Public Art in Lowell: Muralocity
Muralocity is a coordinated public mural program bringing five professional murals to downtown Lowell, beginning summer 2026.
For nearly 50 years, Lowell Arts has been connecting artists and audiences in this community, Muralocity takes that connection outside our walls. With your support, we can bring Muralocity to life – transforming downtown Lowell into a living gallery that belongs to everyone, every day, for years to come.
Through the Michigan-based crowdfunding platform Patronicity, the public is invited to donate at patronicity.com through July 31, 2026.
If the campaign reaches its $25,000 goal, Lowell Arts will receive a matching grant through the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC)'s Public Spaces Community Places program – doubling every dollar raised.
Artist: Christopher Catalogna
A three-panel installation celebrating the city's industrial heritage at the convergence of the Grand and Flat Rivers. Located in the Historic District.​
We've identified five sites that balance visibility, accessibility, and distribution across town.
Muralocity is the first program of Lowell's Public Art Initiative, developed in partnership with Lowell's Downtown Development Authority, with initial support from the Lowell Area Community Foundation.
We're raising the final $25,000 of a $100,000 project budget to bring Muralocity to life. Your contribution funds professional artist fees, wall preparation and materials, anti-graffiti coating, emerging artist apprenticeships, and community programming. Every dollar counts: if we meet our goal, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) will match your gift dollar for dollar.
The campaign is live — and every dollar goes twice as far.
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"Community recreation and public art are great examples of placemaking efforts that meet public demand and needs while creating more connected and vibrant communities at the same time. We are proud to provide resources for these efforts through our Public Spaces Community Places program."
—Paula Holtz, MEDC Managing Director for Regional Development
​Artist: Wendy Popko
Activating the back of the Chamber of Commerce building with a scene depicting wildlife in and around the Flat River.​​
Lowell Arts created detailed design briefs for each mural site and managed a competitive selection process that drew 197 applicants from across the country.
Four murals are slated for completion in August 2026, becoming features of downtown Lowell in time for the fall season. The fifth mural will be part of Lowell Arts' 50th anniversary celebration in 2027, with its theme to be shaped in partnership with the community.
We are also working with the City of Lowell to finalize a Public Art Policy that establishes quality standards and ensures a maintenance plan is in place for years to come. For murals in the historic district, we worked closely with the Historic District Commission; those murals will be painted on panel and mounted on the building to meet preservation guidelines.
Muralocity Sites
Summer 2026
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206 E Main St
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113 Riverwalk Plaza (Chamber of Commerce Bldg)
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127 N Broadway (Lowell Light & Power)
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1698 Gee Drive (Creekside Park)
Summer 2027
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223 W Main St (Lowell Arts Bldg)
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​Artist: Sitki Dogan
On a wall behind which the town's electrical infrastructure once stood, creating a unique, science-fiction-style portal into light and energy.​
Public Art Connects Us
Muralocity is about making sure Lowell's rich creative identity lives in the open – in the spaces we all share.
For downtown businesses, these murals mean increased foot traffic, new landmarks, and a stronger case for Lowell as a regional destination. For professional artists, they represent competitive commissions and lasting portfolio work at significant scale. For emerging artists, they offer mentorship and real-world experience. And for all of us–residents, visitors, and the generations who come after–they become a natural part of what Lowell looks like and what we are about.
Muralocity Artists
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Christopher Catalogna, Fort Wayne, IN
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Wendy Popko, Sterling Heights, MI
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Sitki Dogan, Royal Palm Beach, FL​
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Tess Marhofer, Fife Lake, MI
​Artist: Tess Marhofer
A four-sided installation on the restroom/concessions facility featuring native plants and animals found in the creekside ecosystem.​
Make Your Mark on Lowell
Muralocity is already underway. Now we need the community to help bring it to life. Give at any level – every gift moves us closer to a more vibrant downtown.
Here's the best part: if we reach our $25,000 goal, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) will match every dollar raised through its Public Spaces Community Places program — doubling your impact.
Muralocity Giving Levels
$10 — Cascade
$25 — Ripple
$50 — Current
$100 — Riverbank
$200 — Confluence
$500 — Watershed
$1,000 — Living Gallery
Donate at patronicity.com/muralocity
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Campaign runs June 5 – July 31, 2026
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To give offline by cash or check, drop off or mail your donation to Lowell Arts​​. Questions? Reach us at 616-897-8545 or info@lowellarts.org.
