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PAINT THE PRAIRIES
SOUTH WEST MURAL FEST
| Shaunavon, SK | 2026 Dates Coming Soon |
ABOUT THE FESTIVAL
South West Mural Fest (SWMF) is a grassroots mural festival based in Shaunavon, Saskatchewan — a rural prairie town of about 1,700 people. Founded in 2024 by local artist and muralist Andrew Robertson, SWMF started with a simple goal: bring world-class public art to places that are usually overlooked.
Today, we’re proud to be Saskatchewan’s first dedicated mural festival of its kind, welcoming internationally acclaimed artists each year to transform downtown walls into a walkable outdoor gallery. In just two years, SWMF has helped create 13 murals, boosting community pride, bringing new energy to local businesses, and drawing visitors to the heart of rural Saskatchewan.
About
Meet the Artists
SWMF 2026 LINEUP
Artists coming soon!
2024 WALLS
2025 WALLS
Great Western Railway 25th Anniversary Railcar
Created in partnership with Great Western Railway as part of South West Mural Fest, this painted railcar marks the company’s 25th anniversary and its deep ties to Saskatchewan communities.
The railcar features original work by SONZ1, a graffiti writer known for his distinctive style and lettering. Executed directly on the railcar, the piece brings graffiti onto working rail infrastructure, allowing it to travel the prairie landscape and be seen in the environments it naturally belongs to.
This project highlights the relationship between graffiti, industry, and movement, and recognizes the role of creative expression within spaces shaped by work, transit, and community.
The railcar features original work by SONZ1, a graffiti writer known for his distinctive style and lettering. Executed directly on the railcar, the piece brings graffiti onto working rail infrastructure, allowing it to travel the prairie landscape and be seen in the environments it naturally belongs to.
This project highlights the relationship between graffiti, industry, and movement, and recognizes the role of creative expression within spaces shaped by work, transit, and community.
Artist - Emily Ding
Emily Ding, a Los Angeles-based muralist with deep Texan roots, to the South West Mural Fest 2025 in Shaunavon, Saskatchewan. Known for her expressive large-scale murals that blend bold color palettes with dynamic portrayals of animals, Emily’s work explores the emotional connection between humans and nature.
Her recent highlights include “Taking Flight” at Disney Springs for Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month in 2024, a stunning 75-by-20-foot mural in Oakdale, California, and contributions to community-centered projects like Flint, Michigan’s revitalization efforts and Street Art for Mankind. Emily’s murals span cities across the U.S., bringing stories to life on public walls with a signature style that’s both vibrant and deeply moving.
Her recent highlights include “Taking Flight” at Disney Springs for Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month in 2024, a stunning 75-by-20-foot mural in Oakdale, California, and contributions to community-centered projects like Flint, Michigan’s revitalization efforts and Street Art for Mankind. Emily’s murals span cities across the U.S., bringing stories to life on public walls with a signature style that’s both vibrant and deeply moving.
Artist - Marg
With over two decades of professional mural experience, Marg has built a powerhouse portfolio across Toronto and beyond, turning everyday spaces into immersive works of art. From public art festivals like Wood Buffalo Mural Fest to intricate residential commissions, her work blends fine art training with bold storytelling, uplifting every wall she touches. Marg’s vibrant, imaginative style—full of warmth, whimsy, and incredible technical skill—has made her a sought-after name in Canada’s mural scene.
Artist - BirdO
This Toronto-based muralist and multidisciplinary artist has been transforming urban landscapes for over a decade with his vibrant, surreal creations. From towering murals in Toronto to international pieces in cities like Chicago, Glasgow, and Hamburg, birdO’s work is a global phenomenon. His signature style blends abstract art, surrealism, and graphic design, featuring vivid colors, intricate geometric patterns, and fantastical creatures that captivate and inspire .
birdO’s murals are more than just visually stunning—they’re site-specific masterpieces that interact seamlessly with their surroundings, redefining the relationship between art and public spaces. His ability to adapt his art to the architectural features of each surface sets him apart in the world of contemporary muralism.
birdO’s murals are more than just visually stunning—they’re site-specific masterpieces that interact seamlessly with their surroundings, redefining the relationship between art and public spaces. His ability to adapt his art to the architectural features of each surface sets him apart in the world of contemporary muralism.
Artist - Joshua Jacobson
This Saskatchewan-based muralist and graphic designer brings over 20 years of experience, turning blank spaces into bold, community-driven art. From his massive 3,706 sq. ft. Habitual Synthesis mural in Saskatoon—blasted out in just two weeks—to live painting for brands like GMC, Josh mixes pop art, abstract expressionism, and local flavor with a slick spray paint style.
Artist - Rilie Tane
Based in Billings, Montana, Rilie is known for her powerful, nature-inspired murals and her unique blend of pyrography and paint. From her iconic bison mural in downtown Billings to restoring the historic Livestock Commission sign, her work celebrates the landscapes, wildlife, and stories of the American West.
Rilie’s journey from art educator to full-time artist reflects her deep commitment to creative expression. Her earthy, textured style—whether burned into wood or stretched across a wall—brings a rustic elegance that connects viewers to the land.
Rilie’s journey from art educator to full-time artist reflects her deep commitment to creative expression. Her earthy, textured style—whether burned into wood or stretched across a wall—brings a rustic elegance that connects viewers to the land.
2024 WALLS
2024 WALLS
ARTIST - JARUS
Emmanuel Jarus, known as Jarus, is a Canadian-born muralist with a global presence, creating large-scale portraits and figures inspired by neighborhood stories. Using acrylic, latex, and aerosol paint, his impressionist technique blends classical oil painting with street art, as noted on Street Art for Mankind. His murals, found in major cities and rural settings across Canada, the U.S., Mexico, and Europe, reflect community spirit and have earned international recognition.
ARTIST - FASM
Aaron “FASM” Vickery, from Modesto, California, began his artistic journey in 1991 with illegal tagging, later transitioning to legal graffiti through the LORDS crew (1993-1996). By 1996, he co-founded the Gospel Graffiti crew, gaining worldwide recognition, as highlighted in Gen X Are We Adults Yet?. FASM organizes annual competitions in Modesto and creates impactful murals, including a notable installation at Facebook HQ, showcasing his enterprise, Fasm Creative, on a global stage.
ARTIST - LAUREN DAAE
Lauren Daae, from south-east Saskatchewan, is celebrated for her innovative use of brewed coffee as a painting medium, resembling watercolour with refined detail and expressive splatter. Her work, as seen on OSAC, often draws from heritage, faith, and western Canadian culture, offering a fresh perspective. She has also explored watercolour, maintaining a loose, splashy style, adding a unique local flavor to the festival’s artistic offerings.
ARTIST - SONZ1
Jeff Goring, known as SONZ1, is a graffiti artist based in Medicine Hat, Alberta, with a career spanning nearly three decades. He has traveled globally, creating art in over 14 countries, including England and Australia, as noted in articles like Tourism Medicine Hat. SONZ1 is a key figure in the Medicine Hat Mural Fest, offering custom murals, canvases, prints, and apparel. His work, often community-focused, enhances urban spaces and engages locals, reflecting his commitment to art as a social connector.
ARTIST - TEANNA CHURCH
Teanna Church, based in Medicine Hat, Alberta, is recognized for her contributions to the local art scene, particularly through the Medicine Hat Mural Fest. In 2020, she painted “No Rain, No Flowers,” a mural symbolizing hope, as detailed in Tourism Medicine Hat. Her vibrant, uplifting style extends to custom murals for private and public spaces, enhancing the visual landscape and fostering community pride in Medicine Hat.
ARTIST - BACON
Alexander Bacon, a Canadian graffiti artist, is renowned for his vibrant murals that adorn the streets of Toronto and beyond. With over 20 years of experience, he has mastered spray paint, evolving traditional graffiti into an abstract style that maintains letter forms. His artwork, characterized by soft color transitions, blends abstract, realistic, and expressionist elements, making his pieces stand out in urban landscapes. Bacon’s contributions, such as those documented on Mural Routes, have not only beautified cityscapes but also revitalized areas, bringing attention to neglected urban spaces.
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