Artists Painted New Mural in Downtown Eau Claire

Tattoo artists Mel Georgakopoulos and Tyree Heding began work on a floral-themed mural in mid-September.

Updated on Oct. 13, 2026 in Painting

Gouache-painted illustration of a Bellwort flower mural on a brick building facade, evoking the artistic community project in Eau Claire. — Local tattoo artists Mel Georgakopoulos and Tyree Heding are transforming a downtown Eau Claire building with a new floral-themed mural. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Local tattoo artists Mel Georgakopoulos and Tyree Heding began painting the Barstow Bellwort mural in downtown Eau Claire in mid-September. The artists are working on the project three days a week outside of their shifts at Wintership Tattoo.

Why it matters

The mural aims to enhance the downtown area with a floral design that utilizes intricate light and shadow techniques. It serves as a community project that brings the creative work of local professionals into a public, outdoor setting.

The completed mural will measure 17 feet wide by 12 feet tall. The artists currently dedicate three days a week to applying warm tones and detailed lighting to the petal designs.

The players

Mel Georgakopoulos

A tattoo artist at Wintership Tattoo who is contributing to the downtown public mural project.

Tyree Heding

A professional tattoo artist at Wintership Tattoo working on the Barstow Bellwort mural.

Wintership Tattoo

The local Eau Claire tattoo studio where both artists are employed.

The details

Located at the corner of North Barstow Street and Wisconsin Street, the Barstow Bellwort mural features a design focused on shadows and light sources on the flower petals. The artists, who both work at Wintership Tattoo, are balancing this project with their regular professional commitments.

Artists began painting the mural in mid-September 2026.
The team expects to finish the mural in the coming weeks.

Culture Shift

This project reflects the broader shift toward integrating public art into downtown environments to increase pedestrian interest. By utilizing professional artists from the local community, it aligns with a growing movement to personalize urban spaces through accessible, large-scale displays.

Residents and visitors to the intersection of North Barstow Street and Wisconsin Street can view the work in progress as the artists apply final warm tones. The finished piece will provide a permanent visual landmark for those walking through the downtown area.

The takeaway

Public art projects require significant time commitments, often stretching across multiple weeks for local professionals. Residents interested in supporting local artists can observe the work as it progresses in outdoor community spaces.