Monticello
COMMUNITY GUIDE 2026
MontiArts fosters vibrant creative community
In 2018, the City of Monticello launched MontiArts with the goal of revitalizing downtown through public art, creative programming and community engagement. Since then, MontiArts has grown into a distinctive regional arts initiative, weaving murals, sculptures, mosaics, events and handson projects into the fabric of the city.
Connectivity through creativity is at the heart of the Monticello Arts Initiative. MontiArts focuses on making downtown a vibrant, inviting place where people want to gather, explore and spend time. By connecting local creatives and harnessing their ideas and energy, MontiArts plans events, develops programming and integrates public art into everyday spaces.
MontiArts is headquartered at 213 W. Broadway and is led by Director Erica Witzmann and Assistant Director Ben Lundquist, with support from volunteers and interns. Just down the street, the MontiArts Garage at 349 W. Broadway provides space for larger-scale and hands-on art projects.
Public art has become a defining feature of downtown Monticello. MontiArts’ first major installation transformed a photograph by local photographer Chris Lommel into a shimmering downtown artwork constructed from thousands of reflective discs that move with the breeze. Since then, MontiArts has developed a growing downtown art walk featuring murals, sculptures and community-created works, including mosaic benches, fish sculptures and other pieces from the ongoing Downtown Mosaic Art Project.
In 2025, MontiArts added three significant new murals to downtown and community spaces. At the Monticello Community Center, local muralist Aryn Lill created a 130-foot scenic sunrise mural depicting the Mississippi River and native plants and wildlife, bringing the riverfront indoors through an immersive, educational design. Downtown, artist Shawn McCann completed a large-scale mural on the north wall of Nordic Taphouse facing West Bridge Park, featuring Minnesota-inspired imagery including wolves, swans and the Northern Lights. Nearby on West Broadway, artist Allison Hunsley’ s“ Walk A Mile In Their Shoes” installation found a permanent home in a parklet across from MontiArts, inviting viewers to reflect on empathy and shared human experience through painted footwear and personal stories.
Additional artwork can be found throughout the city. The Monticello Community Center serves as a key stop on the art crawl, with multiple murals and sculptures. Along Walnut Street and Broadway, visitors will find more sculptures, murals, the colorful Cow Tag Project, the“ Shimmer Wall” and swan statues. In the city’ s parks, public art continues with pieces such as the smallmouth bass sculpture at Ellison Park and the beloved otter-on-a-bike sculpture at Otter Creek Park, which residents frequently dress in seasonal outfits.
With each new project, MontiArts continues to strengthen Monticello’ s identity as a community that values creativity, public space and shared experiences.
For more information, visit www. montiarts. com.
MONTICELLO COMMUNITY GUIDE | 2026 | 19