Artist Thomas Sterner of Westminster has been awarded the contract to create new public artwork for the Maryland Department of Agriculture's New Salisbury Animal Health Laboratory.

The project's Artist Selection Committee chose Mr. Sterner from over 170 artists who applied for the opportunity through a Request for Qualifications issued in the Spring of 2021.

Mr. Sterner’s concept proposal for the new artwork includes two elements. An outdoor sculpture titled "Feather of Monumental Scale" will serve as an iconic landmark to the important services the lab provides to the region's poultry industry. The lab's new conference room will feature hand-carved wooden relief depicting running horses, acknowledging the services MDA provides to the state and regional livestock.

Located at 27722 Nanticoke Road, the old lab building being replaced was built in 1953.

Both artworks are expected to be completed later this summer. There was a $70,000 budget allotted by the Public Art Across Maryland program for these projects.