convey optimism and momentum, aligning with the park’s role as a gathering space. The stripes and arrows draw from NoMa’s rail lines, bike paths, and pedestrian flow, while the bold color palette echoes the neighborhood’s contemporary character. Together, the elements tie the mural to DC’s energy, growth, and sense of progress.

"Street Performer" from an artist who has focused until now only on spray painting, vibrantly depicts a man drumming on pots and pans, buckets, and cones creating a Go Go beat that fills the Noma area with the authentic sounds of DC

This collaboration showcases the work of two established DC artists who have never before painted an outdoor mural. Miniature figures travel by foot, bike, and balloon across bold, flowing terrain, all moving toward the same glowing center. The mural is a vibrant celebration of their shared artistic journeys and the idea that no matter the path, we all belong in NoMa.

Market Daze is about the bustle and community around the NoMa Farmers Market. This is a first outdoor mural for this emerging visual artist, who really enjoys seeing all of the local community out when she goes to the markets around D.C. - this cartoon-based mural pays homage to how free community events can bring people together.

This experienced local mural artist chose to portray a vibrant giant jellyfish that is cleverly made up of various nostalgic desserts & candy like Jello, sour strips, and beautiful twizzlers. all floating underwater with other candied creatures. A whimsical mural centered on candy and treats is a natural fit for a park setting, where gatherings are a part of the experience. The imagery of sweets and shared indulgences taps into universal emotions, evoking the simple pleasures of celebration days and community.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Inspired by Daniel Chester French’s iconic Lincoln Memorial, Garin Baker entered a competition for a commission to create a monumental mural on a city-owned warehouse, Penn Center, in Eckington. .Chronicling the making of the statue, Baker’s mural is 65 feet high at its tallest and 160 feet wide. We include it in our tour because the mural is so visible from the NoMa BID boundary at R Street, NE and the Metropolitan Branch Trail.

The title comes from the 28 blocks of the finest white marble were needed to construct this the 150-ton statue that rises 30 feet from the floor. Each block was blasted, wedged, and cut from a North Georgian mountainside in 1915–1916 by the sons and grandsons of African Slaves. All 28 blocks were placed on rail cars and transported to the Mott Haven section of the South Bronx in NYC. to be crafted into the statue by the Piccirilli Brothers were well known among American Italia sculptors of era.