If you’ve strolled through Olde Town Arvada recently, chances are you’ve seen the bold, whimsical octopus mural splashed across the north side of Rheinlander Bakery. Created by muralist and gallery artist Patrick Maxcy, the vibrant piece blends ocean life with Colorado elements like monarch butterflies, forests, and western bluebirds—creatures you wouldn’t normally find side-by-side. “I love juxtaposing animals that wouldn’t normally coexist,” Maxcy says. “It creates a visual story and makes people stop and ask questions.”
The mural was commissioned after Maxcy won Arvada’s local mural festival last year. “I’d pitched ideas to Olde Town for years without much traction,” he recalls. “But when I won the festival, it opened the door to this larger opportunity.”
Using only spray paint—aside from a few brush strokes on the background and butterflies—Maxcy completed the massive mural over the course of three days. “Spray paint is way faster, and it fits the scale of murals like this,” he says. “I’ve been painting murals for years, but I picked up spray paint techniques more recently to expand what I could do on large walls.”
For Maxcy, art is about more than aesthetics. “I want people, especially kids, to see something different and feel a sense of joy or curiosity,” he shares. That emotional connection even extends to the details: Maxcy hides small hearts in every piece as a nod to his family. “When I’m traveling for work, it’s my way of keeping them close,” he says. “There are at least two hidden hearts in this mural.”
Bright, surprising, and heartfelt, Maxcy’s mural brings imagination to the streets and invites Arvada to look a little closer.
Patrick Maxcy- Winner of Arvada’s local Mural Festival
- Painter, muralist, and adventurer
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Draws inspiration from his own travels and life experiences.
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Incorporates nature as a central theme in his storytelling.
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Has worked with brands like Red Bull, YETI, Topo Chico, Denver Parks & Recreation, Sierra Nevada, TOMS, Breckenridge Brewery and more
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You can purchase paintings and check out Patrick's portfolio at patrickmaxcy.com