L.A. Metro opened the first phase of its D Line extension on Friday, May 1, 2026, adding three new underground stations connecting downtown Los Angeles to Beverly Hills: Wilshire/La Brea, Wilshire/Fairfax, and Wilshire/La Cienega. The stations feature nine site-specific public artworks by artists including Mariana Castillo Deball, Eamon Ore-Giron, Ken Gonzales-Day, Todd Gray, Karl Haendel, Soo Kim, Fran Siegel, Susan Silton, and Mark Dean Veca. The competitive selection process began a decade ago, drawing over 1,200 applicants, with finalists judged by a panel of art professionals including curators from Miracle Mile museums. Metro deputy executive officer Zipporah Yamamoto leads the agency's public art program, which is funded by a 0.5% construction budget set-aside.
This expansion matters because it integrates world-class public art directly into the transit experience, transforming subway stations into immersive galleries that match the caliber of nearby museums along Wilshire Boulevard. The artworks are designed to respond to each station's location, history, and culture, with community engagement components and QR codes providing deeper context. By making art accessible to daily commuters and encouraging exploration of neighborhoods, the project elevates the role of public art in urban infrastructure and sets a precedent for transit agencies nationwide. The full D Line extension, expected by fall 2027, will eventually connect Koreatown to Westwood with seven stations.