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.
Neoning
In 2015, local artist Joan Biddle led teams of volunteers to paint colorful accents like triangles, rugs and fences on streets and sidewalks in the NEON District as a wayfinding path for visitors.
View PostCementiscope
Artist collective Glassitorium’s Public Art Commission lives on site at The Plot as a large interactive sculpture that combines elements of a cement mixer and kaleidoscope, encouraging play and discovery. Viewers can look through either end and see refracted images, reflected back on the billboard. Glass artists Joan Biddle, Hannah Kirkpatrick, Charlotte Potter, Kristi Totoritis … Cementiscope
View PostWe Can Create What We Can Imagine
New York painter Esteban del Valle and glass artist Julia Rogers collaborated on this mural celebrating artistic creativity and inspiration with LED lights recreating a marquee, a lighthouse and a night sky.
View PostSpace Explorations
Commissioned by former furniture store Exotic Home, muralist John Hickey painted the shop’s north wall with vibrant designs and then in 2015 glass artist James Akers added playful space-themed neon creations to the mural.
View PostSeasons
Illustrator and painter Navid Rahman took his art to a larger scale with this graphic mural depicting nature’s changing seasons. It features his signature line work and fantastical approach to the natural world.
View PostNorfolk Nautical
Chris Soria and Misha Tyutyunik’s mural is inspired by mermaids, Norfolk’s naval history, the Chesapeake Bay, Norfolk Southern trains, Virginia’s colonial era, and the vibrancy of the NEON District. After hearing about their friend Esteban del Valle’s mural project in Norfolk, the two artists drove down from New York City to tackle a wall on … Norfolk Nautical
View PostLunar Bathing
Inspired by old master and new age artists, this bold mural by Sage is a beautiful accompaniment to the innovative local art centers found nearby in the NEON District.
View PostGlimpse
On a building covered with murals, local artist Khalil Riddick’s work facing Granby Street stands out to passersby through striking imagery showing a futuristic woman facing her destiny in the universe.
View PostBloom
A collaboration between two Norfolk artists, Carl Medley III and Charles Rasputin, Bloom features pink roses and bold white fangs that speak to the intense energy and fierce creativity in the district.
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.
Explore