Welcome to Southwest DC! Don't be put off by the Brutalist architecture and highway off-ramps—this area has some hidden gems, not to mention at least one hidden bison container. :)
Artist Ally Grimm (@algrimeart) took a blank wall in the concrete jungle around L’Enfant Plaza and created a beautiful tribute to two women pioneers in the field of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) research.
On the left is Nicole Stott, a NASA engineer, astronaut, and artist. Now retired, Stott has dedicated herself to advocacy and collaboration between the arts and STEM to find creative solutions to environmental and social issues. Stott completed two spaceflights; she lived and worked in space for 104 days.
The mural also depicts Joy Buolamwini, the Algorithm Justice League founder. Buolamwini’s work in tech led to the discovery of racial bias in facial recognition software and was recently highlighted in the Netflix documentary, “Coded Bias.” Her groundbreaking work advocates for an empathy-forward approach to tech and explores artificial intelligence ethics.
Grimm is an artist, muralist, and graphic designer originally from DC, now living in Colorado.
Thanks for exploring the nooks and crannies of our great city!