Public Art
Wander through the neighborhood and discover tiny art happenings, large-scale murals and pops of neon color and light. From works by nationally celebrated visual artists like Esteban del Valle and HENSE, to local heroes like Carl Medley III and Hannah Kirkpatrick, to the world-renowned Chrysler Museum of Art, come see the new energy of Norfolk on display.
Bob’s Gun Shop Billboard Mural
Virginia Beach artist Hanna Kirby was selected to create a new mural design for the rotating art space on the rear of a NEON District billboard. An illustrator, graphic designer, painter, chef, exhibition designer and muralist, Hanna holds an B.F.A. from Virginia Commonwealth University in Painting and Printmaking. For the billboard design, color and movement … Bob’s Gun Shop Billboard Mural
View Post801 Window Gallery
Norfolk Public School Elementary Students, 2022 Norfolk Public Schools and the NEON District collaborated with the condo owners of the Grey Building to create a rotating window gallery space, providing young artists in grades Kindergarten through 12 a place to exhibit their works in the community. NPS art students are passionate and NPS teachers work … 801 Window Gallery
View PostGhent Grab & Go Mural
Victoria Jensen and Asiko-oluwa Aderin, 2022 Two Fine Art students from Norfolk State University were selected for a large-scale mural at the northern gateway into the NEON neighborhood, on the rear wall of Ghent Grab & Go and Golden Fortune Chinese. Asiko-oluwa Aderin is an undergraduate student in NSU’s Bachelor of Fine Arts program, with … Ghent Grab & Go Mural
View PostGourmandizing NEON
Matthew McGuiness and Governor’s School for the Arts Students, 2022 The Governor’s School for the Arts hosted a series of workshops with London-based artist Matthew McGuiness for six weeks in the spring of 2022 working with visual arts students to research the theme, “A History of Lunchtime in Norfolk”. In these workshops, Matthew and the … Gourmandizing NEON
View PostAncient Freedom
Boston-based muralist Cedric Douglas brings his combination of hyper realism and wild imagination to the Hurrah Players’ Copeland Center. The large scale mural dives into themes of Afrofuturism, fantasy and creativity within a street aesthetic.
View PostOXOXO
Jacob Eveland is a Richmond-based artist that makes work based on his life experiences. His mural in the NEON District is a nod to Slone Chiropractic clinic with skulls and spines interwoven into a graphic collage of human anatomy.
View PostSolidarity
Aimee Bruce’s Solidarity, inspired by George Orwell’s Animal Farm, relates to our overall political situation regarding the events and setbacks that have taken place. Similar to the animals banding together to support the shed, we the people must also combine efforts to transcend the boundaries that keep us from progressing to a viable future.
View PostDaisies
Located in the NEON District’s health and wellness center, Kelsey Witt’s mural pays homage to the healing process, which can take two forms, physical or mental healing. A body’s cells must heal for a rebirth, symbolized by the mural’s blooming flowers.
View PostUpper Blush
In 2016, the City of Norfolk Public Art Commission received a National Endowment for the Arts Our Town grant to create public art addressing a community issue. Artist Matthew Geller created a large water-collecting swaying bench to bring awareness to Norfolk’s relationship with sea-level rise and flooding.
View PostPublic Art Program
Since the birth of the NEON District, new murals and sculpture projects have multiplied, through both top down and grassroots efforts. The combination creates an inclusive, welcoming arts community with a range of talents and styles. The NEON District's public art grant program supports individual artists and property owners seeking designs.
ExploreArts Archive
A number of amazing projects have graced the walls and galleries in the NEON District over the years. Some were temporary, some faded away gracefully and some rotate out over the years. Walk down memory lane with us.
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