One of the greatest advantages of working with Polytab is the flexibility it gives artists to experiment with new installation techniques. For this mural, I approached the project much like assembling a large-scale collage, combining multiple painted sections into one cohesive composition.
The artwork was commissioned by Urban Land Conservancy for a newly acquired building in Denver that has been renamed to honor Dr. Justina Ford, one of Colorado’s most influential physicians. Installed in the main lobby, the mural welcomes visitors while celebrating Dr. Ford’s lasting impact on the community.
Instead of producing the mural as a single piece, I divided it into six individual Polytab panels. Four panels created the background, while two larger sections featured Dr. Ford’s portrait alongside members of the community she served throughout her medical career. Breaking the artwork into sections made fabrication, transportation, and installation much more manageable while maintaining the appearance of one continuous mural.
To reduce material waste, leftover Polytab from the cutouts wasn’t discarded. Those offcuts were carefully trimmed and installed in smaller, hard-to-reach areas of the wall, allowing the entire surface to be covered while making the most of every piece of material.
If you’re interested in seeing how the entire project came together, watch the full YouTube video where I document every stage of the process—from planning and painting the panels to installing the completed mural on site.