Sofi Rami & AL Grime - she/her | she/her

Sofi’s Instagram | AL’s Instagram

Nieves Y Botanas Del Bajio | 1205 N College Ave

MURAL PROJECT 2025

ARTIST BIO: Sofi Rami is a Colombian American Artist born in Miami and currently living in Colorado. She is driven by the desire to unite communities and inspire others through her work. She began her mural practice while finishing her Bachelor of Fine Arts in 2019. Sofi Rami has since installed murals across the United States in Florida, Maryland, DC, Arkansas, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Oklahoma, and Colorado. Her work explodes with colorful acrylic and spray paint, creating surreal and dynamic compositions. Sofi Rami paints abstract landscapes woven with realistic elements in an engaging dance. Her previous projects range from 8’x16’ pop-up plywood walls, electrical boxes, 60’ exterior walls, to 4,000 square foot ground murals. Sofi Rami has a focus in community programming, is bilingual, fully insured, and scissor lift-certified. She believes that murals are the ultimate democratization of art. That belief fuels her with the hope that her public artwork can break down barriers, bringing people together with a shared sense of pride in their communities.

ARTIST STATEMENT: Juntas Somos Más Fuertes: A Decade of Art and Friendship

A.L. Grime and Sofi Rami, two Latina artists with roots in Venezuela and Colombia respectively, are collaborating on "Juntas Somos Más Fuertes" (Together We Are Stronger). This project celebrates the power of human connection through mutual respect and understanding.

Their shared heritage and experiences as children of immigrants created a unique bond, allowing them to truly see and understand each other in a way few others could. This profound connection fueled their commitment to their artistic journeys, inspiring them to persevere, and create their own spaces. They've supported each other through all of life’s seasons. Overcoming mental health struggles, grief, heartbreak, and the patriarchy.

Today, Grime and Rami are full-time artists based in Colorado, working with topics such as equity, sustainability, and balance as they relate to the human experience. Drawing inspiration from their own experiences of turning inward to find safety and strength, these artists continue to highlight the interconnectedness of our environments and our own personal well-being. They hope this mural serves as a powerful reminder that community is essential for achieving the impossible, reinforcing the idea that no one changes the world alone.

Kate Fitzpatrick -she/her

Kate’s Instagram

The Lyric | 1209 N. College Ave

MURAL PROJECT 2023

ARTIST BIO: Kate Fitzpatrick (she/her) is an artist and muralist based in Colorado. A coda (child of deaf adults), she is also the founder of the KissFist Mural Fest, a non-profit mural festival centered on artists from the deaf community.

ARTIST STATEMENT: When I am in a period of depression, I am vulnerable to outside opinions and can easily lose my connection to any internal foundation. That was the case around the time of this mural.

I came up with my mural design after feeling frustrated and hurt in ways that related to my coda identity. Some people don’t see coda as a real identity and some people have bad feelings about codas. Now - many more people do see codas as a valuable part of the deaf community! But of course, I was only focusing on the hurtful things being said. I was looking for validation of my identity from outside myself, which made me feel like I’m not even entitled to my own experience. I needed to stop giving other people that power, and was able to create this mural as a way to do that.

This mural is a reminder that no matter what is said around me, it doesn’t change what I contain: an identity that is complete and beautiful with lived experiences that belong to me. So this mural is for anyone who can relate to that in some way. While it is still nice to feel seen by those around us, we can always be that person for ourselves, too.

Zach ESIC Howard - he/him

ESIC’s Instagram

The Lyric | 1209 N College Ave

MURAL PROJECT 2025

ARTIST BIO: Zach Howard (ESIC) is an accomplished artist renowned for his vibrant paintings, intricate illustrations, and large-scale public murals. Born and raised in Colorado, Zach began his artistic journey at the Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design and the Art Institute of Colorado. After gaining foundational knowledge in these programs, he decided to immerse himself directly in the art world to gain more hands-on experience.

With 20 plus years as a professional artist, Zach has continued to evolve. Contributing extensively to the local art scene. He has painted over 50 murals across Denver, Wyoming, and Texas, solidifying his reputation as one of the region’s most prolific muralists. In addition to mural work, Zach also creates original canvas paintings and digital illustrations. Currently, he serves as a Concept Artist for Razor Edge Games.

Despite his professional success, Zach remains dedicated to his family, spending quality time with his wife and two young daughters. He remains deeply engaged in the art community, balancing his career with his passion for creating and contributing to the cultural vibrancy of his surroundings.

ARTIST STATEMENT: Butterfly effect: This mural symbolizes the profound impact that a single action can have, setting off a chain reaction that ripples through time. Each animal depicted represents a moment or event, altered or created by the one before it. Generating storms, shifting energies, and compounding with every interaction.

These cascades often begin within our own minds, where a single thought or experience can continue to shape what follows. In the chaos of the storm we have to pause and search for the original butterfly, deciding finally to destroy it or set it free.

Conner Jhoon Choi - he/him

Conner’s Instagram

On The Edge Tuning | 903 N. College Ave

MURAL PROJECT 2025

ARTIST BIO: Conner Jhoon Choi (he/him) is a Denver based muralist and fine artist. Drawing from diverse sources including his Korean heritage and classical Western painting education, his compositional sense merges East-Asian aesthetics with realism. His subject matter primarily features landscapes, botanicals, and culturally focused figurative paintings with conceptual elements.

For Conner, painting is a means of translating intangible, internal experiences into a visual medium that people can interact with. He is also passionate about social and environmental causes and enjoys working with organizations that reflect those same ethics. In his mural work, Conner enjoys community based projects that directly or indirectly involve community members in the installation of large scale public artwork.

ARTIST STATEMENT: Following the 2025 theme of mental health, this mural is about self acceptance, healing, and freedom through the celebration of racial and cultural identity. Using traditional Korean motifs, the artwork portrays two Colorado 14ers and a portrait of my friend, Michael. The use of a traditional style to depict local mountains is a metaphor and expression of mixed cultural experience. Also pictured are lotus flowers, a significant symbol representing rebirth and enlightenment.

Like most Asian Americans, contrasting identities have been a constant my whole life. It sometimes feels like my life and cultural experiences are meant to be separated even though they exist in me as a single person. Painting is the best way I know to show myself and others how that feels, in the physical world. To anyone struggling with identity: All of you deserves to be seen and heard. All of you is beautiful and important. All of you is not too much.

David Swartz -he/him

David’s Instagram

The Comedy Fort | 167 N. College Ave

MURAL PROJECT 2023

ARTIST BIO: David Swartz (he/him) is a Denver based artist and muralist. His work uses animals while playing with scale, color, and movement to portray emotional narratives with a dash of humor. Depicting universal human experiences to encourage connection, focusing on what we all share rather than what separates us.

ARTIST STATEMENT: My mural is titles "Leader" and is about how sharing my experience with others can give them the courage to speak openly about themselves. As some in recovery from drug and alcohol addiction I was very scared to speak honestly about my feelings in my addiction. Once I got sober I found the recovery community was very open and vulnerable about who they were and what they had gone through. This courage to speak the truth gave me the spark I needed to begin to open up. To let the years of secrets and shame begin to melt away as I let the hidden parts of me show. Learning that my experience is not unique, that I am not alone in my feelings and thoughts is one of the most powerful transformations I have undertaken. All it takes is for one person to share openly, other's will inevitably follow.

Shiv - they/them

Shiv’s Instagram

America Building | 155 N College Ave

MURAL PROJECT 2022

ARTIST BIO: Shiv (they/them) is a non-binary, trans-femme writer and artist based in Northern Colorado who identifies additionally as plural. They began painting after college before becoming a full-time tattoo artist. They completed their first mural os part of the Fort Collins Mural Project 2022. Currently, they use their creative work to explore concepts around identity, expression, plurality, and authenticity. They draw on their lived experience as multiple (diagnosed with DID) to inform their artistic endeavors and work to give visibility to the plural and multiplicity experiences.

ARTIST STATEMENT: One of the largest struggles I have faced in my trans identity is visibility. Visibility can be a double-edged sword; on the one hand, there is connection and understanding, community and joy. On the other hand, being visible can make one a target: of judgments, expectations, violence. There is an expectation to have all the answers, to have a certain amount of suffering, and while compassion for suffering is wonderful, if we only focus on the suffering, we can end up in some pretty dark places.

This piece was created to give visibility to joy and community of the trans experience in the face of hardships. The final piece is a collection of interconnected faces of trans and nonbinary folks in the greater Northern Colorado area (along with a couple of idols and important people from elsewhere as well).

Kaylee Bender - they/she

Kaylee’s Instagram

ACE Downtown | 215 S College Ave

MURAL PROJECT 2021

ARTIST BIO: Kaylee Bender is a life-long artist drawn to painting, collage, poetry, music, education, and community organizing as vehicles of liberation for the greater community. She focuses on acrylic and spray paint and explores connection through portraiture, figurative works, and surrealist play. Inspired by jazz and the blues, her practice celebrates art as motion, liberation, and disruption. Her community engagement is centered on art’s role in building a sense of identity in the community and its role in our emotional and physical well-being.

Her practice integrates the larger issues of loss of communal practices and freedom of expression and discusses contemporary methods of segregation based on socioeconomic status. Her intention is to make art a part of daily life for all community members: improving access to the arts on a grand scale is to permeate and disrupt the caste system, starting with the youth.

Through her personal creations and community work, she hopes to foster challenging conversations regarding creation, identity, and intersectionality.

ARTIST STATEMENT: Tony is one of the first people I met when I moved to Denver in 2020. In every way he represents the spirit of Colfax, calling himself its Keeper. He was pseudo-sign spinning for a tech repair shop on the block; I’d always pass him on my way home from work. He had a knack for making me laugh, and we hit it off almost immediately.

When I met him he was already experiencing a slew of health issues that were drastically impacting his day to day life. Later that year, he was diagnosed with brain cancer and ended up becoming a repair tech at that same shop. It’s been a joy to know him over the years, though he is still fighting through illness, personal struggles, and harsh medical and housing systems.

This mural honors Tony’s story and celebrates the indomitable human spirit and our nature to forgive, rebuild, and create anew. It celebrates community as the cure to adversity, and champions the creative spirit as a catalyst for beautiful change.

Eileen Hinckle - she/they

Eileen’s Instagram

Museum of Art (MoA) | 201 S College Ave

MURAL PROJECT 2025

ARTIST BIO: Eileen Hinckle (she/they) has spent the past eleven years working as a muralist. Their practice incorporates activism, community-based projects, arts education, collaborations and commissioned work.

Eileen’s artistic philosophy was formed during the six years she spent living in South America, where she immersed herself in the vibrant street art culture of Peru, Chile, Bolivia and Argentina. She learned from the muralist brigades, artist collectives, mingas, community-based mural projects, and local and international festivals that she participated in. They are currently an MFA candidate in Drawing and Painting at CU Boulder.

ARTIST STATEMENT: "Gender Euphoria to me is feeling like I can fill my lungs and breathe out, feeling right. It is putting my hands to my chest, feeling the shape of me, and knowing deep in my bones it is right. It is being in the sea foam of becoming, not even knowing what will come next but trusting my body and heart to be good and know that they need. It is to feel the exuberance and transgressive aliveness of being something that the current regime and millions of people think isn't real or shouldn't be, and being hot and beautiful and alive and curious and kind and loving anyway. It is existing as protest." -N.M. (the person depicted in the mural)

Cass Kruger - they/she

Cass’ Instagram

ACE Downtown | 215 S College Ave

MURAL PROJECT 2022

ARTIST BIO: Cass Kruger (they/she) is an artist whose work explores the connection between the human experience and the natural world. Using acrylic paint as their primary medium, Kruger combines traditional painting and drawing techniques, often blending realism, stylization, and abstraction.

Their subjects range from flora and fauna to landscapes and portraits, reflecting the intersection of internal experiences—such as identity, mental illness, and emotions—with the external world. Kruger’s art emphasizes bright colors and playful, childlike imagery and mark making, inviting viewers to engage with deeper sentiments and narratives.

By embracing both the beauty and chaos of life, Kruger’s work encourages reflection on the interconnectedness of existence, with a focus on both struggles and celebrations.

ARTIST STATEMENT: This mural celebrates joy, connection, and belonging. The campfire represents a circle of community where all people—regardless of ability, identity, or circumstance—are welcome. I wanted to honor those who are often left out of art and media by creating a scene that reflects the truth that joy and belonging are for everyone.

Bakemono0504- he/him

Bakemono’s Instagram

ACE Downtown| 215 S College Ave

MURAL PROJECT 2025

ARTIST BIO: Bakemono 0504 is an emerging POC artist out of Aurora, Colorado who specializes in Calligraphy in its traditional and abstract form. He’s been an artist all my life but a Calligraphy artist for the past 7 years.

ARTIST STATEMENT: Suicidal ideations, anxiety and depression have been something I've struggled with for a long long time. For alot of people, myself included, we get this dreadful feeling of just wanting to disappear and to rid ourself of our pain and agony. Physically dying more than not is what many resort to because they don't know any other way of escaping and feel its not possible to escape what they're going through.

With my piece i want to show that we can escape by staying, by continuing. The Semicolon has become a symbolizing hope, resilience, a reminder to continue and fight for those struggling with their mental health. The center of my piece is a Semicolon surrounded by layers of a 8 point star. In different cultures/religions an 8 point star could mean different things. In Buddhism it represents the Eightfold Path, 8 principles for living a life of enlightenment. In Christianity it represents rebirth and new beginnings. In Native American tradition its considered the Morning Star symbolizing wisdom/guidance with 4 points representing the four stages of life- infancy, youth, adulthood and old age. The other 4 points represent the four cardinal directions, North/South/East/West. Within these layers there are individual brush strokes that i view as the infinite issues people or i deal with and the 8 point star holding these problems from touching the Semicolon. Was we continue our fight to live the 8 point star pushes the problems further and further from our will to continue. The colors used are blues, turquoise, white and silver. Blues symbolize trust, truth, serenity and stability. Turquoise symbolize healing and protection. White symbolize new beginnings and hope. Silver symbolizes calm, emotional balance and reflective wisdom.

This is my meaning to my piece but i invite everyone to create their own meaning as well.

Zaida Sever - she/her

Zaida’s Instagram

Brave New Wheel | 111 West Olive

MURAL PROJECT 2025

ARTIST BIO: Zaida Sever is a snake mom and artist based out of Denver, Colorado, passionate about rebranding the scary, inaccurate reputation of snakes.

Denver Art Noodle brings the fascinating, mysterious world of reptiles to both guests and experts in the form of bite-sized art and hands-on learning. Steve Irwin’s passion for wildlife meets Bob Ross’s love of art – blending education with creativity; inspiring people of all ages to appreciate the beauty and wonder of serpentine world. Whether you're an artist, animal lover, or curious learner, there's something for everyone!

Denver Art Noodle was founded as an effort to keep myself both professionally focused and entertained in America's current, uncertain and tumultuous climate. I often joke my boa ambassador, Alfredo, was my "pre-election gift" to myself, because I wanted to focus on growing in this niche hobby I care so deeply about, even if the world went to Hell in the meantime. If the rest of my environment was in political chaos, I had this space that was completely my own.

ARTIST STATEMENT: My mural is the embodiment of this customized autonomy: a heavily-tattooed rendition of Medusa, with Kenyan Sand Boas as her iconic crown of serpents. I chose this species for their vibrant orange color, and their reputation as unserious, derpy animals. A reminder to never be consumed by the oppressive obstacles that come my way and to approach them with an absurdism when I can.

Her tattoos are American Traditional, another intentional choice. I'm an American in crisis who wants to see my country succeed, and recognizes the complacent attitude in the face of sexism, racism, and homophobia its leaders currently uphold. This genre of tattooing is known for a similar struggle: a rich history being evolved by new artists, but generally held back by out-of-date beliefs and stereotypes.

Rorey King -they/them

Rorey’s Instagram

Equinox Brewing | 133 Remington St

MURAL PROJECT 2023

ARTIST BIO: Rorey (they/them) has been drawing since indoor recess and parent-mandated quiet time and is most excited about creating to learn. They are an artist and organizer interested in exploring art as a practice for regulating nervous systems, collective healing, and social change. Their art shifts focus between identity, ecology, feminist theory, and social histories, and how all of it (all of us) is (are) connected.

ARTIST STATEMENT: I was inspired to create a mural depicting acts of care and how they are practiced and felt in groups, communities, and ecosystems in Fort Collins. The process of this mural functions as both an individual healing and mental health tool and the mural itself as a collective vision of what care looks and feels like in this community. I started by developing a community survey that asked people to reflect on times that they recently felt cared for and what was happening (what sounds, smells, feelings, or visuals come up) and to reflect on what a community where everyone is cared for looks like. From those responses, I created the design of the mural.

One of the most healing things I've learned as an adult is that my body not only holds sense memories of trauma, but also memories of care and ease that are available when I need them. At any time, and especially when I'm overwhelmed, I can think of a recent moment when I’ve felt most like myself, or I've felt cared for. I can picture what was happening, who was with me, what sounds I heard or smells were present, and notice how it feels in my body. In the process of remembering, my body usually softens and I relax, even if just a fraction, because for a moment, I'm re-experiencing that care or ease. The questions I created for the mural survey were designed to offer this same practice to respondents and the images come directly from the memories of care that were shared.

Jon Guerdrum - he/him

Jon’s Instagram

Equinox Brewing | 133 Remington St

MURAL PROJECT 2025

ARTIST BIO: Jon (he/him). Has been painting and drawing for as long as he can remember. His primary media is watercolor and smaller pieces. His probably most known for his drinking buddy series of cute animals and adult drinks. This mural will fulfill a lifelong goal of his and an exciting challenge to grow into.

ARTIST STATEMENT: My mural "Balance" explores the relationship between the head and the heart—the mind and the soul—and the essential harmony between them. It represents the duality within each of us: two versions of ourselves that must remain distinct yet interconnected. To be whole, the heart must pour into the mind, and the mind into the heart. Each must nourish the other to maintain true balance.

Kaylee Collinson - she/her

Kaylee’s Instagram

The Gearage | 142 Remington St

MURAL PROJECT 2025

ARTIST BIO: Kaylee Collinson (She/Her) is a fine art painter and muralist based in Colorado. Her art journey began as a student at Colorado State University where she received her BFA in painting in 2013. Since then, she’s been live painting and displaying work at music festivals across the country, creating large scale murals, and developing a portfolio of studio work. Her vibrant and ethereal paintings feature a wide variety of flora, fauna, and fungi often interwoven with the female form. Her work is a surreal celebration of nature and a glimpse into her emotional and spiritual connection to the world around us. Her mission is to inspire viewers to foster a deeper connection with the earth and to find healing and growth through creative expression.

ARTIST STATEMENT: As someone who has struggled with their mental health for most of their life, I can confidently say that time spent in nature has been one of the most powerful modalities of healing for me.

Life can feel so chaotic and overwhelming at times and I find that reconnecting with the earth quickly calms my nervous system and grounds me down into the moment. If I allow myself to get lost in all of the beautiful sights that I see and notice the smells and sounds happening around me, it instantly transports me out of the anxieties of every day life and reminds me what it means to just be alive.

Breathe in the fresh air, dip your toes in a creek, or take time to admire the colors of a sunset. It’s so simple, but so powerful and the best part about it is that it’s free for everyone. This mural is my representation of what it feels like for me to take my busy, anxious mind outside and let nature work her healing magic.

David ILL.DES Fratu - he/him

ILL.DES’ Instagram

The Gearage | 142 Remington St

MURAL PROJECT 2025

ARTIST BIO: ILL.DES (David Fratu) is a Romanian-American abstract artist based in Denver, CO whose work is rooted in geometric shapes and technology. With a background in computer engineering, he brings elements of technology into their art, creating visually striking pieces that represent the balance between chaos and order.

His style is characterized by their use of gradients of color and intricate patterns that create a sense of depth and movement. Their compositions are filled with vibrant colors, geometric shapes, and organic line work. The use of optical illusions and visual effects in their pieces adds to the illusive nature of their work, and is influenced by the op-art movement.

Despite the strong geometric shapes and technological influences, his pieces are not cold or mechanical. Instead, their work reflects the complexities and contradictions of the natural world. The use of symmetry and repetition creates a sense of order, while the use of unexpected shapes and colors adds a sense of chaos and unpredictability. Together, their unique compositions form a perfect equilibrium of harmony and discord.

ARTIST STATEMENT: My work explores the search for balance within chaos, reflecting the way we strive to find equilibrium in our personal lives and mental health. Art has always been a space where I can create and shape my own world, a necessary outlet that allows me to restore balance. Through my practice, I have been able to examine the inner workings of my past experiences and process them through creation.

This mural features an interwoven circle, symbolizing the growing pains we face in the pursuit of balance. The vibrant gradients of color and shifting shapes are intended to embody harmony while offering a meditative experience for the viewer.

Paula Camacho - she/her

Paula’s Instagram

Los Tarascos | 622 S College Ave

MURAL PROJECT 2025

ARTIST BIO: Paula Camacho (She/Her) is a Colombian-born, Miami-raised multidisciplinary artist based in Denver, Colorado. Her work is a reflection of the spiritual enrichment and personal transformation she's gleaned from shamanic practices, as well as the profound eastern teachings of Taoism.

ARTIST STATEMENT: This peIce explores change as a force that shapes both matter and spirit. The internal and external realms are always in flux and affecting one another. The totem, made of the raw formlessness of sand, solidifies itself upward into a sort of axis mundi that the serpent coils around as it sheds its old self. The cacti act as guardians and witnesses. This painted scene is a ritual of transformation and awakening. It reflects a number of personal transformative experiences that have transpired throughout my adult life that have deeply impacted my relationship with change, and with life in general.

Jess Bean - she/they

Jess’ Instagram

The Alleycat Coffee House / 120 1/2 W Laurel St A

MURAL PROJECT 2020

ARTIST BIO: For over two decades, Jess has honed their craft as a mural artist, always striving to bring a unique and personal touch to each piece they create. They are passionate about painting murals that speak to the heart and soul of the community, and believe that public art has the power to inspire and transform lives.

ARTIST STATEMENT: I painted a canvas version of this mural first for women's rights during the overturn of Roe V Wade. Later that same year, George Floyd was blatantly murdered, which sparked people marching for the rights of Black people all over the US. I found myself drawn to center the story of Black women.

A raised solidarity fist anchors the piece, a bold and unyielding symbol of unity, resistance, and the strength to rise. Behind it, a radiant yellow gleams across the wall: a beacon of hope in shadowed times. From between the fingers, the Madagascar periwinkle blooms—its petals speaking in the quiet language of resilience and renewal.

A dogbane beetle makes its way into the scene, delicate yet powerful. It carries with it the spirit of hard work, persistence, creativity, and love in pursuit to capture even a hint of the essence of the Black women who shaped my world. Women who continue, especially now, to carry the weight of American history while still continuously striving for a better future.