Large Murals Added To Public Garage Entrances In Downtown Bethesda

BETHESDA, MD — Two new public art installations were unveiled on Wednesday on a Montgomery County-operated public parking garage in downtown Bethesda.

Federal Realty Investment Trust commissioned the large murals by artist Andrea Cobb of Durham, North Carolina. They are located at the entrances of the Montgomery County Department of Transportation’s public garage 57 on Elm Street and Bethesda Avenue at Bethesda Row, which is owned by Federal Realty.

Cobb described the murals as reflecting joy and pleasure through the flowers, emotion and love through the heart, and peace and friendship through the olives.

“Public art installations contribute to vibrant downtown communities and raise the profile of the arts by making art exciting and accessible,” Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich said in a statement. "We hope to encourage more partnerships like this in the future."

MCDOT has made other parking facilities in the county available for works of art. In 2022, a mural was painted on the side of the county parking Garage at 7661 Old Georgetown Road in Bethesda. The 8216 Woodmont Garage was painted in 2020. Both were commissioned through the “Paint the Town” program, a partnership with the Bethesda Urban Partnership.

“Marking nearly 30 years rooted within the greater downtown Bethesda community, we sought to improve Bethesda Row’s retail mix, and enhance the public experience throughout,” Federal Realty Senior Vice President John Tschiderer said in a statement.

MCDOT Director Chris Conklin said the county has seen great success in the past with public art installations on the county’s public parking garages in downtown areas.

“Public art can increase foot traffic for local businesses and draw interest in parts of downtown that would otherwise be overlooked,” Conklin said.