Local Artists To Paint New Mural At OKC Automobile Alley

A group of local artists will paint a new mural in downtown Oklahoma City's Automobile Alley district.

Downtown Oklahoma City, Inc. and Mason Realty have hired a team of local artists to install a 130-foot mural in downtown's Automobile Alley district. The mural will be painted on a brick building off 9th Street between Oklahoma and Broadway Avenues by Kris Kanaly, Yatika Starr Fields, and Dylan Bradway. Their piece is entitled “Braid,” and features each of the artists' unique styles woven together.

The artists were chosen through a selection process that included a public call to artists and a committee focused on bringing more public art to downtown. Officials said all three artists are active in the city and regional art scene and have created murals in OKC's Plaza District and Classen Blvd., as well as in Portland, Oregon and Queens, New York.

“The Braid design captures the concepts of diversity and collaboration, and it's perfectly in line with the vibrant personality of Automobile Alley,” said Downtown Oklahoma City, Inc.'s Community Relations Coordinator, Cayla Lewis, who worked with the artist and served on the selection committee.

“This project displays how different cultures, communities, institutions, ideas and imagination can be woven together for a stronger creative bond,” Kanaly said.

The artists will now make their final proposal, which must be sent through the City of Oklahoma City's Downtown Design Review Committee and Arts Commission.

“A goal with this pilot project was to educate and empower artists on going through the processes required by city, which will ultimately hopefully bring more public art to Oklahoma City,” said Robbie Kienzle with the City of Oklahoma City's Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs.

Downtown OKC Inc. will be posting the progress through social media by using the hashtag, #9tStBraid. Be sure to follow @DowntownOKCInc on Twitter and @DowntownOKC on Instagram for updates.