Bridge Blvd Median Monuments

Call Description

The Bernalillo County Arts Board solicits a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for New Mexico-based mosaic artists or artists’ teams to collaborate with the local community to design and install original mosaic artwork for six median monuments along Bridge Boulevard, in the South Valley area of Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Each monument is double-sided and consists of approximately 20 square feet of surface area to be covered with mosaic art. Two of the monuments are located on Tower Road near Coors Boulevard and the remaining four are located on Bridge Boulevard between Old Coors Drive and Luray Place SW 87105. Please refer to the map provided for exact locations.

Budget: $25,000.00 is the all-inclusive budget to create and install the artwork.

Site Details

Two of the monuments are located on Tower Road near Coors Boulevard, 87121 and the remaining four are located on Bridge Boulevard between Old Coors Drive and Luray Place SW The six median monuments are made of concrete masonry units (CMUs) which have been covered with a stucco treatment. The monuments are two sided and the coverable surface on each side measures 2' 8" tall by 3' 8" wide. The county will assist with traffic control during the installation of the artworks onto the monuments.

Location/Context/History

Bridge Boulevard holds deep historic significance in Albuquerque’s South Valley. It was the first crossing over the Rio Grande and a key segment of the original Route 66. While it is now one of eight river crossings in the metro area, it remains one of only two that serve the South Valley, along with Rio Bravo Boulevard.

Built near Barelas in the 1880s with the arrival of rail service, the original bridge—later known as Bridge Boulevard—was once the longest structure spanning the Rio Grande at 1,550 feet. A new span completed in 1984 makes Bridge Boulevard one of the oldest continuously bridged river crossings in New Mexico. In 2021, a portion of Bridge Boulevard was renamed Avenida Dolores Huerta, sharing signage with Avenida Cesar Chavez to honor the two labor leaders.

In recent years, Bernalillo County and NMDOT have worked to redesign Bridge Boulevard to improve safety, reduce congestion, and add amenities such as public art and new bus stops. Notable projects include the Glimpses of Our Barrios mural by Paz, completed in 2024, and the upcoming median monument mosaics that will serve to celebrate South Valley communities and cultures.

Project Intent/Theme

The Board seeks artists or artists’ teams working in outdoor mosaic art. The design for each monument may include a combination of text and images. Durability and low maintenance of all materials is required.

The goals of the project are to 1) beautify the Bridge Boulevard Corridor with durable, original works of art; 2) engage with the communities and neighborhood associations along Bridge Boulevard to help design the content and imagery for the mosaics for each monument.

Designs may incorporate neighborhood association names and messages relevant to the surrounding communities. Each mosaic should reflect the cultures, people, and landscapes of the communities of the South Valley of Albuquerque.

The artist(s) shall use imagery that aligns with the existing aesthetic of the area. The artist(s) should reference other public art in the area such as the “Glimpses of Our Barrios Mural” by the artist Paz (BernCo Celebrates Completion of Bridge Boulevard Mural | Flickr) on Tower and Old Coors Road, the Isleta Boulevard Bus Stop mosaics, and the Bridge Blvd “Paraje” Bus Stops.

Project Funds

$25,000.00 is available to commission the artwork. This amount is all-inclusive and includes all fees and expenses associated with the project, e.g., materials, time, artist fees, equipment, labor, permits, travel, installation, and written and professional photographic documentation of the completed project.

Timeframe (Subject to Change):

· RFQ released: Feb 2, 2026.

· Deadline for Submissions: Feb 16, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. MST

· February - March 2026: Jurying of Submissions

· March-April 2026: Semi-finalists invited to create sample designs/concepts

· April-May 2026: Semi-finalists present concepts to the Selection Committee

· May 2026: Finalist(s) selected

· June 2026: Artist(s) enters into contract and project begins

· Fall 2026: Art installation of ribbon cutting/celebration

Submission Requirements 

Please review and follow the printable image preparation guide on the CaFÉ website. Digital media on-line submissions must follow the CaFÉ image uploading requirements.

Submit from three (3) to ten (10) images of previous work.

Digital images should include the artist’s name, artwork title, dimension/size, media, date of creation, and cost, in addition to any in-kind consideration.

Artist name and address must be on every page of any documents that are submitted. All word and quantity limits must be followed for submission materials.

· Artist Statement

· Artist Résumé

· Questionnaire

· A correspondingly numbered image key of each image use in the application must also be submitted including artist’s name, artwork title, dimension/size, media, and date of creation.

· References

This online process requires that all application images and materials be submitted in digital format. For digital image requirements please visit the “Image Prep” section at CaFÉ, (www.callforentry.org).

This is a local call open to New Mexico based artists.