MURAL COMMISSIONS • INTERNATIONAL EXCHANGE

The Baltimore Black Sox Heritage Mural

Baltimore chapter of the Art Bridge

    Project Data
  
Year
2026-2027
Status
In progress — community visioning; site approval pending MTA
Location

          Westport Light Rail Station,

          Baltimore, MD
        
Artists

          Christopher “kolpeace” Johnson

          Naomi King
        
Commissioned by

          Nosreme Baltimore
        
Funders

          Baltimore National Heritage Area ($20,000),

          SECU ($5,000) — confirmed to date
        
Site & development partner

          MTA-MDOT (Right of Entry in process); South Baltimore
Gateway Partnership (facilitative partner)
        
Community collaborators

          Baltimore–Rotterdam Sister City Committee, Parks & People, Westport CEDC
        
Documentation

          Photographer / videographer credit to be added.

The Baltimore chapter of the Art Bridge honors the Baltimore Black Sox — one of the most influential teams of the Negro Leagues. Founded in 1913, they rose from local sandlots to capture the first-ever American Negro League Championship in 1929. For the Westport community, their story is a source of pride: excellence and perseverance at a time when segregation restricted opportunity.

The mural is planned for the Westport Light Rail Station, and we’re in its most important phase — community approval first. Through historic storytelling and community visioning sessions, residents shape the theme before a single sketch is finalized. We’re working through site approval with MTA, with exact wall dimensions to be confirmed by survey.

Once approved, kolpeace and Naomi King will co-create the mural with Westport youth and neighbors, anchored by a community paint day and public unveiling. Confirmed support to date comes from the Baltimore National Heritage Area and SECU.