Missoula Downtown Foundation Celebrates Completion of Lillian Nelson’s The Dorothy Dragon Mural Thursday, Sept. 5 at 4pm
Missoula Downtown Foundation Celebrates Completion of Lillian Nelson’s
The Dorothy Dragon Mural Thursday, Sept. 5 at 4pm
The Missoula Downtown Foundation (MDF) will celebrate the completion of The Dorothy Dragon mural on the Dorothy Building at 131 W. Alder Street, Thursday, Sept. 5 at 4pm. The media and public are invited to learn more about muralist Lillian Nelson, who has spent the last three months painting Missoula’s newest mural.
Lillian Nelson is a prominent artist from Missoula, who is known for her captivating artistic work. She has poured her creativity and passion into a dragon masterpiece that spans 118 feet in length, over 28 feet in height, and across three walls of the building. The work brings new life to the area and activates a bland wall space in the Heart of Missoula. The mural was made possible due to the partnerships and funding provided by the Missoula Downtown Foundation and building owner Sandy Mitchell.
“The Dorothy Dragon is an exceptional piece of art in Historic Downtown Missoula that has come to life, thanks to artist Lilly Nelson, building owner Sandy Mitchell, and the Missoula Downtown Foundation!” said Travis Neil, Board President for the Foundation and Project Manager at Dick Anderson Construction. “In the Foundation’s second year of the Arts & Culture Impact Grants, we have made a significant investment in big art for the public’s enjoyment.”
The Foundation’s Arts & Culture Impact Grant program funded two art projects this summer, totaling a combined investment with property owners, of over $30,000 for Downtown murals. The second project is Kelsey Dzintars’ mural Free Flow on the north wall of the Downtown Missoula Partnership Building at 218 East Main Street. In 2023, the Foundation funded the Greetings from Missoula Mural, painted by Tanya Lee, as well as the Missoula Art Museum’s Teen Art Project in the alley adjacent to Office City.
One of the many cool things funded by the Missoula Downtown Foundation, the Arts & Culture Impact Grant program creates the opportunity to pair artists and building owners together and provide funding to create meaningful artwork that helps the public connect to this special place, the Heart of Missoula. The grant cycle for 2025 projects will open on January 1 and can be found online at https://www.missouladowntown.com/missoula-downtown-foundation/grants.
For more information about the Foundation, the Arts & Culture Impact Grants, or Downtown murals, contact the Downtown Missoula Partnership via phone (406-543-4238) or email ([email protected]).