The fourteenth annual Denver Chalk Art Festival returned to Larimer Square this weekend. Over 200 artists took to the streets to create a diverse showcase ranging from original works to recreation of classical painters and a plenty of pop-culture references. If you were not one of the hundreds of thousands of people that stopped by this weekend, get a glimpse of what you missed with our photos from this year’s event.

The Award Winners

1st Place

Best in show, 1st place for Denver Chalk Art Fest 2016.

Best in show, 1st place for Denver Chalk Art Fest 2016. According to the artists, they were inspired by Mark Penner Howell’s mural located on 12th and Broadway. They said they received permission form the artist to recreate his work. All photos by Brittany Werges.

First place artists Misha Ferris Daniela Battaglioli and Angela Checco.

First place artists Misha Ferris, Daniela Battaglioli and Angela Checco.

2nd Place

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Best in Show, 2nd Place by artist Kyle Banister. Sponsored by Georgetown Loop

3rd Place

Best in Show- 3rd place by artist Emily Knaub Sponsored by Great Divide Brewing Co.

Best in Show- 3rd place by artist Emily Knaub. Sponsored by Great Divide Brewing Co.

People’s Choice Award

People’s Choice Award by artists Silas Henton and Kevlyn Walsh. Sponsored by Andrew & The MKP Helping Club.

People’s Choice Award by artists Silas Henton and Kevlyn Walsh.
Sponsored by Andrew & The MKP Helping Club.

Best 3D

Best 3D by Artist Chris Carlson. Sponsored by 125th Anniversary Historic Elitch Theater

Best 3D by artist Chris Carlson. Sponsored by 125th Anniversary Historic Elitch Theater

Carlson's work before completion

Carlson’s work before completion

Best Use of Color

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Best Use of Color by artists Melissa Clark, Sandra Clark, Rachel Elias, Tony Rosales. Sponsored by The Imbergamo Group.

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To see a full list of this year’s winners go here. 

Featured Artists

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The Hollenbeck family have participated in the Chalk Art Festival for almost a decade. Father Mark Hollenbeck (pictured left) is an art teacher in Lutheran High School in Parker. Daughter Grace (pictured right) often competes solo but, this year they worked together on a composite entry inspired by the biblical story “Daniel in the Lions’ Den.”

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Hollenbeck’s son, Micah, completing his work inspired by Android Jones a contemporary digital artist. This year, Micah was not a featured artist.

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Mark and Grace Hollenbeck’s completed work inspired by “Daniel in the Lions’ Den.”

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Micah Hollenbeck’s work inspired by Android Jones a contemporary digital artist. This year, Micah was not a featured artist.

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Dawn Wagner's original work was designed for the "age of the smartphone." It was constructed to be viewed and photographed from one vantage point. Wagner has been participating in chalk art festivals for 29 years and started at the original competition in Santa Barbara. She has participated in Denver's Chalk Art Festival for fourteen years.

Dawn Wagner has been participating in chalk art festivals for 29 years and started at the original competition in Santa Barbara. She has participated in Denver’s Chalk Art Festival for 14 years.

Wagner's original work is thirteen feet long. It was designed for the "age of the smartphone" and is meant to be viewed and photographed from one vantage point.

Wagner’s original work is 13 feet long. It was designed for the “age of the smartphone” and is meant to be viewed and photographed from one vantage point.

Andrew Wyeth completing his 2016 entry .

Stephen DeOrio recreating Andrew Wyeth’s “Braids.”

"Braids" by Andrew Wyeth

To learn more about this year’s featured artists, go here. 


Honorable Mentions

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Deadpool by a group called the Chalk Art Ratz

Andrew Leising

Andrew Leising’s portrait of David Bowie.

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Not a painting, but an egg was cracked next to Leising’s painting on the man-hole cover, conveying how hot it was outside.

According to the artist the child pictured is her grandson Sage. The photo was taken right before the Super Bowl and he "knew we were going to win."

According to the artist, the child pictured is her grandson Sage. The photo was taken right before the Super Bowl and he “knew we were going to win.”

Work by Karl Horeis a painter of "pop-influenced American realism in acrylic and water color."

Work by Karl Horeis, a painter of “pop-influenced American realism in acrylic and water color.”

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The work is inspired by the dutch artist, Johanna Martine.

This work is inspired by Effie Gray, the muse of 19th century Pre-Raphaelite painter John Everett Millais

This work is inspired by Effie Gray, the muse of 19th-century Pre-Raphaelite painter John Everett Millais

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University of Colorado Denver's chalk art entry of David Bowie and Prince.

University of Colorado Denver’s chalk art entry of David Bowie and Prince.

3D BB-8 at Denver Chalk Art Festival 2016

3D BB-8 at Denver Chalk Art Festival 2016

Madonna mural sponsored by Rock Bottom.

Madonna mural sponsored by Rock Bottom Brewery.

Recreation of a Tamara de Lempicka painting, a polish Art Deco painter.

Recreation of a Tamara de Lempicka painting, a polish Art Deco painter.

Boulder's Fiske Planetarium's entry.

Boulder’s Fiske Planetarium’s entry.

 


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Denver Chalk Art Festival by day…

Denver Chalk Art Festival by night. All photos by Brittany Werges.

Denver Chalk Art Festival by night. All photos by Brittany Werges.