swfl mural fest fort myers Artsemble

Artists painting live at SWFL Mural Fest organized by Artsemble Underground, creating large-scale murals and community art pr

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Southwest Florida Mural Festival Announces 2026

Featured Muralists Fort Myers, FL

Fort Myers, FL – The Southwest Florida Mural Festival, led by Artsemble Underground founders Brian Weaver and Cesar Aguilera, is proud to announce the featured muralists for the 2026 festival:

Marcus Zotter. @marcuszotter
Tracie Harris Thompson. @tracieharristhompsonart
Arielle Katarina. @akatarina
Matt “Mully” Mulhern. @mully.art

These talented artists rose to the top in the festival’s Battle of the Arts, standing out among more than 30 competing artists to earn the opportunity to create large-scale murals in downtown Fort Myers.

Now in its fourth year, the Southwest Florida Mural Festival continues to grow its mission of transforming downtown Fort Myers into a vibrant Art District. Weaver and Aguilera are incredibly proud to see the vision expanding each year as artists from across the region contribute to the city’s evolving public art landscape.

Each selected muralist will create a monumental work on newly designated walls, helping transform another downtown building while expanding the reach and visibility of the district’s public art.

The 2026 festival theme, “Unity & Diversity,” invites artists to explore the beauty of shared community, cultural richness, and the connections that bring people together.

To celebrate the newest addition to the Art District, the Southwest Florida Mural Festival will host a Ribbon Cutting Celebration on April 17 starting at 5:00 PM featuring live music, opportunities to meet the artists, and a community celebration unveiling the new mural site.

Event Details
April 17, 2026
5:00 PM
2027 Monroe St.
Fort Myers, FL

The public is invited to attend and be part of this exciting next step in the growth of the Southwest Florida Mural Festival.

For more information, please contact the SWFL Mural Festival Team.

Our Journey So Far

2022 – The very first MuralFest. All the art reflected what our community went through during Hurricane Ian, showing resilience, hope, and unity.
2023 – We secured our first building at All Out Bail Bonds, which also became our creative workspace warehouse, built with lots of love and support from Maria Paterno. That year, the mayor cut the ribbon, officially marking the beginning of downtown Fort Myers’ first art district and proving that SWFL MuralFest is here to stay.
2024 – We hosted The Elements of Life mural series, celebrating nature, balance, and creativity. We also unveiled the first permanent murals on the All Out Bail Bonds building with a huge reveal event full of live painting, music, and community spirit.
2025 – We expanded the vision with the theme Florida Environments—Ocean, Swamp, Forest, and City. Four team captains were selected through the Battle of the Arts, each leading their own teams to create large-scale murals across downtown.
2026 – We’re preparing for our biggest year ever!

Artsemble works hard to receive grants that allow artists to showcase their art and help continue building downtown Fort Myers’ first official art district. This year, you’ll have to go through the battles, with four major artists winning and then picking their own teams of artists.

Battle of the Arts Rules

Rule #1: The battle runs from 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM. No excuses.
Rule #2: Artists must bring their own supplies (drop cloth, paint, easel, tent if needed).
Rule #3: Canvas size is 4 ft high × 8 ft wide. Board is provided, primed with one color, and must remain blank before the battle begins.
Rule #4: No printed materials allowed. Painting must be done with paint only (stencils, pencils, paint pens are allowed).
Rule #5: No paint splatter on the floor.
Rule #6: No loud music.
Rule #7: Keep your space clean—mess = disqualification.
Rule #8: Promote it! Talk about it, invite artist friends, and bring supporters.
Rule #9: Nothing left behind—you must take everything with you.
Rule #10: Have fun!

Now, in 2026, we’re taking it to the next level. Don’t miss your chance to be part of it.

Suggested Tagline for Website/Flyers/Social Media:
“From Hurricane Ian to Downtown Fort Myers’ First Art District — SWFL MuralFest is here to stay!”

🎨 Join the Artsemble Collective! 🎨

We’re looking for talented artists to be part of our growing community. If you’re interested, please email artsemblecollective@gmail.com with the following:

Why you want to be part of this collective
What you can offer as a leading artist or as part of a crew
5 pieces of your artwork to showcase your style and skill

Please note: not everyone who applies will be selected, so make sure your submission is thoughtful and represents your best work.

We can’t wait to see your creativity!

With your help, we can continue to inspire and create

Sponsorship Packages

How can you help? Consider donating or becoming a sponsor today! Different levels of sponsorship yield different perks, some of which include the acquisition of amazing original artwork.

Are you a business or building owner in downtown Fort Myers with an empty wall that’s begging for vibrant original artwork? Contact Artsemble Underground about how you can contribute your wall space to the MuralFest project!

For donations or sponsoring contact us at artsemblecollective@gmail.com

and use the qr code or venmo @artsembleunderground

$1,000