City Calls for Artists to Transform Traffic Signal Boxes with Creative Flair

Hidden Valley resident Anisa Burke recently showcased her artistic talents with a vibrant mural titled “Friends of the Sonoran Desert,” located at the intersection of West Smith-Enke Road and North Porter. This piece epitomizes the growing movement of public art within the community, particularly through the city’s Traffic Signal Box Art Program.

Announced on Monday, the city is calling for local artists to create colorfully painted designs for traffic-control boxes. City spokesperson Monica Williams emphasized the importance of high-quality artwork that resonates with the community’s identity. “We just want some really high-quality artwork that represents our community,” she stated.

While the total number of boxes to be decorated will depend on the quality of submissions, artists are encouraged to submit sketches that reflect their envisioned designs. Selected artists will receive a $750 honorarium for their contributions this year. Notably, all boxes will be painted rather than wrapped, marking a shift in the program’s approach.

The submission deadline is set for December 2, with winning artists to be notified by December 19. The goal is to have all artwork completed by March 31, 2025. Interested artists can find more details on the application process via the city’s official channels.

The push for public art began in 2021 with the installation of 10 painted horse statues as part of the Maricopa Wild Horses initiative. This initiative expanded in 2022 when additional horse statues were unearthed throughout the city. At the same time, wrapped traffic boxes made their debut, with the first two appearing at the intersection of Honeycutt Road and Porter and Plainview Roads.

Last summer, local talents like Senita’s Veronika Leshchinskaya and Hidden Valley’s Anisa Burke were commissioned to hand-paint 11 traffic boxes under the sweltering sun. Casa Grande artist Mauriel “Mory” Morejon also painted multiple murals in the area, showcasing his landscape art at various city locations.

Most recently, the city expanded its public art initiative by extending the deadline for mural submissions for a new installation at Pacana Park, demonstrating a continued commitment to enhancing community aesthetics and supporting local artists.