In the fall of 2024, the Town of Lexington (Town) released a call for artists interested in creating a mural on the exterior columns of the Depot Building owned by the Lexington History Museums. This project is a collaborative effort between the Town of Lexington, Lexington Center Committee, and the Lexington History Museums to bring art and color to Lexington Center! The pictures shown are renderings of the designs.
This project is inspired by Center Retail Strategy Report (CRS), a plan to evaluate and inform future revitalization in Lexington Center. The CRS found that one advantage of Lexington Center was its closeness to the Minuteman Bikeway, and that businesses were interested in improving access between the Minuteman Bikeway and the Center. Improving visibility through artwork and area activation would brighten the surrounding façades and catch Bikeway users’ attention. The Town’s Mural and Site activation program represents an investment of approximately $100,000 in public art at multiple sites across the length of the Minuteman Bike path in Lexington’s Business Districts for businesses abutting the bike path. The allocation for this project was $12,000 and was completely funded through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).
19 artists submitted their qualifications, of which three semi-finalists were invited to advance and prepare conceptual proposals. Each application was reviewed by a selection panel comprised of Lexington residents, Economic Development staff, and a representative of Lexington History Museums. After interviewing each semi-finalist, the grant was awarded to artist Kit Collins. Kit then worked with the selection panel, and different municipal committees to workshop the final design which is featured on this page. Previous revisions can be found in the attachments below.
The murals are expected to be installed in late spring and conclude by mid-July. Please check back for more information as this page is updated! This page will have the anticipated work schedule for each week.
IMPORTANT:
Please see graphic below regarding temporary lane changes due to the project. Please slow down and use the arrows to properly navigate the lane shift.
The Lexington Center Mural Project will be starting on Tuesday, May 27! The artist will be working on priming the space next week. The anticipated work schedule is as follows. Please note that these dates and times may be subject to change based on day-of weather conditions (rain, high humidity, etc.), or other artist commitments.
WEEK OF June 2
Monday, June 2, 12:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Wednesday, June 4: 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Thursday, June 5th: 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Update: 6.16.25
The Lexington Center Mural Project is moving smoothly! For this week, Kit will be away and no work will occur. Bikeway operations will resume normal flow.
Update: 6.27.25
After a small break, Kit is back! She will be working all of next week on the project!
About Kit:
"Kit Collins (she/her) is a public artist, muralist and illustrator based in Medford, MA. She prioritizes opportunities to create vibrant, site-specific, public-facing works that celebrate, spotlight, and honor the social, natural, and creative environments in which they are implemented. She strives to create works that will not only add liveliness, color and texture to the everyday visual environment, but will also meaningfully resonate with the communities that host them."
More information can be found in the Call For Artists and other supporting documentation.