MISSOULA DOWNTOWN FOUNDATION LAUNCHES DOWNTOWN MURAL PROJECT IN PARTNERSHIP WITH WREN HOTEL AND MISSOULA ARTIST ABIGAIL FRENCH

Starting this week, a second blank canvas in Downtown Missoula will experience the beginnings of a new mural. Supported by the Missoula Downtown Foundation’s Arts and Culture Impact Grant program, the What Makes Montana mural will begin Friday, June 20, 2025, in partnership with the Wren Hotel and local artist Abigail French.

The What Makes Montana mural will cover roughly 100 square feet of the Wren Hotel’s drive-thru space and depict signature elements of Montana’s culture and ecosystem, including images of a skier, kayaker, Rainbow Trout, Western Meadowlark, Elk, the Bitterroot flower, Grizzly Bear, Bison, and more. Each element will be broken down into silhouettes that morph from the iconic Montana outline into the symbol, and back again into the outline of Montana. The art piece will be visible from the adjacent sidewalk and draw visitors in to appreciate the abstract nature of each element coming together to represent What Makes Montana.

“During our review of applicants this year, the unique symmetry of French’s piece stood out to our board and staff,” said Rob Fleming, President of the Missoula Downtown Foundation Board of Directors. “As the finishing touches are put on one mural downtown, the What Makes Montana mural starts to take form at the Wren Hotel. We are excited to work with Abby French and the Wren Hotel to add another mural to the art landscape of Downtown.”

Originally from Wisconsin, French is an artist and Early Childhood Educator located in Missoula, MT. French holds a Bachelor’s Degree of Fine Arts from the University of Montana and enjoys sharing art with the world. French stated in her application that her new mural piece is “about what makes up Montana and the connections that unify us as Montana citizens.”

“Finding connection through art is always a goal of mine,” mentioned French. “I believe public art is a great tool to help cultivate community. This mural, entitled What Makes Montana is a way of paying tribute to the beauty of our state. Through abstracting and reconstructing images of Montana’s culture and nature, I hope to help viewers find a shared sense of place and identity.”

The project is funded by the Missoula Downtown Foundation and the Wren Hotel, which opened its doors in December 2022. Todd Liphardt, General Manager, stated, “the Wren is proud to collaborate with Abby and the Missoula Downtown Foundation on this exciting project. We are grateful for the opportunity to help bring vibrant art to life!” The hotel has supported local artists with numerous pop-up galleries during First Fridays and welcomes the addition of this new mural to their space.

These projects are made possible in part due to generous gifts from local donors. Missoulians interested in supporting the Arts & Culture Impact Grant program are encouraged to donate directly to the program online at donations.missouladowntown.com.

For more information about the Missoula Downtown Foundation’s grant program, visit missouladowntown.com/missoula-downtown-foundation/grant/ or reach out to the Downtown team via phone (406) 543-4238 or email [email protected].