Denver Arts & Venues is awarding more than $100,000 in grants to at least 26 murals planned this year as part of its 2019 Urban Arts Fund class, according to a release Monday from the agency.
Thirty-two Colorado artists were selected for 2019 projects. Additionally, six national artists and five international artists were chosen.
UAF was originally started as a graffiti prevention program. Since 2017, it's expanded to provide more connection between artists and the community at large. This gave birth to UAF: Engage, which are immersion projects the release said are "designed to more deeply involve community members in the mural creation through several weeks of workshops and discussions."
Mayor Michael Hancock said in the release that UAF does more than simply beautifying and enriching the city.
"By creating these murals, we're able to support local talent, engage our diverse neighborhoods and attract internationally renowned street artists to Denver," Hancock said.
Among the artists awarded a grant are Jonathan Pucci of San Diego, whose UAF-funded mural will be placed on Cherry Creek Trail between Market and Blake Streets.
The release said Pucci's mural will feature an image of Marshall "Major" Taylor, a pioneering black cyclist who would later set seven world records and win a World Championship in sprint track cycling in 1899. Denver Arts & Venues is encouraging folks to come photograph the new mural between 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. on Thursday.
Here's the full list of 2018 Urban Arts Fund grant recipients:
- Nicholas Angelo - Denver Metro
- Olivia Lucero - Denver Metro
- Zach Armijo - Denver Metro
- Tamil Maldonado Vega - Mayagüez, Puerto Rico
- Yulia Avgustinovich - Denver Metro
- Julio Mendoza - Denver Metro
- Rafael Blanco - Quincy, CA
- Olive Moya - Denver Metro
- Aisha Brown - Denver Metro
- Michael Ortiz - Denver Metro
- Brian Butler - Miami Beach, FL
- Toluwanami Obiwole - Denver Metro
- Daniel Chavez - Denver Metro
- Lara Carolina Pagan Hidalgo - Mayagüez, Puerto Rico
- Chinny Bond - Amsterdam, Netherlands
- LaToya Peoples - Baltimore
- Elijah Chong - Santa Fe, NM
- Jonathan Pucci - San Diego
- Luis Fernandez (Güillo) Cruz Martes - Mayagüez, Puerto Rico
- Markus Puskar - Denver Metro
- Gregg Deal - Colorado Springs
- Adam Raiola - Denver Metro
- Thomas Evans - Denver Metro
- Sofia Ramirez - Baltimore
- Faatma Be Oné - Denver Metro
- Raul Regis - São Paulo, Brazil
- Jannah Farooque - Denver Metro
- Adolfo Romero - Denver Metro
- Javier Flores - Denver Metro
- A. Koko Sanchez - Denver Metro
- Conor Hollis - Denver Metro
- Ratha Sok - Denver Metro
- Eddie Huang - Denver Metro
- Thien Tai - Denver Metro
- Holly Kai Hurd - Denver Metro
- Adi Tora - Denver Metro
- Angelica Jimenez - Denver Metro
- Jess Webb - Denver Metro
- Amorette Lana - Denver Metro
- Theodore Yuritich - Denver Metro
- Josiah Lopez - Denver Metro
- Lindee Zimmer - Denver Metro
