A Guide to BelRed’s Public Art

May 29

Art has the power to transform an ordinary public space into a memorable one. Public sculptures, murals, and exhibits not only enhance the built environment, but also evoke emotion and strengthen people’s connection to their community. As the BelRed Arts District continues to grow into a vibrant arts and culture hub, its many public artworks are doing exactly that.

For those interested in exploring the area’s murals, sculptures, and installations, we’ve created this guide for a walking or driving tour through the district. You can also follow along using our interactive map of public artworks at BelRed Arts District Public Artworks Map.

**Commuters by Will Schlough**
*1615 133rd Pl NE*

Right across from the light rail station and next to the BelRed Arts Studio, this playful mural pays homage to the Eastside’s many public transit commuters. Along the wall stretches a scene of some daredevil snails slingshotting themselves across the water—a new type of commute!

**Gyronic by Wynia Lang**
*123rd Ave NE & NE District Way*

This nine-foot-tall sculpture is a mesmerizing optical display “designed to spark curiosity and engage pedestrians in a shared experience”. It captures the light in unexpected ways and invites the viewer to take a closer look.

**Joyful Connections by Brady Black and Volunteers**
*130th Ave NE*

This 150-foot mural features the faces of local children playing telephone. It was painted collaboratively by over 100 community members, business owners, and local artists to celebrate the light rail opening. *Joyful Connections* reminds the public of the joy of creativity and imaginative play and that messages may change, but the connection we share remains.

**Ki’eki’e by Gerard Tsutakawa**
*1385 123rd Ave NE*

Tsutakawa’s resonance with his Japanese heritage and traditions of the Pacific Rim is reflected in this piece. The bronze sculpture integrates those elements with the natural shapes and textures that remind him of his home in the PNW.

**Nails by Christian Moeller**
*1925 120th Ave NE*

No place is complete without nails. These often overlooked tools are the foundation of any structure that contributes to the creation of a community. This sculpture plays with the form of nails to show “a marching work gang frozen in time”, paying homage to the many hard laborers who contributed to Bellevue’s growth and development.

**Loom by John Fleming**
*12282 NE 12th Ln*

Larger than life, this piece literally *looms* over passersby with its tall steel ribs interlaced with delicate, colorful, reflective strands. The sculpture represents the interwovenness and connectivity of the local community.

**Salmon Woman and Raven by Tom Jay**
*14224 Bel-Red Rd*

This towering molten bronze sculpture, created by environmentalist Tom Jay, showcases the immense power of both nature and humanity in a uniquely imaginative way. A huge raven paddles through an arc of salmon, challenging our understanding of natural dynamics while using imagery indicative of the PNW landscape.

**Sea and Sky by Celeste Cooning**
*121st Pl NE & NE 12th Ln*

In *Sea and Sky*, ornamental fronds adorn the side of a building as tribute to the local lush landscape. To the artist, this piece acts as a reflection “of one another becoming one and the same”.

**Spring District Station Platform Mural by Louie Gong**
*12164 NE Spring Blvd*

At this light rail stop, a metal dragon and phoenix complement each other on opposing sides of the platform. They portray a confluence of the artist’s Coast Salish and Chinese backgrounds, surrounded by other details like huckleberry and hummingbird. As you ride by, a traditional story of nature and fable unfolds.

**Yonder Sky by Po Shu Wang**
*130th Ave NE & NE Spring Blvd*

This shiny and bold interactive piece invites the viewer to create a musical composition in real time that layers human vocals and music. A proximity sensor embedded in the front of the sphere creates sounds as people move around the installation.

Utility Box Wraps

Public art can also be found in unexpected places. In 2021, the City of Bellevue launched a program that covered 15 utility boxes in the BelRed neighborhood featuring work from a variety of local artists including Vikram Madam, Juliana Kang Robinson, Molly Keen, Raili Jänese, Larine Chung, and Marsha Rollinger.