You’re driving along Interstate 94 when something catches your eye.
Mounted on the side of a building is a giant gold rectangle filled with intricate curves, geometric forms, and floral patterns. At its center, a sweeping Arabic word stretches across the piece, bold enough to be seen from the highway yet elegant enough to invite a closer look.
The word is simple: Welcome.
For thousands of people passing through Minneapolis each day, it may be an unexpected sight. For residents of Wadaag Commons, it is a visible reminder that they belong.
This large-scale mural is the centerpiece of a collection of artwork integrated throughout Wadaag Commons, an affordable housing development specifically designed to meet the needs of large immigrant families that was co-developed by Redesign, Inc. and Noor Companies. Together, the works represent more than $500,000 in permanent public art, making Wadaag Commons one of the most significant investments in culturally grounded public art in the Seward neighborhood.
At Redesign, we believe that the spaces we create should reflect the people who call them home, honor community stories, and foster a sense of belonging. That’s why arts and culture are an important part of our approach to community development.
From the earliest conversations about the project, one theme emerged again and again: Home is sacred. This powerful concept became the foundation for the artwork woven throughout the property. Through a partnership with the Office of Cultural Work, artists (including Aziz Osman, Hibaaq Ibrahim of Moon Juice Murals, Yasmin Yassin, Ifrah Mansour, Mohamed Hersi, and concrete stamp design by Sayge Carroll), fabricators and installers (including Chicago Avenue Fire Arts Center (CAFAC), Dow Art Gallery & Picture Framing, Big Al’s, Heather Novak and M.P. Carlyle), and community members came together to create a collection of works that honor the experiences and traditions of Somali and East African communities while creating connections to the broader Seward neighborhood.
Artwork is woven throughout the building, in interior gathering spaces, shared outdoor spaces, and public-facing installations that engage the surrounding neighborhood. While rooted in Islamic and East African cultural expression, the artwork speaks to a universal aspiration: that everyone deserves to feel seen, valued, and welcomed where they live.
The timing of the installation of this public art amplified its resonance. As Minnesota’s immigrant community faced increased anti-immigrant rhetoric and immigration enforcement in the Winter of 2026, the project has become a permanent and highly-visible public affirmation of belonging, dignity, and cultural pride. Together, these pieces help tell a story about who belongs here and what it means to feel at home.