Route 66 I-44 Underpass Mural Project, Call to Artists (RFP 27-903)
About this call
The City of Tulsa's Planning and Neighborhoods Department and the Tulsa Route 66 Commission are seeking an artist or team of artists to design an original mural for an Oklahoma Department of Transportation highway underpass on 11th Street between 119th and Garnett Road, as part of Tulsa's year-long Route 66 Centennial celebration. The mural should create an artistic Route 66 gateway, celebrate the East Tulsa corridor's landmarks and history, and beautify the corridor. The eastbound underpass wall measures roughly 155 feet 10 inches long by 13 feet 2 inches high, the westbound wall roughly 175 feet 2 inches by 13 feet 2 inches, plus eight pillars. Route 66 iconography is strongly encouraged but the artwork is not limited to vintage-inspired designs; interpretive, modern or abstract work is welcome. Proposals are scored by an independent review committee on artistic merit and visual impact, historical and cultural context, narrative richness, place-based insight and technical feasibility.
Who can apply
- International applicants
- Medium: Painting / Mixed Media
- Entry fee: See official site
- One design only per artist or team. The design must serve as a gateway photo-op piece, carry no messaging, advertisement or profanity, use high-quality long-lasting and potentially cleanable materials, include a protective graffiti coating, and come with a descriptive title and a 5 to 10 sentence description for the Route 66 Art StoryMaps. Proposals must be delivered in a sealed envelope or box to the City Clerk and received by 5:00 p.m. Central Daylight Time on Wednesday, August 26, 2026; late proposals are returned unopened. A complete proposal includes a paper copy of the mural design plus a thumb drive with the digital design and all proposal materials. Two optional TEAMS information conference calls were held on August 5 and August 10, 2026. Award of the RFP is contingent on Oklahoma Department of Transportation approval of the artwork.