Off the Track: Train Art Auction
As part of our Give The Gift of Hip-Hop fundraising campaign, we are inviting our community to join us in an online auction December 13th through December 15th. We are showcasing 12 custom-painted trains by local artists, featuring exclusive interviews with the creators. Don’t miss your chance to take home unique art pieces that embody the energy of hip-hop while supporting your local artists and our cultural diplomacy initiative.
How it works
Register below to bid and be notified when the auction opens on December 13th
Explore the 12 custom-painted trains up for auction and meet the artists behind the work by watching their Off the Track interview.
Bid and Win
Why an Auction?
Winning bidders will take home a one-of-a-kind artwork. Each train starts at just $200, and every dollar you bid above the starting price is tax-deductible — just in time to maximize your year-end tax benefits. All proceeds support our cultural exchange programs that empower local artists to represent our community abroad and foster global connections.
Dates: Friday, December 13th - Sunday, December 15th
Goal: $6,000 to support our upcoming travel for local DMV artists
Looking to support the next generation of hip-hop artists? Visit out Give the Gift of Hip-Hop page to fund youth arts education.
Train Art Catalog
Meet the Artists Behind the Art
Watch the interviews and read the bios of our 12 Off the Track artists who custom-painted each train set.
Train #1
Artist: Asad “ULTRA” Walker
Bio: DC’s longest-running active graffiti writer, Ultra, brings a long history to his gallery work and his public art. A WBL Academy teacher and an organizer of graffiti and public art events, Asad works hard to teach the interested public about graffiti culture.
Train #2:
Artist: SKRIB
Bio: Born in DC, Brain Williams follows his inspirations of comics, manga and animation through graffiti culture and back again. SKRIB works in many media, including aerosol, canvas and illustration.
Train #3
Artist: ROCKIN BONES
Bio: Rockin Bones started writing graffiti as a kid growing up in Philly, mimicking what he saw along the highways. He became more serious about writing graffiti after moving to NYC in the early 90s. After moving to DC, he began transitioning into a more street art style, now incorporating stencils and wheat pastes into his repertoire.
Train #4
Artist: MAX GIBBONS
Bio: Formerly of the DC area and currently residing in NYC, Max Gibbons combines modern graffiti tagging with more classic calligraphy techniques. Creating canvases and public art, Max continues to perfect this clash of new/old graphic style.
Train #5
Artist: MAS PAZ
Bio: Born in Columbia and living in Washington, DC, Mas Paz straddles the lines between graffiti writer, street artist and muralist. His peaceful, sagacious demeanor is perfectly represented in his chosen street name. His visual style calls up influences from the long history of Latinx and Indigenous style meeting up with graffiti art of the last 50 years.
Train #6
Artist: Marthalicia aka M2
Bio: A mother and an artist, Marthalicia creates innovative public art in NYC. She is known and loved for incorporating youth and wild animals into her work, both her murals and the small pieces she leaves for new fans to find and pick up around the city.
Train #7
Artist: CROW
Bio: A native of San Diego, Isaias (Crow) is an innovative artist of many mediums — his art is brimming with colorful geometry. He travels with his creative family, building a reputation as a teacher and international muralist.
Train #8
Artist: BENT
Bio: Bent draws inspiration from a love of art and design. Originally from Queens, NY, he was introduced to graffiti at a young age, and has been painting for over 25 years.
Train #9
Artist: Decoy
Bio: Decoy grew up a military brat in Germany before returning to the states and eventually settling in Washington, DC. Her quirky street art gives messages of faith, kindness and humor in urban locales that need them most. When not making art, she is a teacher and mentor to at-risk youth throughout the city.
Train #10
Artist: FAIMEOUS
Bio: Formerly a WBL Academy student, Fame has built a portfolio of murals and street-inspired art that is well-known in the DC area. Using graffiti as the springboard for his creative process, he continues to create public art that resonates as authentic in the public eye.
Train #11
Artist: JAH ONE
Bio: Creating innovative, stylish graffiti pieces with unmatched technical work, Jah stands out as a professional artist among his peers.
Train #12
Artist: MIZTA
Bio: DC graffiti artist, Mizta, continues to shock with his aerosol skills. Drawing inspiration from freight trains passing through our area from around the country and the rare painted Metro train, he has built his own reputation within graffiti culture. A single father, Mizta works hard to innovate in many genres of art.
Train #13
Artist: NEA
Bio: From the streets of NYC to her ancestral home in Georgia, Jenevieve is an interdisciplinary artist and teacher inspired by Indigenous symbolism, mythology, nature and the cosmos. Her mixed media paintings contrast spray paints and oils, screen prints and brushstrokes, and graffiti and flowers.
Train #14
Artist: REI 21
Bio: First appearing in the mid-90’s in the DC area, REI quickly gained notice for his quiet demeanor and bold, non-conformist approach. Whether on trains, in the streets or quiet out-of-the-way spots, he refused to quit evolving in technique or style. REI21 inspires a new generation of graffiti artists with no gimmicks or hype, just unarguable aerosol mastery.