City of Pittsburgh, Shiftworks, and TASC seeking feedback for art on the University Bus Line
Shiftworks Community + Public Arts and The Art Supply Co. (TASC), in collaboration with the City of Pittsburgh and Pittsburgh Regional Transit (PRT), are excited to announce the selection of Pittsburgh-based artist Marsha Rollinger as the artist for the University Line public art project.
Rollinger will bring her signature style — bold, vibrant, and layered with hidden details — to the 7.1 mile transit corridor, connecting Downtown, Uptown, and Oakland. Her work will reflect the unique character of these neighborhoods and be informed by the voices of the people who live, work, and travel through them.
Selected from a pool of 39 applicants, Rollinger stood out for her creative vision and commitment to community-centered design. As she develops the artwork, Rollinger and the City are asking for public input on potential themes, designs, and locations.
A community survey is now open and community members are encouraged to share their ideas by visiting: https://engage.pittsburghpa.gov/phad-projects/percent-art-university-line.
“In addition to an online survey, I’m going to be out gathering stories and thoughts directly from community members to ensure the art I create reflects the character of these neighborhoods along the University Line,“ said Marsha Rollinger. “Placemaking is at the heart of my work and I’m excited to be reaching out to the Downtown, Hill District, Oakland, and Uptown communities to gather input that will inspire the creation of this public art project.”
About the University Line Public Art Project
The University Line bus rapid transit project will introduce infrastructure changes and core improvements to transit services and connectivity along the identified transit corridor. This project is part of the City’s Percent for Art program and is supported by the American Recovery Plan Act, a federal initiative supporting local recovery and resilience in the wake of COVID-19. The City’s Department of Mobility and Infrastructure is leading the infrastructure project in partnership with PRT. The target installation date for the artwork is September 2026.
Shiftworks and TASC were selected to lead artist selection and project management for the public art component. This collaboration brings together TASC’s artist-focused approach and Shiftworks’ deep experience in community engagement and public art strategy.
“Our partnership with TASC reflects a shared commitment to strengthening the network of support for artist-community collaborations,” said Sallyann Kluz, Executive Director of Shiftworks. “Working together, we strive to provide artists such as Marsha with the tools, resources, and support needed to work with community members and create meaningful impact in public space.”
About Marsha Rollinger
Marsha Rollinger is a visual artist who grew up in Apollo, PA. She always knew she wanted to utilize her creative imagination and skills in art as a life-long career. While working at various companies, she continued to acquire new art-related skills to enhance her existing ones. Her artistic journey eventually resulted in Nintendo moving her to the Seattle area, where she lived until recently. While volunteering on an arts commission there, Marsha realized that she could pursue a new creative passion—to become a public artist and work with other artists, materials, and the community at large to create artwork that transforms ordinary spaces into extraordinary ones for all to enjoy.
Marsha recently returned to Western Pennsylvania and hopes to contribute her creative talents to ensure the arts continue to grow and thrive here.