At a Trader Joe’s in Pikesville, Maryland, there’s a surrealist mural above the Creamy Garlic Cucumber Tzatziki Dip and Unexpected Cheddar Cheese. It features a pear wearing a sweater depicting a house in the same picture, and it’s dedicated to a local talent — a knitter named Sam Barsky. Barsky, who has been a longtime customer at that Trader Joe’s, is known on social media for creating sweaters for himself based on landmarks, Jewish holidays, landscapes and other points of interest, often traveling to those locations for a very meta photo opp. Trader Joe’s did not immediately respond to TODAY.com’s request for comment on the mural, and the Pikesville store manager couldn’t reveal who painted it or when it was painted, but an associate says it’s been there for at least a year. Previously, a representative for the grocery chain told TODAY.com that every neighborhood store chooses its own artwork. For one location that opened in Harlem, New York, in 2024, nearly all of the art in-store was created by crew members, which is also likely the case with the one dedicated to Barsky. “There are some people who work at that Trader Joe’s and they’re fans of mine, so they know me personally,” Barsky, who has been knitting for over 26 years, tells TODAY.com. “After they were done, I got tipped off about it.” The Pikesville location is covered in art depicting local historical figures like Babe Ruth, Billie Holiday and Edgar Allen Poe, as well as Baltimore landmarks like the Inner Harbor. And with this mural, Barsky has now been cemented in Trader Joe’s history as a living legend. Barsky appreciates the attention on his craft, which has led him to show at the American Visionary Museum and the Renwick Gallery. He says he “never imagined” something like a mural would be created in his honor. “I’ve enjoyed all the travels that I’ve done over the years,” Barksy says, adding that knitting has opened so many doors for him. “I had no idea when I started it would define my life.” This story first appeared on TODAY.com. More from TODAY: Girl, 3, Goes Rogue During a Choir Concert and Has the Audience Cheering California Couple Has 4 Daughters … And Named Them All Mary Whoever You’re Gifting For, We Found Gifts That Will Arrive Overnight or Same Day This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser. ...read more read less