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. In 2023, the piece was relocated to Water Street Open Space along the Elizabeth River Trail.
Upper 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. In 2023, the piece was relocated to Water … Upper Blush
View PostA Series of Fortunate Events
Local artist Tamika Bright-Stubblefield worked in yarn, paint and collage for her NEON District piece, creating views she calls “beyond this place.” Her yarn mural lived on the Zeke’s NFK fence as a long-term installation designed to weather over time.
View PostNEON Fiber Garden
The NEON Fiber Garden grew out of local crafter Danielle Shaffer’s passion for all things yarn. Over months of knitting and crocheting in 2017, a group of women spun a flowering botanical garden and then installed on a chain link fence behind the Virginia ABC store in NEON to beautify the area. The long-term installation … NEON Fiber Garden
View PostAjent of NEON
Then Norfolk State University MFA student Mensah Bey’s mural visualized the thriving NEON District in Norfolk and its commitment to beautifying a growing city by the hands of artists and creators. The surrealistic painting was influenced by the dynamic cubism style of Jacob Lawrence with references to Michelangelo’s “The Creation of Adam.” It was the … Ajent of NEON
View PostThe Chase
Installed in 2017, The Chase was a temporary woven installation about the reversal of predator and prey, letting the artist Ryan Lytle experiment with translating the visual language into a medium that can be displayed outdoors in a public forum. Initially, Lytle created a rabbit chasing fox and then in 2018 added a wolf, furthering … The Chase
View PostWalking Houses
Working quickly and often in the early morning hours, artist Christopher Revels spent years chalking the sidewalks of Norfolk with his signature “Walking Houses.” The funny houses on stilts, walking over water, began as a way to spread ideas about society’s relationship with rising sea levels. In 2017, Revels found a vacant wall in NEON … Walking Houses
View PostHave Heart
The result of a wheatpaste workshop led by artist Alan Jelercic and The Governor’s School for the Arts, the collaborative temporary mural Have Heart was the work of Lisa Beckman, Heather Bryant, Elizabeth Cooke, Kyler Davis, Alex Drewry, Caitlin Edwards, Devyn Hoshour, Jeannine Owens, Jesse Scaccia, Will Sprueill and Heather Thurston. The participants created many … Have Heart
View PostGlass Wheel Studio Wheatpaste
Featured on the garage door of Glass Wheel Studio facing Wilson Avenue, Heidi Peelen’s wheatpaste couple was one of the many projects to come out of the former artist studio space and gallery. Home to 13 working artists, Glass Wheel Studio incubated artworks of all media and was a proving ground for many Hampton Roads … Glass Wheel Studio Wheatpaste
View PostLabor of Love
The phrase “labor of love” was scrawled in artist Hannah Kirkpatrick’s handwriting across 25 feet of the west side of Glass Wheel Studio. The neon letters formed an EKG graph, or heartbeat, and expressed the energy required to sustain one’s passions. In 2024, the artwork was de-commissioned due to an expansion on the east facade … Labor of Love
View Post9th Annual NEON Festival
The 9th annual NEON Festival returned to NFK October 18 & 19, 2024. The nights were lit with performances, music, murals, art and more! Stay tuned for 2025's tenth anniversary celebration!
Learn MoreCall For Artists
Hundreds of artists have passed through NEON walls over the years. Big or small, international or your next door neighbor, high school student or college professor - artists of all kinds and skill levels are welcome to contribute to the NEON District's public art collection. Apply for project-based open calls throughout the year to join the club.
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