Longmont Artists Transform Utility Boxes With Paint

Ten local artists completed mural projects on city utility switchgear boxes following a community voting process.

Updated on Oct. 30, 2026 in Painting

Longmont Artists Transform Utility Boxes With Paint

Live Poll

Do public art projects like painted utility boxes improve the overall appeal of your community?

Ten artists from Longmont and Boulder have completed vibrant mural designs on city utility switchgear boxes. The project was finalized as part of the local Shock Art program, which invited residents to vote on the chosen concepts.

Why it matters

The program aims to empower regional creators by providing a platform to share their artistic vision directly with the local community. By turning functional infrastructure into public art, the initiative fosters neighborhood engagement and creative expression.

Each of the ten participating artists received a $2,000 stipend for their work. Stephanie Jordan noted that her specific mural installation required approximately 40 hours of labor to finish.

The players

Kayla Ghera

Kayla Ghera is a local artist who contributed to the city beautification project by painting a switchgear box.

Stephanie Jordan

Stephanie Jordan is a participating artist who has been involved in the city initiative since 2023.

The details

Selected through community votes on scale models, the artists used exterior house paint to decorate the boxes throughout the city. Installations include pieces by Kayla Ghera near Nelson Road and Dry Creek Drive and Stephanie Jordan at Wedgewood Avenue and Hover Street.

Stephanie Jordan first participated in the Shock Art program in 2023.
Painting for the utility boxes commenced in September 2026.
The final deadline for all artists to complete their work was October 31, 2026.

Culture Shift

Longmont follows a pattern established by the national trend of utility box mural programs documented by the Americans for the Arts public art database. These initiatives reflect a broader societal shift toward integrating aesthetic value into essential urban infrastructure.

Residents can now view the completed murals throughout the city, providing a more vibrant aesthetic to daily commutes and neighborhood walks. These installations are permanent additions to the area's streetscape, replacing standard utility equipment with colorful designs.

The takeaway

Turning standard city equipment into art provides a low-cost way for cities to enhance the aesthetic quality of public spaces. Residents interested in future projects should monitor city announcements to participate in the community voting processes for new public art concepts.