The Denver Pavilions announced today that work has begun on a new large-scale mural at the property, marking another milestone in the retail center’s ongoing revitalization. Following approval by the Denver Downtown Development Authority (DDDA) Board last month, crews removed the existing vinyl display from the south-facing walls along 15th Street to prepare for a mural designed by Denver artist Olive Moya.
The mural is being funded through revenues generated by Denver Pavilions operations, including parking and commercial leases, reflecting the DDDA’s commitment to reinvesting in the property and strengthening downtown Denver.
Located on 16th Street, Denver Pavilions plays a central role in Upper Downtown. The DDDA acquired the retail center and two adjacent surface parking lots in December 2025 with the goal of transforming the two-block site into a vibrant destination while supporting existing tenants, enhancing the surrounding business district and creating a long-term vision for the property.
Originally planned for a single wall along Welton Street, the project has expanded to include the adjacent Tremont Street wall, significantly increasing the mural’s scale and visibility. The mural was privately commissioned by the DDDA in collaboration with Denver Arts & Venues.
“We’re excited to collaborate on a project that brings a significant new work by a Denver-based artist to the heart of downtown,” said Michael Chavez, curator of public art partnerships for Denver Arts & Venues. “Public art creates memorable places and invites people to experience downtown in new ways. This mural will become a vibrant visual landmark that celebrates both the city’s creative community and the continued evolution of Denver Pavilions.”
Originally from Southern California, Olive Moya is a Denver-based visual artist whose abstract paintings explore memory, place and transformation. She earned her BFA from Otis College of Art and Design in 2011, and her work has been exhibited at the Denver Art Museum, Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art and galleries throughout Colorado. Moya has completed public art commissions for Denver Arts & Venues, the Museum of Outdoor Arts and Vail’s Art in Public Places program, and has collaborated with organizations and brands including Lululemon, Virgin Hotels Las Vegas, The Denver Post, Huckleberry Roasters and Warm Cookies of the Revolution.
“I designed the Denver Pavilions mural to reflect the inevitability of change and the ongoing evolution of a city,” said Moya. “It’s a celebration of how places are continually shaped by the people and histories that came before them.”
“As I developed the work, I thought about the many eras that have shaped this site—from the ancestral lands of the Cheyenne, Arapaho and Ute Nations to the gold rush settlement, the construction of iconic downtown landmarks and the creation of the 16th Street Mall. I saw a parallel between that history and my own artistic practice, which has evolved during the thirteen years I’ve lived in Denver.”
The mural will be installed by Art in Context, a curatorial production practice specializing in large-scale, site-specific public art projects. Working closely with Moya, the team will recreate the design using a traditional grid system before hand-painting the mural with brushes and rollers. A protective topcoat will then be applied to preserve the artwork’s vibrant colors for years to come.
“The layered shapes throughout the mural are the result of a long visual game of telephone—forms and imagery I revisit and reinterpret over time. Like a city, they carry traces of earlier versions while continuing to become something new. This mural represents another chapter in the ongoing story of this place and the people who will continue to shape its identity.”
The mural is expected to be completed in early August.
