Public Art

New Voices

Victoria Primicias, 2021

Temporarily located at Peace & Justice Plaza

ARTIST STATEMENT

My design is a graphic montage using familiar, contemporaneous motifs of peace and justice. I incorporated local elements such as the Chapel Hill postmark – a nod to the old post office building – and dogwood, the state flower. A bright color palette energizes the Peace & Justice Plaza and reinforces the Chapel Hill brand by complementing the Town seal. The intent of my design is to provide a welcoming space for those who enter the Plaza and to lift their spirits while enjoying the venue.

Elemental Landscapes

Laura Haddad & Tom Drugan, 2009

Located at Southern Community Park

Description

A series of landscape art installations created from natural materials found at the space. Made from salvaged boulders and trees, the installations reveal and surround different elements of earth, air, water, and flora. Installations include:

Merritt’s Pasture Bike Racks

Al Frega, 2011

Located at Merritt’s Pasture

Description

Made from recycled brake drums from Chapel Hill Transit buses.

Tanyard Branch Bridge

Leo Gaev, 2018

Located on the Tanyard Branch Trail

Description

In 2018, metalsmith Leo Gaev was commissioned to create art for the bridge on the Tanyard Branch Trail connecting Umstead Park to the Northside neighborhood. Lining the bridge are 43 steel silhouettes inspired by folks going about their daily lives.

Refreshing Connections

Holly Felice, 2021

Located at Booker Creek Basin Park

Description

Large iridescent stainless steel sculptures towering about 12 feet above the trail. Each piece resembles a different inspect species that can be found in the space – butterfly, dragonfly, and ladybug.

Umstead Park Bike Racks

Al Frega, 2024

Located at Umstead Park

ARTIST STATEMENT

These bike racks are a continuation of two other sets I did for the trail system in Chapel Hill. The foundations are Chapel Hill bus brake drums sunk into the ground with concrete. The uprights are heavy-gauge recycled stainless steel industrial material. These differ from the previous racks by being slightly wider at the request of the cycling community. The sculptural components on the tops were constructed to reference five branches of the military as requested. The symbols are simplifications and abstractions of branch emblems.

This project was a collaboration with Chapel Hill Parks & Recreation, Chapel Hill Transit, and Go Chapel Hill.

Rubbish the Raccoon

Nyssa Collins, 2024

Located at Chapel Hill Public Library

Description

This piece was originally installed in Downtown Chapel Hill in March 2024 at the 140 West Franklin Plaza. Created in celebration of Earth Day, the piece focuses on environmental sustainability. It’s a raccoon with skin and fur made from recycled materials, such as plastic bottles and aluminum cans, sourced from the Haw River Assembly’s trash traps. The raccoon quickly became popular during its stay downtown and is now located at Chapel Hill Public Library. Learn more.

This piece was a commission award from the 2023 Uproar Festival of Public Art.

Faces of the Forest

Levi Yakubu, 2026

Located at Pritchard Park at Chapel Hill Public Library

DESCRIPTION

Twelve trees in Pritchard Park are home to clay masks and faces, created by artist Levi Yakubu and inspired by his Nigerian background.

Levi Yakubu is a graduate of Dordt University in Fine Arts Studio with an emphasis in ceramics. He is a 5th generation potter who grew up in Nigeria surrounded by mentors like his father who have influenced his work today. Yakubu draws upon his rich cultural background, the Tiv ethnic group of West Africa, to create artwork that speaks to his cultural identity and encourages dialogue around difficult issues. He currently resides in Chapel Hill, North Carolina where he is an art teacher.

When we unveiled this installation in March 2026, Chapel Hill Poet Laureate Donovan Livingston shared an original poem inspired by the work, called Familiar Faces.

Freedom Fighters Gateway

Photos by Jim Wallace & Al Amon, 2017

Located at the corner of W. Rosemary St. and Roberson St.

Description

The Freedom Fighters Gateway shares a glimpse into the Civil Rights movement with photos and oral histories, marking the entrance to the Northside Neighborhood. Built of Chatham stone and features eight black, granite slabs.

Chapel Hill Nine Historical Marker

Stephen Hayes, 2020

Located at 452 W Franklin St.

Description

After community engagement and a series of design workshops, the marker was envisioned as a fusion of public art and historical monument. Designed by Durham artist Stephen Hayes, with project management by Alicia Hylton-Daniel, it features documentary photography from the era, the names and ages of the Chapel Hill Nine, and a base that evokes the rock walls of the Northside neighborhood where this and many other demonstrations and actions were planned.

Joe Herzenberg Memorial Bench

Waller Foushee Studios, 2018

Located on the Bolin Creek Greenway just west of the MLK underpass

Description

This art bench is dedicated to Joe Herzenberg, the first openly gay elected official in North Carolina. Listen to the Re/Collecting Chapel Hill podcast to hear more about the bench and the person who inspired it. 

Together

Michael Waller, 2019

Located at the pond in Merritt’s Pasture.

Going Home

Michael Waller, 2019

Located at the top of Merritt’s Pasture

Jim Huegerich Memorial Bench

Jim Gallucci, 2023

Located on the Bolin Creek Trail

Description

This bench honors the late Jim Huegerich, a dedicated public servant who made significant contributions to the community. Chapel Hill Parks and Recreation, Chapel Hill Community Arts & Culture, the Friends of Chapel Hill Parks and Recreation, and artist Jim Gallucci collaborated with the Huegerich family to bring this unique bench and lasting tribute to the Bolin Creek Trail.

Home Is Where The Heart Is

Gina Franco, 2020

Located at Spicy 9

Shakti – The Power Within

Sampada Agarwal, 2020

Located at Que Chula Tacos

Description

Sampada wrote a wonderful blog sharing her intention behind the piece. Read the full story here.

A Space for All of Us

Peri Law, 2021

Located at Lula’s

ARTIST STATEMENT

This piece is about creating a space that celebrates Asian American existence. It acts as an altar for the community, inspired by Chinese traditions with oranges symbolizing good fortune, a chrysanthemum to represent longevity, and plum blossoms as a sign of perseverance and hope.

We, Too, Sing America

Antonio Alanis, 2021

Located at 161 E Franklin Street.

ARTIST STATEMENT

The piece titled “We, Too, Sing America” pays homage to Langston Hughes’ poem “I, too.” I dedicate this piece to all the essential workers and people of color who continue to keep the United States afloat before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Slay Today America

Charlie Dupee

Stronger Together

Loren Pease

Oasis in the Middle of a Storm

Kiara Sanders, deinstalled 2021

ARTIST STATEMENT

This artwork is based off of a real life scene that I caught in downtown Durham. It was November 7th, and the election results had everyone anxious. It was then announced who the projected winner was, and everyone flooded the streets. The pandemic had been an entirely joyless experience, from unrest to protests, but to see dancing people, waving arms out cars, and to remember what hoped looked like will always live in my memory.

Welcome Furriends

Julienne Alexander

Willow Grove Motif

Ingrid Erickson, 2018

Located on South Columbia St. at UNC Health Sciences Library

Description

Erickson created stencils that were spraypainted and paired with bendable foam to create the look of willow branches.

Evolving Attitudes

Ross Ford, 2018

Located on Eubanks Road at Park & Ride Lot

What Just Happened?

Ron Liberti, 2018

Previously located at Southern Village Park & Ride Lot

Description

Ron Liberti’s What Just Happened? features altered stills from the final scene of the 1967 The Graduate where a bride runs out of her own wedding and hops on a city bus another suitor.

Kindness Matters

Helen Seebold, 2019

Located on Caldwell St by Northside Elementary

Description

In Kindness Matters, Seebold explores how we can make a difference in our community by stopping and taking a moment to be kind. She hopes the mural can help people shift their perspective and invite the viewer to become part of a movement to enlighten our minds and open our hearts.

Umbrella

Sarahlaine Calva, 2019

Previously located at Airport Gardens

Description

Using a signature style and vibrant color palette, Calva weaves in raindrops and flowers to depict how one must face trials and obstacles in order to grow and bloom. Growth is a beautiful thing that requires effort and patience.

“I believe it would be a nice touch to the city while also serving as a reminder to persevere.” – Sarahlaine Calva

Who We Are

Chloe Strauss, 2019

Located at Franklin Woods Apartments

Description

Strauss’ art is inspired by diversity and helping others “to see aspects of themselves shown as beautiful and important.”

Star Crossed Lovers

Britt Flood, 2019

Previously located at University Place

Description

Star Crossed Lovers is a continuous line piece that depicts two figures connected by line and color, symbolizing connection and fate.

The Ooom Pah Band

Joel Sobelson, 2019

Located at Glen Lennox Shopping Center

I Raised My Hand To Volunteer

Photo by Jim Wallace, art installed 2019

Located at Moe’s Southwest Grill on Franklin Street

Description

I Raised My Hand To Volunteer features a quote from Karen Parker, the first African American woman to graduate from UNC- Chapel Hill:

We Were Troublemakers

Photo by Jim Wallace, art installed 2019

Located at The Graduate Hotel on Franklin Street

Description

We Were Troublemakers features a quote from Harold Foster, a leader in the Chapel Hill Civil Rights movement:

Have A Really Good Day

Jermaine Powell, 2020

Located at Shadowood Apartments on M.L.K. Jr. Blvd

Description

In Have A Really Good Day, Powell hopes to remind people to enjoy the ride and make friends along the way.

Connected

Gabriela Amaya-Baron, 2020

Located at the Harris Teeter in Meadowmont

Description

Connected uses network imagery and street map patterns to symbolize ways that humans connect, whether to place, to information and data, to history and culture, or to each other.

Pillar

L Jámal Walton, 2020

Located at Brookside Condos on Hillsborough Street

Description

Pillar features the Greek Goddess Athena, who is on the Town of Chapel Hill seal. According to history, the Town leaders chose her to symbolize Chapel Hill as she represents civilization, knowledge, reasoning, logic, and wisdom. For this project, Athena is illustrated in a comic book style sharing her stories while watching over the “Southern Part of Heaven” that embraces the shape and colors of the Chapel Hill flag.

Distant Futures

Charles Chace, 2021

Located on Pittsboro Street

ARTIST STATEMENT

In this work I’m attempting to create a digital image with a series of analog procedures. Starting by cutting sheets of paper into small triangles. The triangles are then unidirectionally stacked creating a three dimensional surface that allows an interplay of light and shadows. I’m less concerned with developing shapes or predetermined images than I am with developing random and intuitive patterns. These patterns create a digital landscape that approaches an image similar to scrambled television.

Random Joys

Ms. TT & RedApple School students, 2021

Located at Abernethy Hall on UNC Campus

Description

Made by RedApple students ages 5-9, guided and edited by the art teacher Ms. TT, and inspired by New York artist Keith Haring. Because social distancing must be kept, none of the lines in the pictures touch, besides the doctors and nurses working together to save lives. And because masks have to be on faces to protect our mouths and noses, everyone (person or animal) in our pictures have a mask. 

Have a Great Day

Jermaine Powell, 2021

Located at Shadowood Apartments on M.L.K. Jr. Blvd

ARTIST STATEMENT

I simply wanted to bring honor to the diversity of people who ride the bus. My goal was also to make both the bus riders and the bus drivers feel appreciated throughout their day. I really got a unique opportunity to engage with my local community while working on this project in realtime. They gave me honest and encouraging feedback along the way. They are the ones that make creating public art so enjoyable.

Birds of Different Feathers

Victoria Primicias, 2021

Located at Eastgate Shopping Center

ARTIST STATEMENT

Birds of different feathers flock together on electric wires and light poles. It is a metaphor for inclusion, community, acceptance and diversity. The birds depicted include a cardinal, blue jay, mockingbird, woodpecker and goldfinch. All are common backyard birds found throughout the year in North Carolina. Other North Carolina references include a dogwood tree peeking out from the bottom left, and prominence given to the cardinal, the state bird.

A Tapestry of Rogers Road

Kiara Chatterjee, 2021

Located on Rogers Road

ARTIST STATEMENT

The four figures on the left are Sam Rogers and his grandsons, who were part of the establishing of Rogers Road and the family who lived there. There is also a woman and child in the middle frame, they were unnamed but part of the Walker family who also had connection to Rogers Road. Then there is Robert Cambell who is on the right and a young girl holding a protest sign regarding environmental justice with the landfill. The background is the Faith Tabernacle church. I intended to superimpose a map of Rogers Rd and lower the opacity in the background.

The idea is the unification of the ancestors to the present day, and the connection of memories to history. Also, an acknowledgement of how a historic Black neighborhood dealt with trauma from the poisoned groundwater.

Pride and Power

Charlie Dupee, 2021

Located at Adelaide Apartments on M.L.K. Jr. Blvd

ARTIST STATEMENT

This diptych is an expression of LGBTQ+ pride in Chapel Hill, beyond the month of June. The blue panel on the left reimagines Athena, the goddess on Chapel Hill’s seal, as a genderqueer deity. And the pink panel on the right is in solidarity with our Black Trans community.

Chill Chapel Hill

Ian Wenstrand, 2021

Located at MLK Jr. Blvd at Chapel View

ARTIST STATEMENT

My goal for this artwork is to create a scene combining all of Chapel Hill’s unique landmarks and buildings. Places such as Morehead Planetarium, Franklin Street, and the Varsity Theater appear together in one street corner representing Chapel Hill. Lastly, I wanted to show people getting out of the house and enjoying the town with each other, something we all haven’t been able to do in the past year.

Plants are Resilient

Antonio Alanis, 2021

Located at Fire Station #3

Description

Plants are Resilient is a plant-themed bus shelter vinyl piece. Antonio placed multiple-color leaves that people can enjoy as they wait for the bus and go on their day. This particular piece will invite the people waiting for the bus to take a moment to meditate, to turn to nature to uplift their spirits, and offer a space for healing and reflection. The different leaves symbolize Antonio’s commitment to fighting for diversity and inviting audience members to think critically about recognizing everyone’s humane interconnectedness regardless of race and ethnicity.

Ansimit

Sampada Agarwal, 2021

Located at Airport Gardens Apartments on M.L.K. Jr. Blvd.

ARTIST STATEMENT

This artwork is quite close to my heart, where I highlight the various facets of womanhood. We come in all shapes and sizes and colors – each one to be celebrated; encouraging all towards forging a gender equal world and building inclusive workplaces so that women thrive! It is rightly said – “Empowered women empower women”. It is quite serendipitous that the style of the art I have used, called Mithila art, is a folk art from the state of Bihar in India and has been practiced primarily by women and passed down generations from mothers to daughters. Its hallmark is colorful, busy, yet esthetically pleasing compositions.

Chapel Hill Monuments

Tarish Pipkins, 2021

Located on M.L.K. Jr. Blvd & Stateside Dr

Description

Chapel Hill Monuments portrays in bright acrylic hues well-known UNC-Chapel Hill landmarks like The Bell tower and The Old Well.

Growth Of Life

East Chapel Hill High School students, 2022

Previously located at East Chapel Hill High

Description

Students from the ECHHS Art Appreciation Club designed this work inspired by the growth and resilience of a tree, even in some of the most unforgiving environments. The seed panel was made by Selema De Bellis. The sapling panel was designed by Chia Liu (Sapling). The Tree panel was create by Lan (Alice) Gao.

Home Is Where The Hill Is

Mayanthi Jayawardena, 2022

Located at Ashley Forest Drive

ARTIST STATEMENT

My goal with this art is to show that home can be anywhere, no matter where you are from or who you are.

Blooms Over Chapel Hill

Sara Roberts, 2022

Located at South Columbia Street at Westwood Drive

ARTIST STATEMENT

Blooms Over Chapel Hill was inspired by the textures, colors, art, businesses, patterns and murals that are found in and near Chapel Hill. Each petal is created from individual photographs from the area. The historical buildings include the theatre, castle, well, church and graveyard. The print media tells about various aspects of the development and transportation of Chapel Hill. This piece invites the passengers in to connect with and celebrate familiar objects, while enjoying art dedicated to the best parts of Chapel Hill.

Sun

Antonio Alanis, 2022

Located at South Columbia Street at Mason Farm Road

ARTIST STATEMENT

My image titled Sun belongs to my “Healing Through the Arts” series, which explores how bold color, Latin-American-inspired graphics inspire happiness, warmth, and optimism. As society grapples with so much destruction, I believe that artists like me can counteract this havoc and help create spaces where people can feel a brief break from everything happening.

Unity Flight

Loren Pease, 2022

Located at the Carrboro Post Office

ARTIST STATEMENT

These butterflies represent today’s youth coming together from all parts of the world and cultures to help the environment heal.

Original art: 24″x48″ Acrylic on Wood

Barning Around In North Carolina

Sally Gregoire, 2022

Located at Ridge Road at Eringhaus Hall

Description

Sally Gregoire of Mountain Shadow Designs created the artwork entitled Barning Around In North Carolina as a nod to the agricultural history of North Carolina. Depicted are four local barns that watch over the landscape and tie together our rural and urban existences as we drive by them everyday. Sally uses both traditional and digital art techniques to document these buildings and artistically present them before they disappear from our landscapes.

Carolina Flora

Taylor Bragg, 2022

Located at 1211 East Franklin Street

ARTIST STATEMENT

The Flowering Dogwood, Honeysuckle and Red Maple tree are all natural staples of North Carolina’s ecosystem. Native plants are such a crucial factor in keeping North Carolina’s landscapes healthy and beautiful. My hope with this piece is to highlight some of the state’s most important plants, even if they aren’t nearby.

We Knew Intersectionality Was The Way Forward

Jane Cheek, 2022

Located at Carolina Apartments

ARTIST STATEMENT

As a bisexual woman from the South, creating work that makes Queer Pride more visible and increases representation in our communities is important to me. My transit shelter design is based on the concept that progress needs to be intersectional, and the colors are inspired by the inclusive Progressive Pride Flag. The design is simple and whimsical, with overlapping colorful circles in which the overlapped areas will have blended colors. There are gold accents to add a painterly effect to the work and give it a celebratory vibe.

Part of Chapel Hill-Carrboro Small Town Pride

A Journey of Reconciliation

Photo from the Library of Congress, art installed 2022

Located at the Rosemary St. & Columbia St. Parking Lot

Description

This shelter commemorates the 75^th anniversary of the Journey of Reconciliation, also known as the First Freedom Ride. 75 years ago, an interracial group of civil rights activists set out on “The First Freedom Ride” to test a Supreme Court ruling declaring segregation on interstate buses unconstitutional. Chapel Hill was the only stop where the group was met with violence.

Still Together We Rise

Janvika Shah, 2023

Located on South Road at County Club Road

ARTIST STATEMENT

Drawing from softness, resilience, strength, and intuitive wisdom, this piece aims to inspire women from all backgrounds to come together to lift each other up in the name of equity.

Installed for Women’s History Month

Chromatic Commute

Max Dowdle, 2023

Located at MLK Jr. Blvd. at Homestead Road

Photo by Fly Squirrel Films

Secret Psychic Bus Pass

Stella Rosen, 2023

Located at South Columbia Street at Frat Court

ARTIST STATEMENT

Through eight panels connected by a central winding visual element, Secret Psychic Bus Pass depicts, in bright colors and bold linework, a journey from a bus stop in Chapel Hill through several North Carolina landscapes. The connection between panels takes the viewer on an imaginary journey from the bus stop bench to high in the night sky, back down to earth along the back of snakes, along a winding river, through a field of windflowers, through a dark bat cave, and then finally back to the bus stop bench. The last panel is a foil to the first, showing how the character, and viewer, may incorporate fantastical memories of the journey into their daily lives.

Photo by Samuel Cooke

Journeys of the Daily Transit

East Art Appreciation Club, 2024

Located at East Chapel Hill High School

ARTIST STATEMENT

This artwork features the Chapel Hill transit bus traversing diverse landscapes, from a golden horizon to a fantastical seascape to an enchanted mountain range. The juxtaposition between the magical elements of the landscape with the natural scenery represents the beauty of finding magic in the ordinary, whether it’s waiting at a bus stop or taking the bus to school.

Created by East Art Appreciation Club members Richia Liu (left panel), Eva Zinn (center panel), and Heidy Flores Linares and Neval Cakmakci (right panel).

Photo by Samuel Cooke

Make Yourself at Home

Alison Hawkins, 2024

Located at West Main Street at Carrboro Town Hall

ARTIST STATEMENT

When do we take moments to daydream in our day? This illustration depicts a homey and intimate interior that invites bus riders and pedestrians to rest in a meditative moment. Comfy, worn-in chairs, stories that are ready to explore, and a cup of coffee provide a welcoming refuge for all. Bus riders can rest, observe the world around them, and feel at home in the community.

Bare Necessities

Schrader Art, 2024

Located at Old Fayetteville Road at Autumn Woods

ARTIST STATEMENT

My design features four figural scenes with bright colors and bold outlines, using circles and symmetrical forms within asymmetrical compositions. Each figure is participating in a simple activity while finding joy in the small moments. This piece is about practicing everyday joy as a strength. Working the land, hula-hooping, swimming, eating ice cream – all are broadly accessible forms of leisure and entertainment that can connect us back to the simple things in life.

Pollinator Mandala

Sara Beaman, 2024

Located at Umstead Drive at Bolinwood Apartments

ARTIST STATEMENT

This piece is a celebration of the local pollinators that support our food web, and the native plants that support them in turn. Each of the images depict a pollinator creature or plant indigenous to our area arranged in a six-sided array mimicking a snowflake or spiderweb. Our ecosystem is a fragile and unique treasure. What might this web look like in twenty-five years? What can we do to nurture it, as it nurtures us?

Photo by Samuel Cooke

Orgullo Latino / Latinx Pride

Georges Le Chevallier, 2020

Located on a Chapel Hill Transit bus

ARTIST STATEMENT

As a Latinx Artist, I believe that is extremely important to represent Latinx people in a positive image. Even though the majority of Latinx immigrants are extremely honest and hard-working people, that is not how they are seen by many people. Being born from a Puerto Rican Mother and having lived most of my childhood in Puerto Rico, I can personally understand the great pride we have towards the many Hispanic people making a constructive impact on our society. Today thousands of Hispanics now call the Triangle their home.

Celebrating the great moment that Hispanic culture is having here in North Carolina, I am proposing to create the Orgullo Latino / Latinx Pride bus for Chapel Hill Transit.

In Orgullo Latino / Latinx Pride bus I juxtapose visual patterns of colors with Spanish words that characterize Latinx people living at the beginning of this new millennium. Nothing divides people more than language, so my aim is to bring people together by showing them Spanish and English words coexisting together. The Orgullo Latino / Latinx Pride bus also pays tribute to the many colorful buses in Latin America, from Chiva Buses in the Andean region of South America to the famous “Chicken Buses” in Central American countries like Guatemala.

Rise Above Racial Injustices

Debi Drew and NAACP Youth Council, 2021

Located on a Chapel Hill Transit bus

ARTIST STATEMENT

Working with NAACP youth for a bus wrap design against racial injustice was a wonderful opportunity.

The timing was ideal for these youth to have their voices heard as they witnessed in the media (and maybe in person) the constant reminders of negative racist views and acts of hatred against black people and other people of color which filled media reports across the nation.  My goal was to provide a comfortable space for them to be heard and be motivated to create visual art productions inspired by our discussions in workshop planning sessions.

Self Concept, Racist Viewpoints and Unity in Diversity were the themes in our workshops. A work of art created by each of the youth is displayed on their apparel of their images on the bus. Important and meaningful statements they communicated encircle their images, as well.  The design that fills the background of the bus is symbolic of an African mud cloth design.  The diversity of the artwork and size of the youth images of the youth artists, Kennedy Lytle, Sol Ramirez and Anthony Swann help spotlight their young voices and I am so proud that they contributed such sound advice against racial injustice.

This project was made possible through partnership with Orange County Arts Commission and the North Carolina Arts Council, a division of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.

Can’t Stop Pride

Wutang McDougal, 2022

Previously located on a Chapel Hill Transit bus

ARTIST STATEMENT

My first Pride was in 2018, and also the year I really explored my queerness. I created this design from what I saw and the feelings I had at Pride. Surrounded by collective love from my community. I love 80’s glam and I feel the palette I chose will be interesting and eye-catching. I also wanted to show representation of pride in Black queerness, Trans community and queer love. I feel really good about what I’ve created and hope to spread the feeling of Pride wherever the bus goes.

Part of Chapel Hill-Carrboro Small Town Pride

From Asia to Chapel Hill with Love

Gabriel Eng-Goetz, 2023

Located on a Chapel Hill Transit bus

ARTIST STATEMENT

My design celebrates the growing Asian American community here in the Triangle. My ancestors immigrated to America in the late 1800s, just prior to the Chinese Exclusion Act, leaving Southern China to start a Chinese vegetable farm here in the South and sell their exotic produce at markets in NYC. There are countless stories of change and sacrifice that all of our ancestors made to set us up for the opportunities we have today. The cultural identity of Asian Americans in the Southern United States continues to evolve in new and beautiful ways.

This piece visually fuses ancient symbols with modern aesthetics and materials to recognize the amazing contributions Asian communities bring to the area. The left side of the bus features a leaping dog, which in Chinese culture symbolizes loyalty, honesty and friendship. The right side of the bus features an eagle to symbolize strength, freedom and vision. The back of the bus reads “From Asia to Chapel Hill with Love,” while Cantonese characters reading with “With Love” are featured on the back and front of the bus.

Queer Leaders of Chapel Hill

Iris Gottlieb, 2024

Located on a Chapel Hill Transit bus

ARTIST STATEMENT

This bus represents some of Chapel Hill’s queer activists and artists who shaped the community and its politics and enriched the creativity and culture of the area. Some are nationally known, such as writer and civil rights activist, Rev Pauli Murray, and writer, Randall Kenan. Others are locally famous for their impact such as UNC professor, Gerald Unks, gay activist, Lightning Brown, and Joe Herzenberg, the first openly gay elected politician in North Carolina. The legacy of their work and lives all hold significance to the triangle and beyond and their memory will be riding around their old stomping grounds for a few years.

Motherland

Dain Kim, 2023

Located on a Chapel Hill Transit bus

ARTIST STATEMENT

When I imagined what I would like to see on a bus ceiling, my thoughts turned to nature. On passengers’ daily commute, this image might provide a short trip to a peaceful place, with perhaps a splash of fantasy and daydream. This landscape is inspired by Korean folk art, with the cranes being symbols of long life, and the sun and moon as symbols of balance. By sharing this work, I wish for well-being and vitality to all bus passengers in Chapel Hill.

In the treetops

Alison Hawkins, 2025

Located on a Chapel Hill Transit bus

ARTIST STATEMENT

In the treetops is a colorful mural that features native trees, plants, and wildlife along with a few hidden fantastical characters. This design aims to inspire and soothe bus riders, just like the forests and parks of Chapel Hill!

1941 Curt Teich Postcard

Scott Nurkin, 2013

Located at He’s Not Here in Downtown Chapel Hill

Description

Chapel Hill artist and UNC-CH graduate Scott Nurkin painted this mural in the style of Curt Teich who was famous for his series of postcards from various American cities

Elizabeth Cotten Mural

Scott Nurkin, 2020

Located at 111 N. Merritt Mill Road on the Chapel Hill-Carrboro line

Description

As part of the North Carolina Musicians Mural Project, the Elizabeth Cotten Mural honors the local blues legend and her lasting impact on the community. Ms. Cotten is renowned for her distinctive musical style, created by playing left-handed on a right-handed guitar. Many of her songs reference her early life in North Carolina, including her most iconic song, “Freight Train.” This mural is a collaboration between the towns of Chapel Hill, Carrboro, and the Chapel Hill Downtown Partnership.

Chapel Hill Public Library staff tell Elizabeth Cotten’s story on Episode 8 of the Re/Collecting Chapel Hill podcast.

Listen Now

African American Trailblazers

Kiara Chatterjee, 2021

Located at 111 S. Merritt Mill Road

ARTIST STATEMENT

The composition that I had in mind was strongly influenced by the artworks of Harlem Renaissance artist Aaron Douglas. His figures often had auras that seemed to radiate from them, giving them a powerful presence that I feel would be fitting for the trail-blazing African-American people this mural is dedicated to.

The Power of Persistence

Max Dowdle, 2022

Located at 140 West Franklin Street

ARTIST STATEMENT

The natural, enduring surroundings of Chapel Hill help make it the special place that it is. The mural takes inspiration from the four rivers (the Eno, Haw, Deep and Rocky Rivers) in the immediate environs, overlaid in colorful, dynamic harmony to create an abstract symphony of form and movement. It’s my intention that this painting brings the life and beauty of land and water into the 140 West courtyard, reminding visitors and viewers of the natural treasures found all around us. Like the immutable, persistent rivers, the power of these people and this place can overcome any obstacle.

Community Garden

Molly Rose Freeman, 2022

Located at South Estes Housing Community

ARTIST STATEMENT

I named the mural Community Garden, which is a simple phrase that can mean so much. It refers to the literal gardens that are tended by a community: sources of food, healing and beauty. It alludes to a community as a place to put down roots. It represents the networks that hold a community together—family, friends, neighbors—like the network of mycelium that connects everything underground, providing what is essential and sustaining. And it describes two ecosystems—the community and the garden—that are made strong and fruitful through inter-dependence, reciprocity and care.

Creating Vibrancy Through Community

Mayanthi Jayawardena (Serendib Creative), 2023

Located at Hargraves Community Center

Artist Statement

This mural was created to celebrate the importance of the vibrant history, present, and future of Hargraves, the centerpiece of this community and a place of recreation, joy, and gathering, and play for all.

Bytes of Knowledge

Zachary Bender, 2024

Located at Chapel Hill Public Library’s Tech Lab

ARTIST STATEMENT

In my work, I focus on creating thought provoking, contextual murals that tell the story of the places I paint. This mural specifically is about the transfer of knowledge in the modern era, exemplifying the intent of the tech lab. The apple being a symbol of that knowledge and the lines denoting the streams of data and the contents of that data. Anyone who uses the lab becomes like the woman at the far right of the mural being illuminated with knowledge.

Destiny

Renzo Ortega, 2024

Located at Umstead Park

ARTIST STATEMENT

This mural is about whatever directions people take, going north, south, west, or east. There will always be something unexpected on the horizon that will give a new meaning to their lives.

Photo by Samuel Cooke

O Lófos

Gabriel Eng-Goetz, 2024

Located at 900 Willow

ARTIST STATEMENT

My design celebrates Chapel Hill as a historic town steeped in world-class education and multiculturalism. Gathering inspiration from the Town’s official seal/logo and from traditional textile patterns from around the world, the artwork dives deep into history to tell a story of global teachings, learnings and wisdom. Adopted in the 1930s, the town seal depicts the Greek goddess Athena. The Town of Chapel Hill states “Perhaps it was the wisdom of an earlier age, steeped in the classics, that led early town leaders to pick the Goddess of Wisdom to symbolize Chapel Hill. Athena remains a symbol of civilization, useful knowledge, noble reasoning, logic and wisdom. And she is mentioned often as a civic god. Recognized as a unique college community shaped by youth, intellect and idealism, Chapel Hill likened itself to the Acropolis hill in Athens.” Combining Greek mythology with ancient patterns from across the globe, my hope is to inspire visitors, residents and patrons to experience the many cultural perspectives that Chapel Hill has to offer and reflect on how they have shaped society today.

Created in partnership with Ram Realty Advisors

The Universe Moves Us

Daniel LeClair, 2018

Located on the Bolin Creek Greenway Tunnel under Pritchard Avenue

Description

Daniel LeClair teamed up with high school students from the Boomerang and Volunteers for Youth Programs to create this vibrant and eye-catching mural.

Water’s Perfect Memory

Max Dowdle, 2020

Located on Lower Booker Creek Trail at East Franklin Street

ARTIST STATEMENT

The water of Booker Creek runs day and night, trickling along with sunrise and sunset. While deer feed, raccoons scavenge, squirrels nibble, foxes sneak, coyotes hunt, birds watch from above, and humans enjoy their walks, the water continues to travel its well-worn cut in the earth, remembering all that occurs around it.

Florifauns

J Massullo, 2020 (installation), 2025 (updates), 2026 (repairs)

Located on the Bolin Creek Greenway tunnel under M.L.K. Jr. Blvd

Description

Inspired by traditional graffiti spray paint techniques, artist J Massullo incorporated elements from the natural world including stylized insects, animals, flora, and fauna.

In 2021, we commissioned J Massullo to work with Chapel Hill High School students to paint the OWASA pipes near the Florifauns mural. The result was a collaborative creative experience.

J Massullo updated the western tunnel face on both sides of the stream in 2025.

Home Grown

Mayanthi Jayawardena of Serendib Creative, 2024

Located at Bolin Creek Trail

ARTIST STATEMENT

For my five pipes, I have created a larger-than-life world of North Carolina native plants and animals. I hope that these images will remind passerbys of the beauty that our state has to offer. Some of the friendly faces that you will see on my pipes include a box turtle, gray fox, cardinal, and a tree frog.

Native Perennials

Sarah Lasater, 2024-2025

Located at Bolin Creek Trail

ARTIST STATEMENT

Growing up in North Carolina, I became enamored with the native ecosystem that I was a part of. This mural celebrates a few of our most colorful and beneficial native perennials.

Year Of Jubilee: 1865

Candy Carver, 2022

Located at Hargraves Community Center

Artist Statement

I create electric and brightly colored contemporary artwork that encompasses bold colors and utilizes abstract design, alongside figurative subjects. My work is intuitive and begins with a specified feeling as the goal. The colors I choose are therapeutic and enliven me as I create. Often, the themes broaden as I work through each piece. Creating allows for me to refill my reservoir of joy and impact others in a similar way. I leave every canvas feeling full in a way that I can only compare to meditation.

Bike racks and benches designed after the iconic rockwall in the historic Northside neighborhood.

Roller Rink

Natasja Bresenski, 2022

Located at Chapel Hill Community Center

ARTIST STATEMENT

As an abstract artist who is inspired by bold, vibrant colors, I am thrilled to be able to share my work with the Chapel Hill community. I love the idea of “beautifying” public spaces and objects that are often overlooked by the everyday public. I like to explore the ways color can interact to create playful compositions and evoke different moods.

Basketball Bike Racks

Freddie Bell, 2023

Located at Southern Community Park

ARTIST STATEMENT

I looked to the nearby basketball courts to inspire the abstracted pattern on these bike racks. I love using color, pattern, and repetition to reflect on the human experience. I wanted these bike racks to speak to what people are in the park for – gathering together to play!

Stormwater Education

Elisabeth Flock, 2022

Located at Chapel Hill Public Library

ARTIST STATEMENT

These larger-than-life critters are designed to draw your attention towards storm drains and how they are connected to natural waterways and wildlife. A river otter points to the drain while holding a book called “Hydrosphere,” and a very fancy crayfish clasps “Creek Critters” in his claws. Both of these books are on the library’s “Clean Water is Precious!” reading list. The catfish reads a page (from the Nc-Clearwater.org website) that clearly states how stormwater is not treated.

We Are All Connected

Mayanthi Jayawardena, 2022

Located at Northside Elementary

ARTIST STATEMENT

My design is based on the connection that clean storm drains have with a clean and flourishing environment. I thought this would be a great design to celebrate Earth day and show clean water entering the storm drain. I created the whimsical landscape for the students at Northside to share the magic in nature.

Red Salamander

Nyssa Collins, 2022

Located at Southern Village Park & Ride

ARTIST STATEMENT

The most fascinating creatures are our neighbors in wooded areas, creeks, and meadows across the piedmont of North Carolina. The brilliantly colored Red Salamander (Pseudotriton ruber) looks like it belongs in the Amazon Rainforest, but is actually native to wooded streams of the eastern United States. North Carolina is home to more salamander species than any other place in the world due to the huge variety of agreeable ecosystems from the coast to the mountains. Salamanders are considered a bioindicator species, which means that their presence in a watershed indicates a clean and healthy creek. Water from city storm drains flows directly into the watershed without filtration (this storm drain flows to Wilson Creek and Morgan Creek before reaching Jordan Lake), so it is crucial to monitor non-permeable surfaces like driveways and roads to prevent pollution flowing to delicate habitats.

Goodness Sakes

Alice Holleman, 2023

Located at Chapel Hill Town Hall

ARTIST STATEMENT

My concept for the mural on the storm drain depicts the native wildlife that are directly affected by what we put in North Carolina waters. Having grown up in North Carolina, our state’s natural beauty is endangered by the disregard of our resources. The catchy rhyme I wrote “For all our sake, take care of our creeks and lakes!” is meant to be a helpful reminder of what is at stake when we do not take care of our world. Being mindful of the environment is beneficial for the animals and humans alike.

Only Rain Down The Drain

Anna Payne Rogers Previtte, 2023

Located at West Rosemary Street and Mitchell Lane

ARTIST STATEMENT

For years I have responded to themes of nature, environmentalism and climate change in my work. This piece of public art was particularly exciting for me to create as part of a clear effort to change one of our more damaging habits that directly effects our local surroundings. The composition of the mural consists of four projecting planes that represent the layers of our experience on Earth from cloud to creek. As a celebration of natural beauty this is a colorful illustration of the most fundamental purpose of these storm drains; to redirect rainfall and runoff. Anything that goes down these drains goes directly into our local creeks and natural habitats. Making sure the public is aware of this is important and designing these storm drain murals with this in mind is a tangible way to enact change, bringing a call to action into people’s daily lives and neighborhoods. Initiatives like these are exciting for artists to participate in where they can help actualize a shared vision that is inline with the communities existing goals. I sincerely hope this piece is a bright, enjoyable addition to the street and helps people to remember, only rain down the drain!

I’ve Got Pipes On It

Kelly Schrader, 2023

Located at Airport Gardens Housing Complex

ARTIST STATEMENT

Prior to drawing out a concept, I researched past examples of storm drain murals as well as the storm drain system and waterways of Chapel Hill. I noticed every previous design I found was a direct representation of local wildlife, water, fish, etc. I decided to try to go a different route while maintaining a connection to the environmental theme in the call. My design showcases a system of pipes, tubes, and other transport methods for water, with bright colors that are eye-catching and in a cartoonish style. I hope people walking by will stop to consider the network of water delivery systems rushing right below their feet. What goes down the storm drain travels through these systems to our waterways.

Where The Water Goes

Luke Vandergriff, 2024

Located at Chapel Hill High School

ARTIST STATEMENT

Where does the water go? This piece is an attempt to answer that question. It’s not enough to say it goes to a creek. Rather, it goes to places of peace, serenity, and natural beauty that are enjoyed by those living in the forest.

help flowers blossom, not algae bloom

~buffy, 2024

Located at Eubanks Park & Ride

ARTIST STATEMENT

My concept is inspired from reading “Algae in Stormwater ponds and wetlands” from the Town of Chapel Hill’s website. While the visual concept is presented as a vibrant and whimsical scene, featuring flora and fauna interacting with the storm drain, it draws upon the importance of stormwater ponds and wetlands in water pollution treatment. The concept style, particularly the water and a water slicked tunnel (drain) is in direct correlation to what I learned of the algae and algae blooms. Of course, “blooms” leads me to think of flowers especially since it is spring and flowers are blooming all around.

Watershed

JR Butler, 2024

Located at Hargraves Community Center

ARTIST STATEMENT

For this design I wanted to relate visually that the creek and storm drains are connected. I did this by creating a fun, environmental scene where the central painting of the creek connects directly to the physical storm drain. I then used red lettering to contrast and stand out from the environmental scene. The wording I chose is “This supplies our watershed. Let’s keep it clean.” I think the word “watershed” helps to emphasize that not only does it connect to the creek but it’s also a source of water for the community.

Keep Our Waterways Clean and the Earth Evergreen

Molly Chopin, 2024

Located at 136 E Rosemary St

ARTIST STATEMENT

Considering how evergreen North Carolina is and the symbiotic relationship between waterways and forestlands, I was drawn to create a landscape inspired by the slogan “keep rivers clean and the earth evergreen.” Depicted is a forest of evergreen long leaf pines, a very common species of trees found in NC, next to a body of water that’s sparkling with a beauty that can only exist without pollution. The design around the sun is the Seed of Life, a geometric symbol comprised of seven overlapping circles, that represents the interconnection that exists between systems of the earth, sky, and cosmos. A rainbow frames the scene to catch eyes and celebrate the beauty of sunlight and water coalescing, and an eastern box turtle, the state reptile of NC, represents the spectrum of species (besides us humans) that depend upon clean and consciously cared for waterways. Sparkles in the forest, on the water, and spilling out onto the sidewalk are designed to draw viewers in and reinforce a reminder – that from a grand perspective, it’s all starlight, and we are all connected.

Kaeru the Frog King

nonperishable, 2025

Located at Chapel Hill Public Library

ARTIST STATEMENT

This is a 3-D optical illusion painting (designed to appear three-dimensional from a specific vantage point) focusing on the fragile lives downstream that are too often overlooked. As a child, I spent nearly all of my free time exploring the woods and creek behind our house, collecting creatures for my many observation tanks, naming them, studying them, and eventually releasing them. I think I would have loved to see a mural like this when I was a kid. Through my artwork, I hope to contribute to the overall happiness in the world, inspire wonder and raise awareness about environmental issues local and global, such as pollution and its impact on wildlife.

The Essence of Life

Sam Greene, 2025

Located at Homestead Aquatic Center

ARTIST STATEMENT

My mural is inspired by the notion that water is the essence of life. The artwork features a vibrant spring bursting from the drain cover, and in the midst of it are several animals that frequent our beloved creeks. These animals appear to be sculpted from the water itself, yet they glow with a life of their own that is distinct from the wave behind them. My goal with this image is to draw awareness to the fact that any water flowing through this drain will have a direct impact on the lives of countless creatures that rely on it. We are all connected to water, and keeping our creeks clean is essential to maintain the magic of our natural world.

Water Dawg

Void Vicious, 2025

Located at South Estes Community

ARTIST STATEMENT

Amphibian population health is a key indicator for water quality. I chose to highlight a hyperlocal species of water dog (or mudpuppy) that exclusively lives in the Neuse and Tar River systems in NC. I painted in a cartoonish cutesy style as kids play nearby and I want them to be intrigued by the artwork and stay curious about nature! These harmless little salamander-like creatures are rare and you would be lucky to see one! Lets all do our part to preserve our water quality and protect the creatures that share this precious resource with us!

Where Water Connects

Jackie Sanders, 2026

Located at Lower Booker Creek Trail

ARTIST STATEMENT

This mural presents a bold, geometric interpretation of how water moves through our environment, transforming an often-overlooked storm drain into a visual story about connection and flow. Using layered color blocks, directional linework, and simplified environmental forms, the design illustrates key moments in the water cycle: rainfall, absorption, movement through soil, and eventual return to local waterways.

The composition is intentionally structured to guide the viewer’s eye toward the drain itself, reinforcing the idea that everything entering this point continues beyond it. By combining an engaging visual language with clear messaging, the mural makes hidden infrastructure visible and encourages everyday awareness of how small actions contribute to the health of our shared waterways.

Creekside

Alison Hawkins, 2026

Located at Bolin Creek Trail

ARTIST STATEMENT

Hiking around the area is one of my favorite pastimes. Creekside is inspired by some of the animals I’ve spotted on my walks. From frogs and Great Blue Herons to beavers and Belted Kingfishers, this mural is a colorful reminder of the friends that we might see along the trail. Hopefully people will be interested to learn about the animals that share our neighborhoods.