Art64 – A Live Painting Showdown

Art64 is a live painting tournament that takes over Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, each summer. Sixty-four artists. Head-to-head matchups. Multiple rounds. One chance to make something bold in front of a live, voting crowd. It’s fast, high-energy, and a little chaotic—in the best way. Oh and did I mention, $20k is on the line?

I was lucky enough to be one of the 64 artists chosen to compete this year, bringing my usual mix of spray paint, paint markers, and brushwork to the battlefield. In round one, I had what I can only describe as a mild panic attack when I looked up and realized I was painting in front of hundreds of people. But by round two, I started to feed off the crowd’s energy. There’s something electric about creating live with that kind of support and curiosity around you.

I didn’t make it past round two—but honestly, I walked away with way more than I expected. I met incredible artists, connected with new fans and collectors, and got a real boost of appreciation for the weird, colorful stuff I put out into the world. Art64 was a blur of paint fumes, adrenaline, and connection. I’d do it again in a heartbeat.