Ribbon-Cutting Set for “El Mercadito Creativo” Asphalt Art at Carrillo and State on May 17

The City of Santa Barbara, in partnership with the Santa Barbara County Office of Arts and Culture, will unveil “El Mercadito Creativo,” a new Oaxaca-inspired asphalt art installation at the intersection of Carrillo Street and State Street, with a public ribbon-cutting and celebration on Sunday, May 17, 2026, from 2 to 4 p.m.

The festive opening will feature live music, dance, and artisan puppetry celebrating Mixtec and Zapotec heritage.

Lead Project Artist Eduardo Jimenez, a Zapotec weaver, and Lead Graphic Artist Irene Ramirez, hosted a series of workshops at the Farmers Market to develop the design. The opening celebration will highlight local Oaxacan culture and feature live music and dance performances by Danza Flor Bonita, Grupo Folklórico Hauxyacac, Banda Filarmónica Narciso Lico Carrillo LA, and the artisan puppets of Oaxacreation Monos de Calenda.

Part of the Bloomberg Philanthropies Asphalt Art Initiative, the project aims to enhance public space, promote street safety, and deepen community engagement through bold, colorful roadway designs.

Santa Barbara is one of only 10 cities in North America selected for this cohort, supported by a $100,000 grant, and the broader initiative backs 100 similar projects across North America and Europe.

The large-scale street mural brings bright colors and intricate, Oaxacan-inspired patterns to one of Santa Barbara’s busiest intersections, near the weekly Farmers Market and along the city’s “slow street” corridor.

The installation will serve as a two-year pilot to evaluate its long-term impact on pedestrian visibility, traffic calming, and public use.

Work began on April 13 and went through April 24. The intersection remained open, but Carrillo Street at State Street was reduced to one lane in each direction during weekday working hours while normal traffic conditions returned on weekends.

Existing safety features—including planters, bollards, and pedestrian lighting—will remain and be incorporated into the final installation.

The project was produced with the support of Friends of State Street, Santa Barbara High School’s Visual Arts and Design Academy (VADA), the Downtown Santa Barbara Improvement Association (DSBIA), Santa Barbara Paint Depot, Delgado’s Quality Painting, PIP Marketing and Graphics, Graphic Ink, Strong Towns Santa Barbara, Oaxacreations Mono de Calenda, the Downtown Santa Barbara Certified Farmers’ Market, Santa Barbara Beautiful, as well as local Oaxacan community members and many talented area artists.

Event details

• Sunday, May 17, 2026
• 2:00–4:00 p.m.
• Carrillo and State Street intersection, Santa Barbara, CA 93101

Organizers invite residents to bring friends, family, and neighbors to celebrate the city’s newest public art landmark.