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Bike Month Mural Program
Raleigh celebrates National Bike Month each May with a series of events and activities, including commissioning new murals highlighting the city's cycling culture and community spirit. These murals, created through a partnership between Commute Smart Raleigh, Raleigh Union Station, and Raleigh Arts, are part of Raleigh's broader efforts to encourage cycling and enhance public art throughout the city.
2026 Mural
Photo by Andrew Miller
2026: Elyse Johnson
Artist Elyse Johnson is the 2026 Bike Month Muralist. The inspiration for her mural stems from the dynamic energy and resilient vitality of the Five Points Active Adult Center. The artwork serves as a visual celebration of active mobility, centering on community members engaged in cycling and the diverse wellness activities that define the center's daily life. By artfully blending human movement with native North Carolina flora, the design creates a harmonious tribute to both the participants and the natural beauty inherent to the area. As a creator, the artistic process is rooted in research and authentic connection. Time is dedicated to learning about the community's history and the stories that hold the most significance for its residents.
Based in North Carolina, Elyse Johnson is a professional muralist dedicated to the transformative power of public art. Her work is deeply rooted in collaboration, particularly with small towns and local businesses, to design custom murals that celebrate a community’s unique history and identity. For Elyse, the inspiration behind every project is the people themselves. She views each wall as a canvas for a collective narrative, striving to create visual stories that honor the past, uplift the present, and inspire the future. Whether she is painting a large-scale mural, developing studio pieces, or leading a lesson, her mission is to make art obtainable for all. She believes meaningful artwork should live where people work and play, not just in galleries. By blending various mediums with a passion for engagement, she brings color to everyday spaces, fostering a sense of belonging and local pride through high-quality, accessible art.
Elyse is working with artist and student Emma Baker to create a 2026 Bike Month t-shirt inspired by the mural design.
2025 Mural
2025: Max Dowdle
Max blends his painting skills with a passion for storytelling, creating artwork that reflects community voices and emotional depth. He believes artists play a timeless role as communicators, turning ideas into powerful visuals. His favorite part of any project is the design phase—gathering input from the community and turning it into meaningful, lasting art.
Max studied various art forms at the College of Charleston before focusing on painting. He later trained and taught at Charles H. Cecil Studios in Florence, Italy, gaining a strong foundation in traditional art techniques.
Murals
2024: Britt Flood
In 2024, artist Britt Flood painted a mural at 4020 Milburnie Road. The piece celebrates the art of cycling through poetic imagery, further emphasizing Raleigh's commitment to promoting biking as a mode of transportation and recreation.
“Bike Month 2023”, Mayanthi Jayawardena, located at 67 S Harrington St.
2023: Mayanthi Jayawardena
In 2023, artist created a colorful mural on the side of Exploris Middle School at 67 S. Harrington Street. The artwork features bold colors and bicycle silhouettes, symbolizing movement, wellness, and Raleigh's growing bike-friendly infrastructure. This project was a collaboration between Raleigh Arts, the Raleigh Murals Project, and other local partners
2022: JP Powell
Jermaine “JP” Powell is a North Carolina-based mixed-media artist and muralist who created a mural at Raleigh Union Station. The mural features a vibrantly colored city skyline, a solo bicycle, and a pair of cyclists wearing helmets to celebrate cycling. The interconnected pathways reflect the multi-modal connectivity of bike and rail.
