Bus passengers riding through the Austin neighborhood will find a new artwork at the turnaround at Chicago Avenue and Austin Boulevard.
The Chicago Transit Authority and Mayor Lori Lightfoot unveiled the installation titled “Sunburst” on Monday.
Artist Shinique Smith painted the aluminum sculpture to be “reflective of the radiating, bright energy at this well-traveled corner in all seasons,” the CTA said.
The internationally recognized visual artist has also produced works for New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority and the Los Angeles Metro.
“It is my sincere hope that “Sunburst” will be a focal point and a talisman light for all who travel the Austin bus turnaround,” Smith said.
“Sunburst” also highlights recent upgrades to the facility, including the six new electric buses that run on the #66 Chicago route between Austin and Navy Pier.
“This artwork is more than just a decorative piece,” Lightfoot said in a news release. “It is a beacon of light that is reflective of the spirit and energy of our Austin community.”
Smith was one of nearly 350 artists who responded to CTA’s 2015 call for artists for the bus turnaround. Over the past decade, the CTA’s public art collection has nearly doubled to include more than 70 permanent works at L and bus stations.
“This artwork will help put the Austin neighborhood on the map as a destination within Chicago for seeing world-renowned artwork,” said CTA President Dorval R. Carter Jr. in a news release.
