Artist: Will Barker
Year: 2023
Materials: Aerosol paint on wood
Dimensions: 8′ x  16′

About the Artist

“What intrigues me as an artist is to create visually striking murals and paintings that blend the lines of fantasy and reality in the familiar wild western setting that I find inspirational. I enjoy painting cowboys, native Americans, outlaws and animals that link to a story of wild western folklore that I want to tell through my art. Being based in Colorado, I am constantly influenced and inspired by the surrounding iconic western landscapes, the rugged, yet poetic lines of the mountains and rivers that cut through them. I use the indigenous animals, flora and fauna, and local history to ground my subjects in a backdrop that is familiar. The goal of my artwork is to fuse the love of theses tropes with personal reflection, humor, and nostalgia that I use to connect to the viewer. My approach with public art in particular is to create a mural that can physically stop the viewer and force them take a deeper look at the piece of art. I want them to be drawn to the meticulous detail, enlightened by the vibrant color palette, and inspired by the narrative I lay out.”

Will selected the Buffalo for his mural at Fiddler’s Green.

Instagram: @WillBarker.Art