Celebrating the completion of bus shelter photomural project recognizing King County’s Latino community

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Photo: Artist Fulgencio Lazo with his painting “Mercado de Bicicletas” (Bicycle Market) displayed on a Metro bus shelter on Beacon Hill

Oaxacan music and dancers lit the fall air in the Plaza Roberto Maestas at El Centro de la Raza on Oct. 4 for the dedication of the sixth and seventh King County Metro bus shelters with photo murals celebrating the beauty and identity of the Latino community. Grupo Cultural Oaxaqueño provided the lively dancing to music provided by Banda Gozona, while attendees enjoyed home-made tamales and the Mexican drink atole.

Oaxacan music and dancers in the Plaza Roberto Maestas at El Centro de la Raza — Oaxacan dancers in the Plaza Roberto Maestas at El Centro de la Raza

These newest installations highlight the Mexican American artist Fulgencio Lazo’s painting “Mercado de Bicicletas” (Bicycle Market), which reflects Metro’s commitment to creating accessible, sustainable transportation options that connect communities.

“As a newly arrived immigrant, one of my first experiences in Seattle thirty-five years ago was to catch the #60 on Beacon Hill. Now it is a great honor to share my work at this same bus stop. There are many circles in life,” Lazo said.

After the dedication, the attendees and dancers walked the short distance to the new southbound transit island on Beacon Av S & S. Lander St. to view the beautiful new bus shelter artwork. The project is a partnership between Metro and Latino Northwest Communications.

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Installed at bus shelters around the region, the photomurals highlight the diverse cultures throughout Latin America, from mariachis to dance to events such as the Fiestas Patrias Parade and the annual Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) celebration:

Northbound Beacon Avenue South and South Bayview Street: Juan Pérez Calleja’s photos capture the culture and folklore of various Mexican regions, as well as the Virgin of Guadalupe, an iconic symbol of Mexico and Latin America.
Southbound Des Moines Memorial Drive South and South 96th Street: Photos by Mario Zavaleta show traditional dances from the states of Colima and Zacatecas in Mexico during the northwest community’s annual Day of the Dead celebration at Seattle Center.
Northbound 14th Avenue South & South Cloverdale Street: The photos of Mario Zavaleta and Mauricio Tellez capture one of the most popular annual celebrations in the South Park community of Seattle, with the Fiestas Patrias Parade, organized by Sea Mar Community Health Center.
Southbound 15th Avenue Northeast and Northeast Campus Pkwy: This shelter features Mario Zavaleta’s photos of the Ballet Folklòrico Bailadores de Bronce, founded by students and workers from the University of Washington in 1972 and still going strong.
Southbound Lake Avenue South and Shattuck Avenue South (Renton Park-and-Ride): Brian Mendia’s photos highlight a vibrant mix of cultural traditions from Latin America. The images include Panamanian folkloric dance, proudly represented by Blanca Cataño and her group, Panama Folklore Seattle. The display is a celebration of the diversity of Latin American heritage through traditional attire, music, and dance, reflecting the richness of cultures of Panama, Mexico, and other Central America countries.

The displays are part of Metro’s Bus Shelter Mural Program, where artists and photographers from diverse backgrounds have transformed over 1,200 bus shelters into vibrant public art galleries that brighten neighborhoods across King County. The majority of the murals reflect the culture, history, and stories of our northwest communities.

The Latino Photomural Project goes beyond just beautifying our bus stop spaces. It directly supports Metro’s goal of promoting sustainable transportation through Transit Demand Management (TDM) strategies. By combining culturally resonant artwork with TDM messaging, Metro seeks to inspire behavioral change, raise awareness, and encourage more people to avoid congestion and promote improved air quality by choosing transit.