Mural Magic

Nonprofit Street Wise Arts enriches Boulder’s urban landscape with a vibrant tapestry of colors 

By Kalene McCort

While Boulder’s dreamy Flatirons never fail to captivate, the cityscape touts a delightful and mesmerizing façade of its own. Over 100 radiant murals now grace Boulder’s buildings, alleyways and underpasses, adding a new layer of charm and creativity to the urban experience.

The colorful and intricate additions are offerings of Street Wise Arts, a Boulder-based nonprofit dedicated to adorning brick, stucco and concrete with largescale pieces that inspire passersby to halt and take notice.

What started as a modest, annual mural festival has evolved into an extravaganza of creativity. The nonprofit delivers year-round activities from bike tours, where participants pedal to dozens of murals, to youth workshops, in which the next generation is encouraged to pick up a can of spray paint and let self-expression unfurl. 

“It’s really beautiful to see where we are now and the support and feedback we get from the community,” said Leah Brenner Clack, who founded Street Wise Arts in 2019. “I’m proud of the amount of paid mural work that I’ve been able to get artists because that was a really big driving factor for me in the arts.”

Prior to spearheading Street Wise Arts, Clack worked at Boulder’s creative hub and gallery, madelife, and championed for a variety of creatives of all mediums. Her mission is still strongly motivated by a desire to amplify the artwork of a cross-section of artists from Colorado and beyond, while simultaneously enhancing the way the city looks and feels.

“It’s just kind of out in the wild, and there’s some mystery around it too,” Clack says of the various street art that surfaces in cities stateside and abroad. “It’s not like we’re in a gallery where there’s a tag, a title, a gallerist who wants to tell you about the piece. It’s really up to your own interpretation and experience, which I think is really beautiful, and it’s surprising when you encounter that structure.”

Clack and her team put in constant work to receive grant funding, find available wall canvases and narrow down selected artists from hundreds of applicants. 

Beyond enhancing the city’s atmosphere, Street Wise is dedicated to showcasing the talents of female, LGBTQ+ and BIPOC artists, amplifying their voices and contributions within the community. With every brushstroke and paint coat, Street Wise artists strive to create pieces rooted in “Artivism.” Previous themes for Street Wise Mural Festivals range from community healing to celebrating Colorado’s Black history. 

“I think the arts community here is super supportive and strong,” Clack says. “It’s amazing to see what everybody is doing and how we can cross-pollinate and collaborate. That’s always something I hope to incorporate—more collaboration with different kinds of arts organizations because it sets a beautiful ecosystem.”

In Street Wise’s five thriving years, the nonprofit has commissioned hundreds of artists and livened up unlikely pockets of the city with over 130 diverse murals. 

Denver-based artist Danielle DeRoberts, a.k.a. Onerary, has participated in three Street Wise Mural Festivals, one of which delivered a collaboration with fellow artist Lindee Zimmer. 

“The coolest aspect of this event, personally, is the opportunity to connect and collaborate with Leah Brenner Clack, the visionary founder of Street Wise Mural Festival, and to engage with the diverse and talented individuals she brings together—from the dedicated Street Wise staff to the artists and the vibrant community,” DeRoberts says. “The magical layers of this festival are guided by a truly genuine heart and a warm sense of inclusivity.”

DeRoberts’ evocative work often incorporates intriguing female portraiture with a mix of images of leaves, feathers, arrows, geometrical shapes and hands. Rich with mysticism and soulfulness, her art can stir a variety of emotions in onlookers. 

“I hope the murals can serve as conduits for emotional healing, maybe prompting a feeling of activation that resonates deeply,” DeRoberts says. “My goal is to inspire with purpose through the medium of public art. This spontaneous revelation unfolds with the seemingly simple act of passing by.”

Clack is excited about the possibility of bringing the Street Wise model to other areas, too.

“I love the idea of helping communities create this for their own towns, so that would be really fun to explore,” Clack says. 

Folks can look forward to seeing creatives take to ladders and scaffolds for Boulder’s sixth annual Street Wise Mural Festival in mid-September. Several Street Wise event offerings will roll out during Boulder Arts Week, including a mural bike tour that starts at Junkyard Social Club and concludes at Sanitas Brewing with discounted beers on April 7. 

With adrenaline-fueled art battles, youth programming and docent-led walking tours, Street Wise continues to entertain and inspire. 

“It’s super rewarding to have an idea and then be able to make it happen and see the results,” Clack says. “I meet people and when they find out I created Street Wise, they’re like, ‘Oh my gosh, it’s made such a big impact. Thank you, it’s really changed the whole city,’ and that’s huge.”

To learn more, visit streetwisearts.org or follow along on Instagram @streetwisearts.