Art Prize x Shakedown Street Interactive Mural by Erica Kuhl

Erica Kuhl is an oil painter, designer, and a lifelong West Michigan resident. She received a BFA from Kendall College of Art and Design in 1991 and spent twenty years operating a design and printing company before returning to her love of painting. Her preference for vivid, contrasting colors, wild perspectives, and dynamic composition is evident in her work.

Erica Kuhl's passion for storytelling comes to life in her paintings. She finds joy in researching symbolism and composing patterns to develop a unique narrative. Each painting is crafted with intention, like a puzzle, and truly reflects her love of history and the human experience.

Her inspiration comes from hieroglyphic-style art, Fauvist color palettes, and an early interest in illuminated manuscript art. Her style features a blend of colorful subjects and symbols, reflecting human interaction and social conflicts. You’ll find familiar objects hidden in her work, like an eye-spy game of metaphor. Her whimsical storytelling will have you lost inside her paintings, noticing new things every time you return.

Erica feels fortunate to be a part of Shakedown Street, a Grateful Dead Boutique here in Grand Rapids, Michigan. For over 30 years, Erica has been an important member of the Shakedown team. Kuhl’s work is crucial to the spirit of this Westside staple. Her paintings and skills can be found in every corner of the shop, if you look just right!

A word from the artist

"I have lived in this fantastic city for over 39 years. I have been a student, a pretzel peddler, a business owner and a wandering artist. I have stayed in friend filled homes, on basement couches and in abandoned buildings. Through all those years, in all the places and occupations I have always been able to create art because of the incredible friends that supported me. Shakedown Street and the people here that make it such a special place have been part of my family as long as I can remember. Without their love and encouragement none of the art I create would be possible. This mural is a celebration of that love. It tells many stories about the city and amazing people. The Grateful Dead is a major theme of the mural as well. Bertha, the largest figure in the mural, reaches out, leading the viewer into the mural. Her motion echoes through the myriad of buildings and characters that seem to bend and twist to her will.

Enjoy exploring this beautiful city I call home!"

♥ Erica

Want to interact with this one-of-a-kind mural? Here's how:

1. First, make sure your smartphone is on and open to your Home Screen.
2. Next, find any one of over 100 small brightly colored heart icons located throughout the lower half of the mural.
3. Then, with your phone parallel to the wall, align the camera with the hart and rest your phone on the wall. Do not launch your phones camera app. It may take more than one attempt but your phone should recognize and alert you on your Home Screen that it has discovered a "nfc tag".
4. Finally, click on the notification to view what is being highlighted!

Many of our city’s iconic buildings and public art pieces are represented on the mural. Discover people, events and some of the history that makes Grand Rapids such a groovy place. The Grateful Dead and the people that work at our hippie sanctuary can be found here as well as on the other side of the mural so please stop in and say hello!