A mural by artist JP Jermaine Powell on wall behind metal bike racks at Raleigh Union Station. The mural features a bicycle, a sun painted around a light fixture, and a silhouette of the city skyline with colorful wavy lines.

Raleigh Union Station Bike Rack Mural

A public art project by Commute Smart Raleigh, Raleigh Union Station, and Raleigh Arts


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Project Details

Commute Smart RaleighRaleigh Union Station, and Raleigh Arts have teamed up to commission a local artist to paint a mural at the Raleigh Union Station bike racks. The mural reflects the multi-modal connectivity of bike and rail and is meant to inspire the joy of cycling.

The project originated from several ideas on how to continue creating awareness for National Bike Month while maintaining social distance in 2021.

Bike Month is a celebration established in 1956 and promoted by the League of American Bicyclists, which has been part of communities from coast to coast ever since. The City of Raleigh has been celebrating Bike Month locally for over 10 years.

A diverse panel of stakeholders in Raleigh Union Station selected J.P. Powell to create the mural after receiving several draft sketches from a talented pool of local artists to choose from.

Try a Citrix Cycle Bikeshare E-bike & Visit the Mural

Please join the Commute Smart Raleigh team and mural artist JP Jermaine Powell on Sunday, May 23, 1 - 3 pm to try a Citrix Cycle Bikeshare E-bike for free and learn more about the mural at Raleigh Union Station. City staff will share how biking is safe and convenient while riding a bike share e-bike. JP Jermaine Powell will showcase his Bike Month mural and discuss the project with participants.

Learn more and register for the event

Timeline

Estimated installation in April 2021.

Artist Biography

Headshot of artist JP Jermaine Powell

JP Jermaine Powell

Jermaine “JP” Powell is a North Carolina based mixed-media artist and muralist. Originally from Cleveland, Ohio, JP holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Pratt Institute, located in Brooklyn, New York. His paintings and public art projects explore the complexities of human relationships, materialism, and consumerism.

As a world traveler, JP’s travel experiences have inspired the use of various luxury objects used in his work. Both American and international currencies are often featured symbolically in his work. In his Modern Currency and Pure Luxury Collections (2018- 2020), JP also uses bold, colorful textures, flowers, patterns, and mosaic tile.

JP is the co-creator of the Breathe: Life After Death group art exhibition featured at the Block Gallery in Raleigh, North Carolina. JP’s artwork has also been featured in Cary Living Magazine, Duke University, Art Space Galleries, Raleigh Arts, The City of Durham, and the Durham Art Guild. He is fortunate to have collectors throughout the United States, Argentina, Japan, South Africa, and London.

In June of 2020 JP was formally announced as the 1st place winner of the Fuquay-Varina Plein Air Paint Off. JP’s work has been shown in numerous group and solo exhibitions in Ohio, New York, Maryland, Washington D.C., and North Carolina.

JP Jermaine Powell with A Mother’s Love (Clock), 48x48 in., Acrylic, Mixed Media

Learn more about JP Jermaine Powell

Contact

 

Kelly McChesney
Public Art Director
kelly.mcchesney@raleighnc.gov
919-996-5657

Department:
Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources
Service Categories:
Raleigh Arts
Board, Commission or Committee:
Arts Commission
Related Services:
Public ArtCommute Smart Raleigh

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