Aspen Public Art Projects
Current & Upcoming Projects
City Hall Biennial Exhibition
Aspen Public Art program is pleased to present a new exhibition featuring the artworks of local and regional artists in City Hall. This marks the third iteration of this ongoing program, celebrating the extraordinary talents of regional artists.
The exhibition showcases a captivating variety of pieces, including among many, large-scale photographs of snowflakes by Jeremy Swanson, capturing their intricate beauty in stunning detail; an abstract mixed media painting by Christie Helm that invites viewers to transcend the physical to a spiritual understanding; a watercolor of a local landscape by Nika Meyers that explores our perception and relationship to nature; and evocative wood sculptures crafted from trees affected by local wildfires by Wally Graham. This exhibition offers a poignant reflection of contemporary life and uniquely captures the essence of the Mountain West experience.
Featured artists include: Wally Graham, Christie Helm, Marilyn Lowey, Nika Meyers, Leah Potts, Tamara Susa, Jeremy Swanson, Jenny Welden, Lara Whitley, Chloe Wilwerding, and Lindsey Yeager. Additionally, the exhibition includes a collection of political posters by Tom Benton, represented by DJ Watkins and the Aspen Collective Gallery.
City Hall is open to the public Monday – Friday, 7am – 5:30pm.
Learn More
Mall Fest 50 Art Parade & Block Party
© Aspen Historical Society
Aspen Public Art presents Mall Fest 50 Art Parade, an artist-led, people-powered procession of costumes, contraptions and performances celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Aspen Pedestrian Mall. All are welcome to participate!
On June 27, 2026, the pedestrian parade will traverse the Mall and Aspen Saturday Market, ending in a block party at Sister Cities Plaza.
The 2026 theme is “What do you LOVE about this place?”
By collaborating exclusively with local artists and encouraging upcycling of materials, Aspen Public Art emphasizes the importance of collective creation, place-based cultural production and creative reuse. Imagination is wildly encouraged, with free community workshops leading up to the parade and a costume contest, photo booth, and prizes on parade day. Like all MF50 programming, the Art Parade is free and open to all.
Schedule
9am: Staging
10–11am: Parade
11am-Noon: Block Party
Register your parade entry online by Wednesday, June 24, 2026 at noon to ensure your spot and be eligible for the costume contest and prizes. Walk-ins on Parade Day will be accepted on a space-available basis. All entrants will be required to follow parade guidelines (scroll for details) and sign a waiver to participate.
What is Mall Fest 50?
Mall Fest 50 is a public art celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Aspen Pedestrian Mall.
As innovative as the Mall itself—constructed in 1976, the first car-to-pedestrian transformation in the state and one of the few remaining in the nation—Mall Fest 50 will feature a series of public art experiences across the car-free city park in the summer of 2026. Mall Fest 50 will include:
Shifting Light, an installation by textile artist Rachel B. Hayes | May – October
Mall Fest 50 Art Parade | June 27
Mural project in the works | Stay tuned for details
Mall Fest 50 events are free and open to all!
“Through crafting, wearing, dancing and parading in costumes, we build community, discover hidden talents, and bring joy to the streets.”
Sign up for a free Parade Workshop
Join Aspen Public Art for a hands-on workshop to create your own costume, mask or prop for the parade. Early registration is recommended — space is limited.
-
The Art Parade is open to all. Individuals, families, friend groups, schools, and community groups are invited to participate.
Be inspired by the theme: What do you LOVE about this place?
Create your parade ensemble on your own or at one of our public workshops. Imagination is wildly encouraged — and rewarded during our costume contest! Costumes must be noncommercial.
We encourage everyone to be in costume – including parents and guardians accompanying children.
This is a pedestrian parade; all entries must be people powered. No vehicles, bikes, scooters, one-wheels, or other forms of travel are allowed in the parade other than ADA mobility devices.
No live animals, except service animals.
NOT permitted: throws (e.g. candy or swag), water balloons or spraying, open containers, distribution of leaflets or flyers during the parade or along the parade route.
Children 14 and under must be accompanied by someone over the age of 18.
Register online by Wednesday, June 24, 2026 at noon to ensure your spot in the parade and be eligible for the costume contest and prizes. Walk-ins on Parade Day will be accepted on a space-available basis.
Co-presented by the City of Aspen
- Aspen Police Department
- Asset
- City Attorney
- City Clerk
- City Manager's Office
- Commercial Core + Lodging Commission
- Community Development
- DEIB Committee
- Downtown Business Services
- Engineering
- Environmental Health + Sustainability
- Finance
- Historic Preservation Commission
- Parking
- Parks
- Procurement
- Special Events
- Wheeler Opera House
Community Partners
- Anderson Ranch Arts Center
- Aspen Art Museum
- Aspen Chamber Resort Association
- Aspen Fire Department
- Aspen Historical Society
- Aspen Institute
- Aspen Police Department
- Aspen Polynesia
- Aspen Saturday Market
- Aspen School District
- Aspen Thrift Shop
- AspenOUT
- bARTer collective
- Best Buddies
- Buckhorn Public Arts
- Challenge Aspen
- DanceAspen
- Dance Initiative Folklórico
- History Colorado
- Jazz Aspen Snowmass
- Leah Potts Art
- Pitkin County Senior Center
- Pitkin County Sheriff
- The Project Shop
- Vail Precision Lawn Chair Drill Team
Flash Mob: Aspen Saturday Market
Aspen Public Art, Dance Aspen, Buckhorn Public Arts and Aspen citizen Geoff Hanson were delighted to bring art to the people, collaborating on a flash mob at the Aspen Saturday Market on August 9, 2025. The mood was joyful and the theme was love, with company members and citizen dancers embodying The Beatles' iconic "All You Need Is Love."
If you would like more love from Aspen’s artistic community, be sure to check out these upcoming opportunities:
Swing by the Red Brick Center for the Arts to pick up your complimentary activity kit to DIY-tour all four Aspen Public Art sites with your friends and family.
Celebrate two art openings: Hey Kiddo and Nicholas Ward: Dreams from the Margins on August 14 from 5 to 7pm at the Red Brick Center for the Arts.
Join Dance Aspen for their upcoming performance "Shifting Forms" at the Wheeler Opera House on August 27 and 28 at 7PM.
Join Theatre Aspen for Million Dollar Quartet, the Tony-nominated hit that brings Elvis, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis & Carl Perkins to life—now through August 23.
Presented in partnership with:
In collaboration with:
