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.
"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.
"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.
"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."
"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.
"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.
"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.
"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.
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.
"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.
