What is Wildlife Walls?
The Wildlife Walls Project is a public art initiative that began in 2022 to celebrate Utah’s wildlife through large-scale murals. These murals do more than brighten boring walls and revitalize Main Streets; they tell stories about the wildlife that shapes Utah’s identity. Each piece highlights a local species, using art and a custom QR code to bring awareness to the local habitats and creature stories. From small town main streets to bustling urban parks, these murals turn ordinary places into eye-catching, powerful reminders that wild animals are part of our communities in the American West.
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Led by artist Chris Peterson, in collaboration with dozens of partners, this grassroots project has turned blank walls across the state into monumental mural tributes to local species. Nine murals have been completed across six counties so far, with a goal of painting at least one in all 29 Utah counties. Each made possible through dozens of partnerships with municipalities, businesses, nonprofits, private citizens, and local property owners.
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Upcoming projects in 2025 include murals of the kokanee salmon at Strawberry Reservoir, bison, pronghorn and burrowing owls in Davis County, bobcat in Sevier County, and pinyon jay in Garfield County.
How it Started...
The project began with a 120-foot mural of the Bonneville cutthroat trout in Salt Lake City, unveiled during the first annual Bonnie Ball Street Festival in 2022. This event was the first of many that brought together artists, conservationists, wildlife advocates, and local communities to celebrate Utah’s wildlife diversity and habitat.
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Inspired by the community support, Utah Wildlife Walls was born with a mission of installing at least one monumental wildlife mural in each of Utah's 29 counties. This project began with a collaboration of Chris Peterson and Brett Prettyman, in partnership with Utah Wildlife Federation and dozens of partners.
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We launched the Wildlife Walls project with a $10,000 cash prize contest for creative submissions related to wildlife in Utah. Art, Writing, Video, Digital Storytelling, Digital Art, Music/Sound for all ages.
...Celebrate Utah Wildlife Contest...
The contest promotion generated nearly 1000 entries from across the state, from kids, teens and adults during Spring 2023. In addition to distributing $10,000 in prizes, participants were also invited to exhibit their physical work at a gallery show in Salt Lake.
Selected winners from this exhibit were curated into a traveling exhibit that is currently offered by the Utah Division of Arts and Museums.
How it's going!
Since we launched, we've completed nine murals across Utah, hosted a $10,000 Celebrate Utah Wildlife Contest and we're launching the Utah Wildlife Walls Mural Trail in 2025.
9 Completed Projects:
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​Bonneville cutthroat-Salt Lake City, Oct. '22
Golden Eagle, Rattlesnake-Midvale, June '23
Colorado River cutthroat-Vernal, Aug. '23
Brown Trout-Heber, Nov. '23
Razorback Sucker- Moab- March & May '24
Desert Tortoise & Gila Monster- Saint George- June '24
Moose, Bison, Native Bee & Grizzly Bear- SLC 'July 24
Bear River cutthroat, White Faced Ibis, Grizzly Bear,
Firefly & Monarch Butterfly-Logan November '24
Bart the Bear- Heber November '24
What's Next?
Coming Soon!
2025-2026 Projects
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​Bobcat- Richfield
Red Tailed Hawk- Parowan
Kokanee Salmon- Strawberry Reservoir
Mule Deer-Kanab
Pinyon Blue Jay- Escalante
Bison, Pronghorn, Burrowing Owl- Antelope Island
Lake Trout- Manila
Sage Grouse & Brown Trout- Dutch John
Great Blue Heron - Green River
Dragonfly-Moab
Cisco in Bear Lake
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Wildlife Walls Mural Trail
NEW!
The newest endeavor for Wildlife Walls is an interactive mural trail. The Wildlife Walls Mural Trail links 14 wildlife murals with dozens of nearby wildlife viewing areas. The goal is to inspire people to get outside; travel the Mural Trail across Utah’s spectacular landscape to visit epic murals AND enjoy diverse wildlife encounters of your own.
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We are preparing to launch our new website as a route finding tool for highlighting Wildlife Walls murals, popular local wildlife viewing areas, and viewing recommendations. We are also including local outfitters and businesses that provide wildlife experiences. Visits to the murals and wildlife areas will benefit local businesses and rural economies.
Coming Soon!
Who We Are
Chris Peterson
Artist & Co-Founder
Chris Peterson is an Utah-based multi-disciplinary artist whose current work focuses on wildlife, nature and creative place-making. He studied fine art at BYU and Kansas City Art Institute and earned graduate degrees in public administration and environmental humanities from the University of Utah. His career spans the public, nonprofit, education, and philanthropic sectors with expertise in river advocacy, public engagement, rural development, and arts education.
Gentry Hale
Writer & Contributor
Gentry Hale is a Utah-born travel writer and environmental journalist with a deep-rooted love for wildlife policy and land management. She studied environmental sustainability and creative writing at the University of Utah before receiving her master’s degree in environmental journalism from the University of Montana. When she isn’t writing, Gentry can be found on the move. Whether camping in Montana, surfing in California or traveling to a foreign country, she feels most at home when she’s not at home.
Brett Prettyman
Writer & Co-Founder
Brett Prettyman, a Utah native, has dedicated his life to exploring the state's landscapes and wildlife. He spent 25 years as the outdoors/environment editor at the Salt Lake Tribune and later served as communications director for Trout Unlimited. An Emmy-winning journalist and author of Fishing Utah, he has been a member of the Outdoor Writers Association of America since 1992. Brett now chairs the executive board for Reel Recovery and lives in Salt Lake with his wife and three children.
Samantha Kennedy
Outreach & Digital Marketer
Samantha was raised in New Mexico where her love for wildlife started as a photographer. She is a digital marketing major at Utah Valley University where she found a passion for mixing fine art and Wildlife Conservation in her own art. She splits her time between Utah and Hawai'i and is involved in documenting the development of Manu-o-KÅ« (white terns), and Albatross chicks on the island of O'ahu. She is a cat mom, video game enthusiast, bookworm, and dancer.
Big thanks to our Wildlife Walls Partners!
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Want to get involved? We'd love to work with you!
Our grassroots initiative is driven by collaboration and a shared passion for Utah's wildlife. We are looking for municipal and county partners, corporate sponsors, property owners, guides & outfitters, and volunteers statewide. If you'd like to get involved, send us a note!
Utah Wildlife Walls is made possible through a partnership with Utah Wildlife Federation, a 501c3 organization made up of hunters, anglers and outdoor enthusiasts ensuring wildlife thrive in Utah.
