Mural Project
The Mural Project presented by Athene is in collaboration with ArtForce Iowa and youth in Des Moines Public Schools. It is a giant interactive art experience where Des Moines Arts Festival guests contribute to the creation of a large mural over the three days of the Festival.
The Mural Project, presented by Athene, is a giant interactive art experience where Festival guests help create a large mural over the three days of the Festival.
2026 Mural - Through Our Eyes
This year's mural is an impressionist painting celebrating the places, landmarks, and experiences that define life on the South Side of Des Moines. Through Our Eyes is the visual perspective of local youth, reflecting their pride, memories, and sense of belonging in their community.
The mural brings together familiar South Side icons, including Blank Park Zoo and Southridge Mall, the Des Moines skyline, the EMC Overlook at MacRea Park, and the River Constellation installation at Water Works Park. Other recognizable scenes include an airplane departing Des Moines International Airport, the faux UFO at the South Des Moines Sculpture Park, Fleur Cinema, Graziano Bros., Skate South, Classic Frozen Custard, fireworks above Principal Park, and the illuminated bridge at Gray’s Lake.
Together, these images tell a story of community, connection, and hometown pride. Through Our Eyes captures the places that matter most to the young people
Where does it go from here?
Following the Festival, all 1,620 tiles of Through Our Eyes will be permanently installed at Lincoln High School, where it will continue to inspire students and celebrate the community that helped bring it to life.
How it works:
The Mural Project uses a grid method of drawing. This process involves drawing a grid over the original artwork and then extracting the grid sections of equal ratio to a new work surface. Guests take a square from the image and recreate it on a larger scale using the provided oil pastels. The completed mural is full of many different creative interpretations of the original work. When finished, the panels are affixed to a billboard-sized frame, piece by piece.
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