Pat Milbery
“Love Always Wins” Mural Location: 1245 Pearl St Boulder, CO 80302 (Alley facing Bohemian Biergarten)
“Smile” Mural Location: 1220 Pennsylvania Ave Boulder, CO 80302 (West-facing wall in the alley behind The Sink)
Colorado-based artist Pat Milbery painted this mural as a gift to the people of Boulder. After tragedies such as the Marshall Fire and King Soopers Shooting, the artist hopes this mural will spread love amongst the community and remind people to give love to others and themselves.
Pat employs the full rainbow in this towering mural. A clenched fist complete with heart-shaped fingernails shoots up from the darkness to form a glowing geometric heart, a signature motif used by the artist across his many murals. The message “Love Always Wins” emerges from behind the fist atop colors that evoke the sunset.
The muralist takes inspiration from Che Guevara and the image of the raised fist used by many revolutionary groups to show solidarity and unity. Pat transforms this counterculture symbol that declares the Power of and for the People into an image that boasts the Power of Love. His mural reveals the importance of love in transforming our world and the need to come to understand and respect one another before resorting to using our fists. Love destroys fear and minimizes the risk of physical conflict, creating an environment for peaceful, loving coexistence.
Love takes daily practice and dedication. First, by practicing love for ourselves, we can spread love to others in our community.
Pat had the capacity to create not one but two murals during Street Wise 2022! This vibrant mural on the Hill serves as a reminder to live in the present moment.
A kaleidoscope of bright colors covers the wall, evoking the geometric patterns used by Pat in his many other murals. The artist doesn’t shy away from color, seemingly using the whole rainbow here. Pat even painted the window, window bars, pipes, and drainage gutter on this wall, flooding the whole area with color. A large smiley face appears in the upper right corner and the text reminds the viewer “smile you are meant to be here.”
The artist sought to paint a mural that encouraged viewers to remain in the present rather than get caught up in the past or worry about the future. There is power in the now and through the practice of self-awareness and valuing our self-worth, we can harness that power.
Pat also wanted to draw attention to how much this space means to the Boulder community by recognizing the special history of this building. Currently, it holds the legendary The Sink, while previously it housed the first Wave Rave Snowboard Shop and Twist Clothing and Outerwear, both popular snowboarding retailers.
About the Artist: