Bloomberg Asphalt Art

City of Santa Barbara County of Santa Barbara State Street temporary public art

Project Overview

In 2026, the City of Santa Barbara was awarded the Bloomberg Asphalt Art Initiative grant, becoming one of just ten cities worldwide and one of four cities in the United States selected to receive funding. The grant supported the transformation of the intersection of State Street and Carrillo Street into a vibrant public art destination.

Inspired by traditional Zapotec and Mixtec weaving patterns, the design celebrates Santa Barbara’s Oaxacan community and honors the agricultural workers whose labor makes the adjacent Santa Barbara Farmers Market possible. The project features a large-scale painted street mural, artistic crosswalks, and curb extensions that bring color and visual interest to the heart of downtown.

The installation extends beyond the pavement with custom papel picado banners, vinyl-wrapped planters, decorative bollards, and painted string lights. Each papel picado design highlights a unique aspect of Santa Barbara and the Central Coast, while the string lights were painted by students from Santa Barbara High School’s Visual Arts and Design Academy (VADA).

Together, these elements create a dynamic and immersive public art experience that celebrates the people, culture, and agricultural heritage that help define Santa Barbara.

Thanks to all of our community sponsors and partners, including Friends of State Street, Santa Barbara Paint Depot, Delgado’s Quality Painting Services, Downtown Santa Barbara Improvement Association, Santa Barbara Beautiful, and more!

Medium: Asphalt Art

About the Artist(s)

Eddy Jimenez and Irene Ramirez

A man stands behind a table with craft materials at an outdoor market. One speaks to a woman and child seated at the table. People, booths, and balloon decorations are visible in the background. Lead artist Eddy Jimenez is a Zapotec weaver whose family sells traditional textiles at farmers markets throughout the Central Coast. A former artist-in-residence with the Mixteco Indigenous Community Organizing Project (MICOP), Jimenez has also led art and wellness workshops for local farmworkers, bringing deep cultural and community connections to the project.

A smiling woman in a yellow shirt and reflective vest sits on a blue street mural, holding a paint roller. Traffic cones and safety tape mark off the area, with others working in the background on a sunny day. Lead artist Irene Ramirez, who helped to translate the design into large-scale asphalt art, is a local artist and professor of graphic design at Santa Barbara City College.

Asphalt Art Safety Study

Commissioned by Bloomberg Philanthropies, this research evaluated the real-world safety impacts of asphalt art installations in communities across the country. The findings suggest that these artist-designed roadway improvements can help calm traffic, increase driver awareness, and reduce crashes and pedestrian conflicts, providing data-driven support for the growing asphalt art movement.

Ribbon Cutting and Community Celebration

Community members gathered to celebrate the completion of the project with a vibrant ribbon-cutting ceremony featuring traditional Oaxacan music, dance, and cultural performances. The program included appearances by Danza Flor Bonita, Grupo Folklórico Hauxyacac, Banda Filarmónica Narciso Lico Carrillo LA, and Oaxacreation Monos de Calenda.

A festive street scene with people celebrating; a large round sign reading QUE VIVA and a colorful giant puppet figure stand out. Spectators watch, some taking photos, surrounded by bright banners and decorations.

People in colorful traditional costumes and hats participate in a lively outdoor festival, holding banners and decorations, with a crowd watching. Bright paper decorations hang above, and palm trees are in the background.

People in colorful traditional dresses and hats participate in a lively parade, holding large decorated banners and baskets. Spectators line the street, and festive decorations are visible throughout the scene.

A colorful street parade features a giant puppet figure in orange clothing, dancers in traditional costumes, and vibrant decorations. Spectators watch as a child walks under a decorated umbrella. Palm trees line the street under a partly cloudy sky.

Asphalt Art in the News

Three logos: the City of Santa Barbara seal, Santa Barbara County Office of Arts and Culture with colorful text, and a purple square with the words “Bloomberg Philanthropies” in white.