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.
NEON Holiday Public Art 2024
Each year, the NEON District collaborates with local artists to create custom holiday décor for display at the Plot. This year, a student team from The Governor’s School for the Arts collaborated on design ideas and cooked up the idea of gingerbread people as an inclusive way to show the rich diversity of our community. … NEON Holiday Public Art 2024
View PostWeatherman
Tim Rodgers, Jr.’s Weatherman mural is an ode to news production, both in front of and behind the camera. Local TV station WTKR’s garage now depicts a weather man in front of two weather backgrounds, one half is sunny and green and the other half is rainy and wet. The second door panel consists of … Weatherman
View PostSHAPES IN THE LOT
The goal for this project was to activate the Cofer Lot and bring bold black and white shapes to the heart of the NEON District during the 2024 Festival! Renowned local artist Dathan Kane wanted to honor the community that utilizes the lot on a daily basis and have the mural serve as a solution … SHAPES IN THE LOT
View Post801 Window Gallery
The NEON District and the condo owners of the Gray Building partner on providing a rotating window gallery space for young and emerging artists. In the fall of 2024, featured young artists representing Solstice Hybrid Academy are on display. Solstice Hybrid Academy founder Sarah Harrington says her students are all special, different and unique. The … 801 Window Gallery
View PostNEON Wayfinding Posters 2024
In 2017, Work Program Architects, Downtown Norfolk Council and Sway Creative Labs joined forces to create an artistic sign package for NEON that included pedestrian signs, gateway fixtures and sidewalk “breadcrumbs” to lead visitors around the neighborhood. Two custom fabricated steel signs were placed on Olney Road and Grace Street with attraction listings and windows … NEON Wayfinding Posters 2024
View PostHealing Hearts
As a collaboration between the Renova Center and the Samaritan House, the artist decided to feature words of empowerment and faceless characters of some of the many heroes helping individuals and families with healing hearts. The mural was mostly painted in the fall of 2023 by d’Art Center artist Vivian Davis with help from volunteer … Healing Hearts
View PostNEON Walls
In art-filled Magazine Lane, NEON Walls took more than 300 feet of privacy fencing and converted it into a living graffiti gallery. Led by internationally-known street art crew Few and Far, a collection of graffiti writers and street artists from Hampton Roads, Virginia and beyond painted the fence in the days leading up the 2023 … NEON Walls
View PostWalking on Water
In the fall of 2023, The Governor’s School for the Arts visual arts student Iolanna Nuzzo designed a new “rug” for the rotating art site in Magazine Lane, between 801 Granby and Hurrah’s Copeland Center. The alley rug is a popular selfie spot in NEON. GSA Artist Assistants: • Sofia Cateternam • Jordan Collins • … Walking on Water
View PostAnatomy of NEON
Young Governor’s School for the Arts visual artist Aspen Knight’s design was selected for a new mural on the rotating art site in Magazine Lane. Aspen’s painting replaced a previous mural painted by Governor’s School for the Arts student Layla Todd.
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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