New Mural Underway at National Landing’s 12th Street S Underpass
Local artist Andrea Limauro transforms one of the area’s key gateways,
turning structural beams into unexpected beams of sunlight
Arlington, Va. (September 18, 2026) — The National Landing Business Improvement District (National Landing BID) announced today that The Sun & The Moon, a new large-scale two-part mural by local artist Andrea Limauro, is coming soon to the embankment walls of the 12th Street S underpass beneath Route 1. The mural will transform one of National Landing's busiest corridors while furthering the BID's commitment to creating engaging public spaces through art and placemaking.
The Sun & The Moon features a radiant sun on the north wall and a moon on the south wall, drawing inspiration from the way the underpass beams fan out to resemble rays of light. The murals will feature iconic buildings and landmarks from National Landing and across the DMV, including Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, the Lincoln Memorial, the George Washington Masonic National Memorial and the Smithsonian Castle, transforming the busy passage and physical barrier into an unexpected canvas that celebrates National Landing’s connection to the broader region.
The murals, which are timed with the recent delivery of the Crystal Drive and 12th Street transitway and WMATA Metroway service extension, follow a series of interim public art activations along 12th Street stewarded by the National Landing Business Improvement District, including Kansas & Oz by Brandon Hill and Color Tech by My Ly, and the upcoming permanent transitway station art, Conversations by Barbara Bernstein.
“This is an opportunity to turn an everyday passageway in National Landing into something that sparks curiosity and invites people to experience the area in a new way,” said Limauro. “As an artist, city planner and climate resilience expert, I’m honored to be part of a project that brings art into the public realm and helps shape the character of one of the region’s most dynamic and rapidly evolving areas.”
Limauro was selected through a curated mural competition informed by the BID’s art advisors, Nancy Miyahira, President of Third Space Creative, and Catherine Anchin, Executive Director of the Museum of Contemporary Art Arlington. Representatives from Arlington Economic Development’s Strategic Investment Group also advised throughout the selection process, alongside representatives from Arlington County’s Department of Environmental Services, VDOT, Crystal City Civic Association, JBG Smith, Boeing, Amazon, BMC Properties and Goldfarb Properties.
“We’re excited to work with Andrea to bring new life and character to the 12th Street underpass,” said Ashley Shook, Planning & Economic Development Senior Manager at the National Landing BID. “What stood out about his proposal was the way he responded to the space itself, using the existing bridge structure as an integral part of the design while creating something that works at two scales: bold and visually striking for people passing by car, bike or bus, with details and local landmarks for pedestrians to discover. It’s a thoughtful approach to transforming an everyday piece of infrastructure into a more inviting connection between National Landing’s growing neighborhoods, while creating something that feels distinct.”
As part of the installation, students from George Washington University’s Women’s Leadership Program and Business & Sustainability Initiative will prep the site alongside Limauro, gaining firsthand experience in the planning and execution of a large-scale public art commission.
“I’m grateful for the opportunity to work alongside Andrea and a female-led organization like National Landing BID that values mentorship, sustainability and engaging the next generation of women leaders,” said Natalia Kasamon, a student at GWU's Sustainability Living-Learning Community. “It’s inspiring to see this project come together and to apply what I've learned in the classroom to a real public art initiative.”
Prep work for the mural is scheduled to begin September 19, 2026, kicking off what is expected to be a four-week painting process.
Access Mural renderings (Note: the enclosed renderings do not include the iconic DMV buildings and landmarks which will be included on the mural.)
About National Landing:
National Landing is an urban community in Arlington, VA, uniting the three neighborhoods of Crystal City, Pentagon City, and Potomac Yard.
Here, the region’s rising talent connects with the industries building the future in the National Innovation Quarter (National IQ)—anchored by the Pentagon, Amazon HQ2, and the Virginia Tech Institute for Advanced Computing.
Five minutes from Reagan National Airport and ten minutes from Washington, D.C., National Landing offers unparalleled connectivity and leading mobility infrastructure across five Metro stations, VRE access, and miles of protected bike lanes.
With a nearly 1:1 employee-to-resident ratio, work and daily life exist side-by-side with ease. Walkable streets lead to global cuisines and shopping. Sixty acres of parks and public space invite gathering, from jazz nights to yoga mornings. Murals and modern design bring color to mid-century architecture. In National Landing, innovation and everyday life meet in surprising and meaningful ways.
To learn more, visit nationallanding.org and follow @nationallanding.
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