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Eight muralists announced to paint the county this fall
The Putnam County Mural Project recently announced its artist lineup for the upcoming mural festival to be held Sept. 7-21.
Eight artists from across the county, country and world will be painting a total of seven walls during this year’s festival. Continue reading to learn more about the artists and their assigned walls.
Artist: Brooke Smart
Wall: Cloverdale water building (next to Cloverdale Elementary)
Utah-based artist Brooke Smart is known for her children’s book publications and mural installations. Smart’s artwork explores family relationships and encourages empathy and understanding among diverse groups of people. Her artistic style blends mid-century design, folk art and storytelling. She has had her artwork published and featured in The New York Times, PBS, Penguin, Random House and much more.
Artist: Noé Barnett
Wall: Furniture Aware House (Greencastle)
Noé Barnett is a muralist and painter who infuses the streets with life through his vibrant creations. A native of Albuquerque, N.M., Barnett’s roots have shaped his approach to art. With a reputation as a key player in the mural scene, Barnett has transformed public spaces into canvases in multiple states, bringing art directly to the people. His murals are more than mere decoration; they are dialogues in color and form, engaging communities and using light to invigorate public spaces with new narratives.
Artist: Naomi Haverland
Wall: Reelsville Community Center (former Reelsville School)
Florida-based artist Naomi Haverland specializes in humorous and hyper-realistic portraits that surprise and delight viewers. Her anamorphic “3D” illusions are executed with the most impressive quality of any artist in the industry. She has won many recognitions and awards for her art, and has traveled internationally for her murals. Haverland’s work has been utilized by companies such as Harley Davidson, Blick Art Supply, Amazon, Microsoft and Skittles.
Artist: Matt Rees and Holly Sims
Wall: The Warehouse (Greencastle)
Matt Rees is a Putnam County woodblock printmaker who focuses much of his subject matter on birds and nature. Rees has won numerous awards for his breathtaking prints and has exhibited his work both near and far. This will be one of Matt’s first mural projects, and Mural Project organizers “are excited to have his art finally featured on one of our walls.”
Holly Sims is an Indianapolis-based muralist with Putnam County roots. Sims is an amazing creator with a passion for community and arts education. Since participating in the 2022 fest, she has continued to paint beautiful murals on walls across the state and throughout the country. When not doing murals, Sims is a professor of art at Anderson University.
Artist: Emily Eldridge
Wall: Criss Construction (Greencastle)
Emily Eldridge’s work uses bold color palettes and graphic forms to create playful imagery with a hint of humor and wit, exploring how color and shape can transform a space. Themes like femininity, the human experience, community, diversity and mental health are just some of the topics portrayed in her art. Eldridge’s art has been featured by such clients as The New York Times, Target, Spotify and Visa.
Artist: Angie Jerez
Wall: Russellville Community Center (Russellville)
Angie Jerez was born in Bogotá, Colombia, and currently lives in Atlanta. Since moving to United States, she has been transitioning from digital graphic design to handmade illustration, painting and mural work. Jerez creates pieces with detailed linework, drawing everyday elements and random abstract subjects surrounded by organic shapes, using colorful palettes and delicate graphite textures. Sometimes they reflect memories and random silly ideas, sometimes a little bit of her hometown culture.
Artist: Anthony Brooks
Wall: Old Video and Tan building (Bainbridge)
Originally from Chicago and currently based between the Midwest U.S. and Berlin, Germany, Brooks’ art explores stories of culture and history within a community. His murals consider every building’s uniqueness and landscape, while integrating the environment within his work. Fans of realism and storytelling through art will enjoy this mural as it will also help commemorate Bainbridge’s bicentennial year.
For more information regarding the upcoming festival, or to learn about a matching grant for any donor wishing to help make this year’s festival possible, please visit www.putnamcountymuralproject.org.