Standing in Town Square today, watching the four massive, eight-foot monolith structures go up, hit Klee and me in a way that’s hard to put into words. Tomorrow is August 21st, Prep Day, and Saturday is official Festival Day. It feels surreal that an idea born out of a quiet studio chat is currently standing tall in the heart of downtown Oil City, primed and ready for our incredible featured artists, like Kaleb Lewis, Brooke Brace, Ileecia Moffatt, Bella Fried, Raven Nespor, Amber Holt, Skylar Austin, Alyssa Maziarz, Christopher Doll, and more to bring it to life!
The journey to get here was a wild, beautiful ride powered by persistence, incredible partners, and a shared belief in what public art can do for a community.
It all started with a simple grant pitch. We originally applied for funding through Association EBN (in memory of Emma Burke Newman). We didn’t win the initial award cycle, but the selection committee reached out because they fell in love with the vision. After sitting down with Kaleb Lewis and pitching the heart of what this could mean for the town, Association EBN stepped up and gave us our foundational green light!
From there, momentum built fast. A huge shoutout goes to Ron Gustafson and his incredible crew at Gustafson General Contracting for their craftsmanship in constructing and building these incredible monolith structures! Stevette Rosen from the Oil City Main Street Program jumped on board to guide us through every step of planning, logistics, and city coordination. To cover artist stipends and supplies, we secured two additional grants through Bridge Builders Community Foundations, alongside local support from Cork & Screw Wines and First United National Bank. We got advice and help from the Oil Region Alliance, Clifford’s Carpets, Art Syndicate artists, and local businesses! We are deeply grateful to all of our sponsors and partners for making this festival a reality.
We also want to extend a special thank you to the fantastic businesses surrounding the park, including The Elks Club, The Exchange, and Double Play Sports Bar! Make sure to grab some great chow and refreshing drinks from them while you are out enjoying Mural Fest. As an extra treat, if you pop into The Exchange, you can check out the massive indoor mural I painted in their space!
We wanted Mural Fest to be different. We didn’t want temporary canvases that get packed away into boxes when the weekend ends. We wanted permanent landmarks that celebrate our local waterways, trails, and nature. Once sealed with protective varnish, these four-sided monoliths will remain throughout Oil City, creating a permanent art walk that connects visitors and residents alike.
Tomorrow, the artists arrive to sketch and prime, and on Saturday, the square will be buzzing with live music by Sean Howard Music, delicious food, face painting, chalk art, and live painting! We even have custom People’s Choice medals waiting for the spectator votes!
Whether you stop by Town Square on Friday to catch a behind-the-scenes preview or join us Saturday for the main event, we can’t wait to share this moment with you. Thank you to everyone who helped us turn this idea into reality. Stay tuned after the show for plenty of pictures and videos of all the finished masterpieces! See you at the park!
Mural Fest 2026 Event Details
- Location: Town Square (100 Seneca St, Oil City, PA)
- Cost: Free & Open to the Public
- Friday, Aug 21 (11:00 AM to 6:00 PM): Behind-the-Scenes Artist Prep & Outline Day
- Saturday, Aug 22 (11:00 AM to 6:00 PM): Main Festival Day featuring Live Painting, Music by Sean Howard, Food, Face Painting, Kids’ Chalk Zone, and “People’s Choice” Voting!
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