Mural Madness features nine, eight by four foot painted panels created during a live mural competition held during San Mateo’s annual September Arts & Culture Fest. The project was inspired by the many new and exciting art battles competitions happening in the Bay Area and beyond. Emerging Bay Area muralists (three or less murals created) were invited to apply to participate. The theme was Our Community.
The intention behind Mural Madness was to give emerging muralists an opportunity to gain more visibility in the community. Nine artists were selected from an open application process. Murals were to be painted live, on site, over a six-hour period. The winners of the competition were determined by attendees of the event through an online voting process. The First Place winner, Leysar Garcia, will be commissioned to paint a version of their mural on a permanent wall in San Mateo.
The September Arts & Culture Fest is sponsored by the San Mateo County Office of Arts and Culture, San Mateo County Arts Commission, San Mateo Area Chamber of Commerce, and Downtown Association of San Mateo.
Participating artists include Leysar Garcia (1st Place Award), Marielle Palatino (2nd Place Award), Alex Holland (3rd Place Award), Anne Sophie Gaudet, Cristina Edwards, Ella Rochelle-Lawton, Iris Zheng, Mario Guitron, and Nina Wright. County Arts Commissioner Stephen Seymour created and ran the event.
Mural Madness was first exhibited at Atelier for Healing located in Tanforan Mall, San Bruno, Suite 283. Please follow them at @atelierforhealing and at atelierforhealing.org
