The National Museum of Women in the Arts dedicated Phase 1 of their New York Avenue Sculpture Project on Wednesday. D.C. Del. Eleanor Norton Holmes, NMWA co-founder Wilhelmina Cole Holladay, and vice presidential spouse Jill Biden were on hand for the ribbon cutting of the four sculptures that have been placed in the median of New York Ave. between 12th and 13th Streets NW.

As Norton noted at the ceremony, the sculptures are a way to get some art out of the museum and onto the streets, where the people who live and work in D.C. can enjoy it every day. The NMWA worked with the Downtown BID and DC Planning Commission to develop the project, which will take five years to complete, installing sculptures in the medians down New York Ave. NW stretching from 13th to 9th streets. Each median will hold work by a different artist, and will be rotated every one to three years.

The first phase exhibits works by French artist Niki de Saint Phalle, a self-taught sculptor who creates “whimsical yet monumental” sculptures meant to celebrate women, diversity, and love. The 9 to 15 ft. high artworks are fun and colorful, made mostly in a mosaic-style with pieces of colored or mirrored ceramic and glass, and almost make it look like a giant festival is parading down the avenue. The NMWA hasn’t released information yet on which artists will be added as the next phases are completed.