The 2025 Street Wise Mural Festival took place last weekend in downtown Boulder along Pearl Street. While walking the road looking for a muralist to photograph, I was drawn to a back alley just past 15th street by the sound of R&B music. It was there that I found mural artist Jorge Cuartas working on his piece.
Originally, I was struck by the vibrant colors and playful nature of Cuartas’s mural. Though, in speaking with Cuartas, I discovered that the artist was much more interesting than the art. Cuartas began his career doing graffiti street art at the age of 13 and is credited as one of the pioneers who helped popularize graffiti in Miami. Over the years, he expanded his work nationwide, painting in cities from coast to coast. His transition into large-scale mural projects opened new opportunities, including recognition from a Google office manager.
That connection led to Cuartas’ murals being featured at multiple Google offices across the country. Beyond his success in mural work, I discovered our common love for photography and his deep passion for motorsports.
More of Cuartas’s work can be seen at jorgecuartas.com.
Mural artist Jorge Cuartas poses in front of his mural on the rear of Ozo Coffee on Pearl Street on September 27th, 2025. (Peter FitzGerald/CU Independent)
Mural artist Jorge Cuartas spray paints a mural on the rear of Ozo Coffee on Pearl Street on September 27th, 2025. (Peter FitzGerald/CU Independent)
Mural artist Jorge Cuartas spray paints a mural on the rear of Ozo Coffee on Pearl Street on September 27th, 2025. (Peter FitzGerald/CU Independent)
Mural artist Jorge Cuartas spray paints a mural on the rear of Ozo Coffee on Pearl Street on September 27th, 2025. (Peter FitzGerald/CU Independent)
Mural artist Jorge Cuartas’s spray paint belt used for his mural on the rear of Ozo Coffee on Pearl Street on September 27th, 2025. (Peter FitzGerald/CU Independent)
Mural artist Jorge Cuartas spray paints a mural on the rear of Ozo Coffee on Pearl Street on September 27th, 2025. (Peter FitzGerald/CU Independent)
Mural artist Jorge Cuartas’s spray paints used for his mural on the rear of Ozo Coffee on Pearl Street on September 27th, 2025. (Peter FitzGerald/CU Independent)
Mural artist Jorge Cuartas spray paints a mural on the rear of Ozo Coffee on Pearl Street on September 27th, 2025. (Peter FitzGerald/CU Independent)
Contact CU Independent staff photographer Peter FitzGerald at peter.fitzgerald@colorado.edu.
