Four Bay Area artists install botanical light box artworks at 19th St. Oakland BART station
BART Adds Botanical Art to 19th St. Oakland Station
Four Bay Area artists have installed illuminated botanical artworks at BART’s 19th St. Oakland Station, transforming former phone alcoves into glowing light boxes. The exhibition, titled In Full Bloom, features site-specific works by Courtney Cerruti, Liz Hernandez, Carrie Lederer, and Kija Lucas, according to the agency. All four pieces are visible without entering the paid area and will remain on display through at least fall 2026.
The artworks were installed in light boxes that replaced original phone alcoves during the station’s 2023 modernization, which merged three paid areas into a single concourse and upgraded lighting to energy-efficient LEDs. Curator Lisa Solomon, a local artist and educator, led the project with a focus on florals and organic textures inspired by the Bay Area’s natural landscape. The BART Art Program, managed by Jennifer Easton, has worked to integrate art into station environments and connect with nearby communities since the board approved the Art in Transit initiative in 2015.
Three of the illuminated pieces are located on the eastside of the station near the entrance and station agent booths, while one is positioned on the westside across from the mid-station agent booth. The works include Fox and His Circle of Gold by Carrie Lederer, Jacarandas al Viento by Liz Hernandez, Sunday Morning. Lake Merritt Gardens by Courtney Cerruti, and Untitled (Samin’s Garden) by Kija Lucas. Each artist expressed an intention to bring art into everyday commuter spaces and create moments of inspiration for riders passing through the station.
The exhibition complements four permanent stairwell lightbox installations by artists Ron M. Saunders, Phillip Hua, and Lisa and Hailey Banks located between the lower and upper platforms, which were installed as part of the 2023 station upgrades. The modernization also expanded bike parking, added bike stair channels, and installed new glass railing and fare barriers throughout the concourse.
Riders traveling through 19th St. Oakland Station can view the artworks during their regular commutes without needing to enter the fare gates. The Moovit app provides real-time BART schedules and station information, helping riders plan trips and navigate the system efficiently while exploring the station’s new public art installations.