Chilliwack Mural Festival artists revealed

CHILLIWACK — The Chilliwack Mural Festival has unveiled its 2026 roster of muralists, with 11 artists from five countries set to convert downtown walls into large-scale works of art this summer.

Painting will begin June 15 and continue through to August 16. The 2026 works will focus on endangered wildlife, Indigenous heritage, social justice and the power of the natural world.

The artists were selected from more than 1,100 applications, meaning less than one per cent of applications were accepted.

Curators Carrielynn Victor and Amber Price choose artists whose work they say, will add vibrancy to downtown Chilliwack while inspiring meaningful discussion and community engagement.

Canadian artists from Chilliwack, Vancouver and Ottawa will be joined by international artists from France, Germany, the Netherlands and the United States.

Among the featured local artists is Aysha McConkey. She’s a Chilliwack-based junior biologist and wildlife illustrator whose work combines scientific knowledge with conservation-focused imagery. The festival describes her work as immersive images that bridge art and science while promoting environmental education.

Another local artist, Nina Kroeker, is a self-taught painter living in the Fraser Valley. Kroeker is originally from Regina, Saskatchewan who developed a passion for art at a young age.

Stan Greene of Chilliwack is an artist of Coast Salish and Nez Perce descent. Greene attended the Kasan School of Native Art in Hazelton in 1977. He’s worked as a professional carver for the past 22 years. His carvings are primarily created in Tsimshian and Salish styles.

Lise Oakley, the Executive Director of the Chilliwack Community Arts Council, is excited about the coming festival and watching how it impacts the region. “These 10 artists aren’t just painting murals, they’re starting conversations about land, identity, wildlife, and what we owe to each other,” said Oakley.

The festival’s free street party will take place Aug. 14 and 15 in Central Community Park and the District 1881 area.