On View Now
Downtown Murals
San Francisco-based internationally acclaimed artist Mona Caron completed a large-scale mural at 534 Emerson Street in January, 2026. Featuring the Western Leatherwood (Dirca occidentalis), a rare Bay Area native depicted in early bloom, the plant appears to grow straight out of the narrow alley itself. The mural brings a moment of surprise and reflection to this tucked-away stretch of downtown, highlighting the resilience and quiet presence of local ecology within the everyday urban landscape.
Dirca Occidentalis by artist Mona Caron at 534 Emerson Street.
Berkeley-based artist Nigel Sussman completed his mural, Palo Alto Discoveries, at the alley wall of the Pacific Art League at 668 Ramona Street in downtown Palo Alto in February of 2026. The work is directly inspired by the history of the region and of the building itself. Using bold graphic line work and a limited palette, the mural layers references to local history, architecture, culture, and native flora and fauna. During design development, the artist conducted site visits, spoke with local historians, librarians, residents, and Pacific Art League staff, and completed independent research to inform the final work. Collaboration with local communities was central to the process, helping ensure the artwork reflects its context while bringing joy, knowledge, and meaning to this previously underutilized wall.
Palo Alto Discoveries by artist Nigel Sussman at 668 Ramona Street.
Fire Station 5 Mural
California-based artist Bodeck Luna created a site-specific mural for the roll-up door at Fire Station 5 in the Barron Park neighborhood of southwest Palo Alto, adjacent to Juana Briones Park. Visible to pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers passing through the busy intersection, the mural celebrates Palo Alto’s landscape, history, and community spirit.
Rolling hills, redwoods, golden sunsets, and locally chosen flowers form the backdrop, while symbols of neighborhood pride appear throughout, including the Gunn Titans and Fletcher Tigers. Local references such as the Fire Station 5 bell, the firefighters’ homegrown chilis, Perry the Bol Park donkey, the city’s earliest fire truck, and the computer cursor, an invention born in Palo Alto, are woven into the design. An apricot sun references the Valley of Heart’s Delight as the spirit of Juana Briones looks over Barron Creek. Fire engine trim details frame the mural in tribute to Palo Alto’s firefighters.
Waking Up Under the Redwoods, 2026, Bodeck Luna.
Cubberley Community Center Mural
San Francisco-based artist Cameron Moberg was commissioned during the spring of 2024 to create a site-specific mural for the Cubberley Community Center. Cameron "Camer1" Moberg's art often has a theme of life, nature, positivity and spirituality. Moberg's mural "Generations" spanning over two walls on the H- and U-wings at the north-east end of the Campus is inspired by the artist's community outreach and interactions with stakeholders and community members at Cubberley: "As I walked through the halls of Cubberley, inspiration was coming at me around every turn, the music, the art, the learning, but what struck me most was the generations of people I met. I heard stories from how a woman’s mother took her to Cubberley as a child and now she takes her daughter. It wasn’t just one story like that, there were multiple. I wanted to capture this in the hands representing different stages of life. The butterflies represent the change and beauty that this can bring to the world and the key and keyhole connecting the two walls – like a portal opening up into learning, opportunities and the future" - Cameron Moberg.
Generations, 2024, Cameron Moberg.
California Avenue Murals
During the summer of 2023 the Palo Alto Alto Public Art Program commissioned artists Olivia Losee-Unger, Nicole Ponsler and Paz de la Calzada to paint vibrant temporary murals in the California Avenue District. Bloom by Nicole Ponsler can be found at Palo Alto Central on 149 California Avenue. Moonflowers for Georgia by Olivia Losee-Unger is located at Izzy’s Brooklyn Bagels on 477 California Avenue. The third streetscape mural called Quercus 650 by Paz de la Calzada is located on the ground at the intersection of California Avenue and Ash Street. The artist invited volunteers from the community to participate in the painting process.
Bloom, 2023, Nicole Ponsler. Photo Credit: Todd Burke.
Moonflowers for Georgia, 2023, Olivia Losee-Unger
Quercus 650, 2023, Paz de la Calzada (The artist and Public Art Program staff pictured).