Merced Mural Art - Clean California Transportation Art Project
As part of Governor Gavin Newsom’s landmark $1.1 billion Clean California initiative, Caltrans has awarded $312 million for 126 beautification projects along the state highway system – including ten projects in District 10, which includes Merced County. The City of Merced was awarded $350,000 for a mural project. Through an RFP process, the Merced Arts and Cultural Advisory Commission recommended mural designs by eight artists for City Council's consideration and approval. These eight mural designs will be installed at the following locations:
V Street & 99 Undercrossing - Artist Karen McComb
R Street & 99 Undercrossing - Artist Eddie Rodriguez
O Street & 99 Undercrossing - Artist Kristen Concepcion
M Street & 99 Undercrossing - Artist Joel Aguliar
Canal Street & 99 Undercrossing - Artist Martin Figueroa
MLK Jr. Way & 99 Undercrossing - Artist Patricia Pratt
G Street & 99 Undercrossing - Artist Richard Gomez
Yosemite Parkway & 99 Undercrossing - Artist Jose Sanchez
Designed to foster cultural connections and civic pride, the projects are expected to generate 3,600 jobs as part of the multiyear initiative led by Caltrans to remove trash and beautify community gateways and public areas along highways, streets, and roads while creating thousands of jobs for Californians. 98 percent of the projects will benefit historically underserved or excluded communities.
Developed in close collaboration with tribal and local governments, non-profits and businesses, the 126 state beautification projects include art installations, green space, and proposals that improve safety and promote community connections.
The Merced Gateway & Mural project includes the design and installation of gateway monuments and murals by local artists on State Routes 99, 59 and 140 in Merced County.
Meet the artists
  | Meet Mural Artist Karen McComb V StreetBorn and raised in Merced, Karen has been drawing, painting, and creating art since she was young. Self-taught, Karen attributes high school art classes and a watercolor class during college to launching her creative journey as an artist. Karen takes and teaches art workshops and likes to explore different materials and textures to create mixed-media artwork. Her work includes watercolor, acrylics, oil, pencil, pastels, and paper clay to create mixed media, 3D, explorer fantasy, and nature art images. Some of her work is on display at the Arbor Art Gallery in Merced. Karen's work also includes city mural projects, colorful designs on the People's Garden refrigerators, and commissioned pieces. She also contributes to the art community by teaching art classes through Artree, assisting with painting play stages and backgrounds, and creating large-scale colorful theme signs to promote the Merced County Fair. She credits her small two-person team, which includes her daughter Ashleigh, with creating these magical displays. Her art reflects her love of nature, layers, texture, and storytelling. | |
  | Meet Mural Artist Eddie Rodriguez R Street Eddie O. Rodriguez is an award-winning California-based artist. He graduated from the Academy of Arts University, in San Francisco, with a BFA and high honors. He has taught art in multiple countries, from the elementary school level to the graduate level and beyond. Along with his gallery career, Eddie is also a muralist and an advocate for fellow artists. He joined the Merced City Arts and Culture Advisory Commission and has helped Central Valley artists get into larger markets. In 2022, he began curating art shows, including UC Merced’s inaugural gallery show. | |
  | Meet Mural Artist Kristen Concepcion O StreetKristen is best known for her multi-media installations that create environments using man-made and natural materials. Concepcion often pulls from her love of vintage advertising, street art, and botanical illustrations when conceptualizing new work. She enjoys making nostalgic and joyful artwork, which frequently leans into her background in printmaking. As an artist, educator, and gardener, Concepcion’s focus is to create work that is accessible to all and may be used to promote healthy and collaborative communities. Concepcion studied Wood and Furniture Design under Leo Doyle and Printmaking under Joe Moran at Cal State San Bernardino, where she was encouraged to create large-scale projects using various media and found objects. She then continued to produce art while teaching secondary Art and Urban Homesteading. Concepcion is thrilled to create a mural in Merced that celebrates the bounty of agriculture in our area while celebrating the men and women working hard each day to provide accessible and healthy local food. | |
  | Meet Mural Artist Joel Aguilar M StreetDuring his last year in high school, Joel began pursuing art as a career. He was accepted into a pre-summer CAL Arts program in Valencia, CA, and was awarded an Emerging Artist Scholarship, which supported his creativity while studying fine arts with a concentration in painting at CSU Stanislaus. As a first-generation student, Joel's family was unsupportive of his career path and urged him to pursue a path to a more "serious" major that would lead to a high-paying career. However, their judgment did not stop him from venturing onto the road less traveled. Joel was accepted into the International Program in Florence, Italy, during his last year in college. He attended the prestigious Academy of Fine Arts, home of the Statue of David by Michaelangelo. Although proud of his academic accomplishments and the many challenges he's faced, the achievement of earning his diploma allowed him to realize and appreciate the hard work and devotion it takes to reach his goals. His long-term aspirations are to be a conduit for his community by creating meaningful and historical murals in his hometown of Livingston, CA, while collaborating with emerging artists. Aguilar has received recognition from his community for his artistic accomplishments and has been featured on ABC 30 Fresno News, Good Day Sacramento, and Univision for his efforts to create more opportunities for public art. He understands the challenges of working on large-scale murals. The extensive process includes creating mock-up designs, sourcing funding for supplies, and participating in City Council meetings. With support, he would promote more funding for community murals, beautifying neglected areas in his community. His artistic practice was once very secluded, creating oil paintings in his garage. Creating murals in public allows him to interact with his community during the process. Joel partners with videographer Earvin Mendoza to capture his work and shares these videos on his social media. He believes art through murals can be the door to our history. | |
  | Meet Mural Artist Martin Figueroa Canal StreetMartin is a lifelong resident of Merced. He has great memories of skating at Applegate Skatepark and riding his BMX bike around his neighborhood while growing up. Martin admires his brother, Steven Rodriguez, for his creativity and his best friend, John Oliverez, for encouraging him to believe in himself and his passion for art. Martin found a connection to art through lettering and then by painting human figure murals. He credits his consistent practice of drawing and doodling (while sometimes being bored in class) and during his free time with leading him on his progressive path to becoming a mural artist. | |
  | Meet Mural Artist Patricia Pratt Martin Luther King JR WayPatricia is a visual artist who lives and works in Merced, CA. A Central Valley native, she first began painting with her father, a sign painter, during childhood. Sign painting naturally led to a progression in Patricia’s work which now includes graphic design, signage, illustration, and large-scale murals. Patricia opened Kreepy Kawaii Designs, a privately owned art gallery in Downtown Merced, in 2019. She has continued to create and curate public art with professional artist, Atuk Perez. Kreepy Kawaii Designs aims to create pride and a sense of community with its art projects and shows. | |
  | Meet Mural Artist Richard Gomez G StreetRichard is a Chicano artist and professor focusing on community-engaged public art. Gomez received his B.A. from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and his M.F.A. from the Academy of Art University, San Francisco. In 2006, he spent the summer in Paris studying at the Ateliers du Carrousel les Arts Decoratifs. Gomez has taught a wide range of art classes through the Global Arts Studies Program (GASP) at UC Merced since 2010 | |
  | Meet Mural Artist Jose Sanchez Yosemite ParkwayJose was born in Los Baños and raised in Merced. Growing up in Merced, he’s had the honor of meeting hundreds of people and building lifelong friendships. Being a part of this community has given him many opportunities, and through these opportunities, he's learned to appreciate the benefits of being part of the city and its legacy. The first piece of art that caught Jose's attention was "The Great Wave off Kanagawa." He saw the power of nature captured in art, chaotic and beautiful all at once. It's one of his favorite pieces. Jose grew up reading comic books and is a fan of the comic book style of art, its bright colors, and bold lines. The influences and inspirations that help Jose create his art are his daughters, music, friends, and family. No matter how hectic life gets, he can always count on them to keep him focused and creative. |
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