Los Angeles Metro unveiled a major public art installation on May 8 with the opening of the 3.92-mile D Line extension, connecting downtown to Beverly Hills. Nine artists were selected from over 1,400 applicants to create works across three stations—Wilshire/La Brea, Wilshire/Fairfax, and Wilshire/La Cienega. Notable pieces include Karl Haendel's "Hands and Things" at the Wilshire/Fairfax station, featuring photorealist pencil drawings of hands holding objects sourced from nearby cultural institutions, and Susan Silton's "WE, OUR, US." The artworks are mounted using durable porcelain enameling that resists corrosion, scratching, fading, and graffiti.
This project matters because it demonstrates how transit agencies can transform utilitarian spaces into meaningful cultural destinations, enhancing riders' sense of place and community. LA Metro's program, now 40 years old, is one of the oldest and largest transit art programs in the United States. As Clare Haggarty, LA Metro's director of public arts and design, notes, public art humanizes spaces and makes them feel safer while also helping passengers orient themselves. The D Line extension turns subway stations into galleries, making contemporary art accessible to millions of daily commuters.