Over 30 artists and artist teams were selected through a competitive application process to design and paint murals on 43 of the pillars holding up the Jones Falls Expressway (JFX). In total, 44 of the concrete columns now have murals. Many columns were repainted, however, some were painted for the first time. Only one column retained its original mural which was painted by the late Baltimore muralist Pontella Mason. That mural, “Bebop: Charlie Parker and Bettie Carter,” is preserved as is.
This initiative, titled the Urban Oasis Mural Project, introduced by the Mayor’s Office of Arts, Culture and Entertainment, leverages the festival model not only to beautify the space but to activate it as a platform for sustainable, community-centered impact. The goal is to spark long-term investment and renewed interest in the district by demonstrating the transformative power of arts-driven placemaking.
The original murals were all painted between 2006 and 2008 as part of the Baltimore Mural Project, which is managed by BOPA. When applications opened for the Urban Oasis Mural Project, organizers reached out to the original artists and invited them to apply. Danamarie Hosler, Gary Mullen, Michael Kirby, and Ernest Shaw are all returning to paint new murals. They are joined by the following artists and artist teams:
Sign up to get interesting news and updates delivered to your inbox.
Join Newsletter