Washington, D.C. is getting a major new public-art makeover as the city celebrates America’s 250th birthday.
The District’s DC250 Mural Project is bringing eight new murals to the city this month, with one commissioned work representing each of Washington’s eight wards.
Each mural is being created by a D.C.-based artist and is designed to reflect the history, culture and character of the community where it will be installed.
And while the project is part of the District’s celebration of America’s 250th anniversary, the murals are also intended to tell distinctly local stories about the people and neighborhoods that make up the nation’s capital.
What are the new murals coming to Washington, D.C.’s eight wards?
The DC250 Mural Project is being coordinated by the D.C. Department of Public Works through its MuralsDC program, which has helped create nearly 200 murals across all eight wards since launching in 2007. For this project, eight D.C.-based artists were selected to create murals connected to the communities where their work will appear.
Here’s where to find each of the eight murals and who is creating it:
- Ward 1: Ben’s Chili Bowl, 1213 U St. NW — Artist Aniekan Udofia. The mural will draw inspiration from the American Dream and the legacy of Ben’s Chili Bowl founder Ben Ali, an immigrant from Trinidad who built the beloved D.C. institution.
- Ward 2: Blagden Alley entrance, 1208 9th St. NW — Artist Julia Kagan. Work is scheduled to begin this month.
- Ward 3: Macomb Recreation Center, 3409 Macomb St. NW — Artist Demont Pinder. The mural is also scheduled to begin this month.
- Ward 4: 5816 Georgia Ave. NW — Artist Federico Frum aka Mas Paz. The mural consists of bold, colorful imagery, expressive figures, and a strong sense of movement, blending street art with themes of identity, community, and cultural heritage that reflect the District and America’s overall identity.
- Ward 5: Metropolitan Branch Trail, 2000 5th St. NE — Artist Asad Walker. Work is scheduled to begin this month.
- Ward 6: Henceforth, 1335 H St. NE — Artist Mia DuVall, a sixth-generation Washingtonian. Her mural incorporates references to D.C. culture, including Go-Go music, the D.C. flag and “51” imagery representing the District’s push for statehood and representation.
- Ward 7: Shrimp Boat Plaza, 4510 E. Capitol St. NE — Artist Luis Del Valle. Completed. His colorful mural features children, a girl representing the future and hope, and an eagle as the symbol of the United States.
- Ward 8: Southeast Tennis and Learning Center, 701 Mississippi Ave. SE — Artists Nabi Bilal and Candice Taylor. Work is scheduled to begin this month.
The project is particularly focused on making the murals feel connected to their surroundings.
MuralsDC coordinator Nancee Lyons said the artists are working with residents and property owners, with each project incorporating the identity, traditions and landmarks associated with its ward.
Why are these new murals being made?
The murals are part of Washington, D.C.’s broader celebration of the 250th anniversary of the United States, also known as America250 or the nation’s semiquincentennial.
But rather than simply creating eight patriotic works, the District says the project is intended to use public art to tell stories about the individual communities that make up the District.
The murals are meant to reflect each neighborhood’s history, identity, and aspirations while connecting those local stories to the country’s larger history.
That approach is especially apparent in Mia DuVall’s Ward 6 mural, which features a D.C. marching band, Go-Go references, and “51” imagery to celebrate the city while highlighting its ongoing fight for representation.
DuVall has described the mural as a reminder that the ideals expressed in the Declaration of Independence are an ongoing responsibility.
The project also continues the mission of MuralsDC, which the city says uses public art to strengthen community pride, enhance public spaces, and help deter graffiti.
When are all the murals going to be completed?
The project has been rolled out throughout the summer, with several murals already completed as of the latest detailed project update.
The remaining murals are scheduled to begin going up this month, including projects at Ben’s Chili Bowl, Blagden Alley, Macomb Recreation Center, the Metropolitan Branch Trail, and the Southeast Tennis and Learning Center.
That means Washingtonians should see the full collection take shape throughout August 2026, giving residents and visitors eight new pieces of public art to discover across the District’s neighborhoods as America celebrates its 250 years of independence.
