Waterside Parking Garage Public Art

The City of Norfolk, Virginia seeks to commission an artist to create a permanent artwork for the Waterside Parking Garage, a prominent gateway to Downtown and the waterfront. The installation should reflect movement, connection, and the innovative spirit of Norfolk, offering a bold visual landmark for commuters and visitors alike.

LOCATION/CONTEXT: The Waterside Garage is one of Norfolk’s most visible entry points, positioned between the Elizabeth River and Downtown and experienced by commuters, visitors, and waterfront travelers alike. Its location makes it an important civic landmark, and this project offers an opportunity to create a welcoming and memorable presence for all who enter the city.

The façade is also highly visible from the Elizabeth River, making the artwork a landmark for passengers on cruise ships docking in Norfolk, attendees of major waterfront festivals in Town Point Park, and pedestrians moving between the waterfront and the city. This site acts as a literal and symbolic connector—from river to city, from suburbs to downtown, from park to skyline. Norfolk itself is a city defined by connection: a critical hub where ports, trains, ships, medical centers, technology firms, NATO, the Navy, Universities, and the vibrant arts community intersect. The selected artwork should reflect this identity of movement, transition, and innovation. 

The garage is a typical concrete structure matching the surrounding landscape of gray‑toned buildings. Its exterior is defined by distinct horizontal bands of positive and negative space created by the open-air parking levels. Due to tree coverage, visibility on the first three floors is limited, especially in summer. See attached photos.

THEME/STYLE: Set within the dynamic cultural landscape of Norfolk’s Innovation Corridor, an area energized by the diverse communities that shape the city’s identity, the installation will serve as a vibrant focal point. The artwork should evoke movement and connection, creating a bold, colorful and welcoming presence for commuters and visitors.

We are seeking artwork with a strong visual presence—a true “wow factor”—that will serve as a memorable symbol of the city’s creativity, forward-thinking identity and innovation. Ideally, it will be something visitors and residents remember and talk about after their time in the city.

Because the work will be viewed primarily by drivers it should be easily legible at a glance and from a distance, while still offering layered detail and visual interest for pedestrians and waterfront viewers.

SIZE/MEDIUM: Artwork should be scaled appropriately to the large façade of the garage, ensuring visibility from interstate approaches and the waterfront. The garage’s horizontal striping may be incorporated, emphasized, or reinterpreted.

Durable, low‑maintenance materials suitable for long‑term outdoor exposure are required. This may include metal, high‑performance coatings, engineered composites, lighting, or other weather‑resistant media. Artwork should be created on a durable substrate that can be mounted to the garage; painted murals directly on the structure are not being requested. New materials may be considered with adequate independent testing, documentation, or warranties that support a 20+ year lifespan. Artists are encouraged to consider how material choices can enhance the sense of motion, connection, and innovation central to the theme.

1.      Statement of Understanding, online agreement of compliance to all Commonwealth of Virginia codes. By submitting your application, you agree to the Statement of Understanding.

2.      Letter of Interest outline your interest in this project and how you will approach the artwork design and creation. (2000-character max)

3.      Resume, maximum of two (2) pages, outlining your professional accomplishments.  If submitting as a team, please include resumes for each team member, with each resume not exceeding two (2) pages.

4.      Artwork Images, selection of up to ten (10) images representing artworks most relevant to the scope of this opportunity.  While not mandatory, you may include sketches of a proposed idea as one or more of your 10 images.

5.      References, three (3) professional references, including name, affiliated organization (if appropriate), email address, phone number, and relationship to each reference.   

This project is open to U.S. artists over 18 years of age.