Greeley’s first-ever outdoor mural festival, WeldWalls, is making its mark on the city’s public art landscape this fall. The five-day festival will take place from Sept. 17-21, 2024, adding a collection of new, large-scale murals to downtown Greeley. The festival is being produced by artist manager and creative entrepreneur Briana Harris and visual artist Armando Silva, both long-time residents of Greeley and members of its creative community. The team is partnering with WeldWerks Brewing Co. as the festival site location; the brewery will contribute outdoor walls at their brewery campus for transformation by the festival artists and will host multiple festival events onsite throughout the week.
Briana Harris. Photo by Jo Babb.
The festival will include a lineup of at least six artists or artist teams, who will create new original murals over the five-day festival span. The artist lineup will be split between local artists living and working in Greeley and artists hailing from other communities across Colorado and beyond. The festival will conclude with a free community celebration and unveiling event on Saturday, Sept. 21, held at WeldWerks (508 8th Ave.). In addition, the festival will present a variety of public programming throughout the week, including artist talks, workshops and community activations.
“We’re aiming for a real sense of cultural exchange where our audience is introduced to new artists working at the highest levels in this medium, and our visiting artists and out-of-town attendees are introduced to everything our local artists and creative community has to offer,” Harris says. “ We want to make it clear: Greeley is a place where cutting-edge public art happens.”
Silva and Harris first met through Greeley’s creative community and eventually began working together as an artist and manager team.
“My own background and artistic practice is in music,” says Harris, who has performed with and managed the Northern Colorado band, The Burroughs, for a decade. “I found a lot of the skills I used in music management were valuable in working with visual artists. Armando and I have always connected on the way we think about creativity, entrepreneurship and community building.”
Armando Silva. Photo by Shel Francis.
From Greeley, Silva has built a career as a muralist and artist with a national profile. His previous clients and collaborators include The Denver Broncos, Target Creative, Pfizer, the Denver Zoo, Modelo USA, the Colorado Rapids and Microsoft.
“Downtown Greeley is where I got my first shot to create a large mural,” says Silva, referencing the now iconic “Einstein Mural” located on 9th Avenue. “There has always been incredible space here to try new things as an artist, and the mural festival is a way for me to return so much of the love and support I’ve received over my career.”
The festival’s guiding theme is “The New West,” a reference to Greeley’s own distinctive Western history and heritage, while inviting artists and community members to explore an expansive vision for the growing and changing community. “We’re excited to invite our talented artists to share their interpretation of this phrase and how it relates to their own identities. Murals have the incredible ability to tell stories, and we’re looking forward to creating a new story together at this festival,” Silva says.
The festival has released its schedule as well as its full roster of artist teams. Programming will take place at WeldWerks Brewing Co. and other locations throughout Downtown Greeley. Events are all free and open to the public. 
WeldWalls Programming
Tuesday 9/17: Festival Kickoff
-WeldWerks Brewing Co.
-Public mural worksite viewing hours: 11a.m.-6 p.m.
Wednesday 9/18: Artist Q&A
-Moxi Theater, 7 p.m.
-Artist panel with all muralists hosted by festival producers Armando Silva and Briana Harris
-Reception to follow
Thursday 9/19: Greeley Creative District Partner Event
-Cacophony of Creatives
-Atlas Theater, 4:30-6:30 p.m.
-“Finding Your Creative Community,” a free workshop and creative networking event
Friday 9/20: Art Night Out
-WeldWerks and Downtown Greeley, 5-8 p.m.
-Community mural painting at WeldWerks, designed and facilitated by Armando Silva and friends
-Open art studios in Downtown Greeley
Saturday 9/21: Mural Unveiling and Community Celebration
-WeldWerks Brewing Co., 12-5 p.m.
-Community mural painting
-Kids art activities
-Downtown Greeley mural walking tours
-Festival and artist merchandise booths
-Official unveiling ceremony at 4 p.m.
In addition to the special events listed above, the festival encourages public viewing of the murals in progress and artists at work daily between 11a.m. and 6 p.m. Sept. 17-21.
“It’s a unique viewing experience because you can pop in multiple times throughout the week and see artwork in different stages of completion,” Harris says. “It’s like a living outdoor gallery.”
More details and info about the schedule can be found online at weldwalls.com/schedule.
The centerpiece of the festival is seven new outdoor murals that will be created on the WeldWerks campus. The artist lineup includes Lindee Zimmer, a Tuscon-based artist, organizer and teacher; The Worst Crew, Denver-based artists Jaime Molina and Pedro Barrios; Betony Coons + Family, a Greeley-based multi-media artist; Allie Ogg, a Fort Collins-based illustrator and muralist; Yazz Atmore, a Denver-based community organizer, creative and educator; Al Frente Youth Collective, a Greeley-based youth activism organization; and Alonzo Harrison, a Greeley-based painter, illustrator and muralist.
The full artist lineup, including artist statements and prior work, can be viewed online on the WeldWalls website.