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.
Bloom
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 Post27 Beecycles
27 Beecycles, created by Richmond-based artist Matt Lively with support from the Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art, is a whimsical, surreal piece featuring a swarm of bees riding unicycles against a cloudy backdrop. Playful, humorous, and full of joy, the artwork brings a lighthearted touch to Magazine Lane. In 2022, the mural was repaired and … 27 Beecycles
View PostBlue Sky
Blue Sky was a mural collaboration between art professor John Rudel and Virginia Wesleyan College students. Located on the rear of Virginia Furniture, the piece creates a striking contrast between soft, fluffy clouds and bold, pixelated color blocks, bringing a dynamic and contemporary energy to Magazine Lane.
View PostAll the Pieces Matter
Hampton-based artist Elizabeth Cooke returned to the neighborhood where she helped beautify the old Zedd’s auction house as part of Hampton Canvas, The Canvas. All the Pieces Matter features graphic symbols and bold colors. From a pizza slice to skyscrapers to a lighting bolt, the work is packed full of whimsy. Although the mural was … All the Pieces Matter
View PostWidow’s Walk
Painted collaboratively by street artist The Night Owl and comic artist James Callahan, Widow’s Walk is essentially a tale of a love lost at sea. The figure on the left looks longingly out to sea, swimming in memories and feelings of the past. Her lost love is reflected in her eye forever.
View PostHappier Times
Brightly colored fish swim around the first floor of 801 Granby Street in the OnieTonie trademark style by Troy Summerell, a featured artist in both the NEON and ViBe Districts. Based in Virginia Beach OnieTonie™ Designs takes inspiration from surfing the world’s oceans, original hand-painted designs featured on murals, clothing, coloring pages, stickers and countless … Happier Times
View PostOpen Graffiti Wall
Long-time Norfolk tattoo shop Fuzion Ink on Granby Street started a legal graffiti wall in Magazine Lane in 2015. The alley behind the tattoo shop had yet to become the art-filled destination it is today, but their gesture opened up the site to many unknown artists looking for a canvas. As a legitimate site for … Open Graffiti Wall
View PostKaiya With Finch
Completed in the spring of 2015, Kaiya with Finch was one of the first murals to grace Magazine Lane. Richmond-based artist Nils Westergard’s piece was inspired by his then girlfriend, Kaiya. While Nils’ career has exploded globally, this early work remains one of very few black and white murals in the NEON District.
View PostRazzle Dazzle
One of the first murals in the NEON District, Nick Kuszyk’s bright colors and patterns are now a Norfolk icon, taking inspiration from dazzle patterns used to camouflage battleships during World War I.
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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