Joan Cox’s ride is here. The Baltimore-based figurative painter’s work was selected by the MTA (Maryland Transit Administration) and MSAC (Maryland State Arts Council) to adorn the sides of a city bus in honor of Pride Month. She sees this as an important milestone in her career. Indeed, winning the inaugural contest to have her work showcased on an MTA bus has allowed Cox to reach a huge audience.
“I’m excited that these paintings will be seen every day on city buses in my hometown,” says Cox. “I hope they allow people of all ages to recognize themselves, or someone they love, in the work. More than anything, I want the paintings to spark conversation and reflect Baltimore’s welcoming spirit toward the LGBTQ community.”
One of the paintings, “Side by Side,” shows a pair of older white women, both crowned with silvery hair, seated in armchairs in front of a fireplace, holding hands. It is a domestic scene, bursting with bright colors and patterns, and evoking a sense of intimacy and comfort. The painting is part of a collaborative project with photographer Morgan Lieberman, whose documentary project Hidden Once, Hidden Twice captures senior lesbian couples with the intent to honor their stories and bring visibility to their long-term partnerships. Earlier, Morgan, who lives on the West Coast, invited Cox to create paintings based on her photographs.
The other painting, “Love in the Shade,” shows two young black women entwined in green leaves, their cheeks pressed together. Cox’s signature colorful energy and warmth infuse the image. “The younger couple was photographed in Sherwood Gardens, a hidden gem in Baltimore, among flowering Hosta plants,” Cox explains. “I wanted to capture an intimate moment in a public space, and I loved the way the dappled light moved across their bodies and the flower-patterned dress.”
Seeing these images in a gallery is powerful, but having them on a city bus allows greater reach and promotes a message of inclusion throughout the city. Courtney Mims, MTA’s Director of Media Relations, explains, “Transit connects communities and provides access to opportunity. By embracing diversity and fostering an inclusive environment, we are creating a transit system where everyone feels welcome, respected, and valued.”
The bus on which Cox’s work appears is not the first pride-themed vehicle in the fleet, but it is the first to showcase original artwork. “The MTA created its first Pride-themed bus in 2022 and currently has three specially wrapped Pride-theme buses,” says Mims. The first two are wrapped in Pride colors. This spring, the transit organization partnered with MSAC to design the third bus. MSAC’s Public Art Program Director Ryan Patterson says, “For this initial pilot, MSAC developed a brief artist solicitation and led the selection process that resulted in Joan’s paintings being selected for this year’s bus. For MSAC, this was an effective way to raise awareness of the strength of our state’s arts sector. Our team was glad to collaborate with another state agency to foster this kind of innovative work.”
Cox’s paintings stood out among the works submitted by over 30 local artists, meeting all of the initiative’s criteria, explains Patterson: “The paintings are existing works from an ongoing series that the artist has been developing over time; the imagery and narrative conveyed through the work directly and authentically relate to the theme; and the artworks translated well to the vehicle wrap’s scale and format without losing the messaging or diminishing the quality of the image.” According to Mims, the judging panel “was composed of local arts professionals, representatives from the LGBTQ+ community, and an MTA representative.” The submissions “were evaluated on artistic quality, authenticity and how well each work embodied themes of belonging and community.” Joan Cox’s pieces do exactly that.
When Cox saw the call for artists to submit to the competition, it was a no-brainer. The theme seemed made for the work she does, and Cox is always looking for opportunities to show her paintings. “I apply for everything and anything,” she says. “If it fits into work by and about women, or by and about LGBTQ identity, and or portraiture. Those are the three things I look for nationally, internationally, and everywhere. Of course, as a local artist, I keep going to all the offerings from MSAC and Create Baltimore and all key players locally.”
When Nora Howell from the MSAC first reached out to Cox after the initial judging, she wanted to see more images. Cox waited a couple more weeks before hearing that her paintings had been selected. They wanted high-res images, which Cox had on hand, and within a few days, the images were transferred to an MTA bus through wrapping, a process documented by the MTA.
Cox first laid eyes on the bus during the Pride Parade on Saturday, June 13. She had done a studio visit interview with MTA, but she had no idea the bus would be part of the parade. When she found out, she was thrilled. “I was like, ‘Can I go march with it?’ but with liability, you can’t ride on the bus or walk in front of it unless you’re an MTA employee,” she says. “But this is Baltimore, and we don’t have big barricades, so I figured I’ll just jump in.” Cox found out the order of the parade, and she and her wife “just walked towards it and all the MTA employees had these bright pink shirts on, and I was like, ‘Hey, I’m Joan, I’m the artist.’”
The response to the bus has been “overwhelmingly positive”, says Mims, “especially on social media . . . Both riders and MTA staff have shared photos of the bus and expressed how the artwork makes them feel seen and represented.” Cox also felt the love. “I’ve been in a lot of exhibitions,” she says. “A lot of group shows, a couple of important solo shows, but I’ve never gotten that kind of reaction.”
Part of the excitement has to do with the wide reach of art on a public bus. “You go to an art event, and you see 80%-90% are other artists or art-related people.” In this case, the audience is everyone in the city; the presence of art on public transportation is a truly democratic display.
Mims says, “MTA is focused on enhancing the rider experience and creating a welcoming environment for all who use transit. While the Pride Bus demonstrates our commitment to the LGBTQ+ community, the agency also promotes diversity across our system including campaigns for Black History, Women’s History, Asian American and Pacific Islander and Hispanic Heritage. Every rider should feel at home on our system, and art is one way we can demonstrate that support.”
A sense of belonging is also important to Cox. “I think it is important to see that we [members of the LGBTQ+ community] are just full of love and tenderness the same way so-called ‘normal’ couples are. We’ve experienced seeing things in life, we have the same joie de vivre in our relationships, and these intimate moments. It’s not all just high heels and pride parades. It’s not all for shock value. . . my paintings are welcoming you in, and if you recognize yourself in the work or you recognize a sister or a daughter or somebody you know who identifies as lesbian or queer . . . You can feel the love in the work.”
Being on a city bus, the images and the message of inclusivity will obviously reach more people, says Cox. “And it will reach kids and teens who I hope will see it and think, wow, I’m accepted here. This city is accepting of me and my identity. I think that’s important that a public institution like the MTA is out there saying, ‘We accept you and you’re welcome here and you’re safe to ride here and safe to use the transit in this city.’”
Beyond a sense of affirmation and the celebration of Pride, Cox hopes the bus will invite enduring, meaningful relationships, especially with the younger generation of Baltimoreans. “I hope some young people find me, reach out to me on social media or somewhere and go oh my gosh, I saw your bus and it means so much to me,” she says. “Or, I saw it and I never thought about making art about my life. Or, you know, or maybe they’re already doing it, and they reach out to me to be a mentor.” Cox says she is most looking forward to the deep and lasting connections that can occur through art.
