Mural Art in SLO CAL: How Public Art Brings Life to a Wall

Art has always had a place in the region: dating back to the 1800s, the interior murals of Mission San Miguel exist exactly as they had when they were first completed by the missionaries and Salinan people.

Even more, the area has a long history of supporting works of public art that energize and beautify civic spaces. Today this can be seen in utility box art programs and diverse mural art depicting landscapes, cultural scenes and intricate design elements that were inspired by the region.

With support from organizations like the San Luis Obispo County Arts Council, live performance venues, museums, galleries and more, the creatives and artists will continue to thrive in this region. In SLO CAL, a canvas can be anywhere. Here, art lives on every corner, and on every wall.

Often beginning with a blank wall and some inspiration, mural art is a process that brings together an artist and local influences to create something one of a kind that brightens the day of those who pass by.

Inspired by the annual migration of the Western Monarch Butterfly through the region, Visit SLO CAL commissioned two murals from professional sign makers and muralists Canned Pineapple Co. One mural adorns the wall between Baxter Moerman Jewelers and Scout Coffee on Garden Street in the City of San Luis Obispo, and the other can be found in Cambria’s East Village on the side of Bob & Jan’s Bottle Shop.

With the mentorship of artist Sean Beauchamp of Southpaw Signs in Oceano, Buddy Norton learned how to paint and gild with the best sign makers in the area. Along the way, he taught his partner Shelby Lowe what he’d learned, and they eventually decided to start their own operation as Canned Pineapple Co being the dynamic duo behind the well-loved art. What started as a sign-painting business evolved over the years to include producing large-scale original murals for businesses and public spaces that can be seen throughout SLO CAL (and beyond).

The designs of these murals were inspired by the SLO CAL way of life and the mural in San Luis Obispo includes a trotting horse that harkens back to the 1800s, when horse-drawn carriages passed by this wall, and as a nod to Cal Poly University, home of the Mustangs. The monarchs in this piece overlap which represent brushing shoulders and sharing the space. In Cambria, a horseshoe points to the area’s ranching heritage. Here monarchs are depicted floating over the ocean.

These two murals, although clearly of the same series and theme, are also unique in their own right and well worth a trip to see.

"Eternal Blossom" 
📍 1130 Garden Street, San Luis Obispo

"Fly To Her"
📍 2292 Main Street, Cambria

Ready to explore more SLO CAL mural art? The SLO CAL Mural Trail invites visitors and locals to explore the many eclectic murals painted throughout the area, with a focus on what sets SLO CAL apart.

Including over 50 works of mural art throughout San Luis Obispo County, the trail is a fantastic way to enjoy the best SLO CAL has to offer. Buckle up, grab the snacks, and take a spin to find murals painted by a wide array of artists, from talented amateurs to notable professionals and inspired by the nature, culture and people of the region.