Davis Mural Team Paints the Town

The prolific artist collective to paint 10 murals this summer.

By: Isabella Holmes for The Dirt

The Davis Mural Team has returned after a decade and is undertaking quite the project this summer: providing public art downtown in the form of 10 new murals.

Founded by John Natsoulas and Bill Maul in 2011, the Davis Mural Team is responsible for many of the City’s existing well-known murals and sculptures. 

Before the team began their work, there was little to no art in downtown Davis. Since then, the impact of the Davis Mural Team’s work has been recognized through the American Planning Association award for Best Grassroots Art Project.

They’ve already tackled two murals this summer—projects headed by artists Steven Higgins and Adam Forfang, which can be found downtown—and they have big plans for the rest of the summer.

“I think as a community we can accomplish anything,” John Natsoulas, owner of the Natsoulas Gallery, told The Dirt.

The mural projects are funded by Natsoulas himself and are made possible by the time, labor, and skills donated by artists. The walls are provided by owners of the private properties.

“Just by seeing us out here working, more people become interested,” Bill Maul, director of the Mural Team, said.

Public art can eliminate barriers to learning about art and being an artist. Murals in many ways can “start the conversation about the art and culture in our town,” Natsoulas said.

Creation of the Davis murals often involve community members, as well.

“People come along and ask to help, and we say ‘Absolutely!’,” Natsoulas said.

The Davis Mural Team is proud of their commitment to partnering with young, local artists.

“I love the diversity now in the ages of our artists,” Natsoulas said. He’s enthusiastic about the tradition of the mural team continuing on and calls artists Adam Forfang, Rene Martucci, and Thea Hudson “critical” to the team’s success.

The Natsoulas Gallery provides a map of art in downtown Davis that will be updated with the Mural Team’s work. In the fall, they plan to lead Art Walks—guided tours of the work done a decade ago, and work that is carrying on the legacy of the Mural Team this summer.

Stay tuned for announcements from the Natsoulas Gallery with opportunities to help the Mural Team this summer.