If you’ve strolled through Pearl Street lately, you may have noticed the striking impressionistic paintings spray-painted on buildings, newspaper stands, stairwells, and U.S. Postal Service mail boxes. No, it’s not the city’s latest public art installment—it’s the work of “SMiLE,” an anonymous street artist who has been spreading colorful graffiti images of cats, dogs, and portraits around Boulder for the last year.
Some recurring subjects featured in SMiLE’s art include the Dalai Lama, Vincent Van Gogh (both portraits of the artist and variations on “The Starry Night“), Jack Kerouac and Neal Cassady (a nod to Naropa University and Boulder’s rich beatnik history), Tupac Shakur (to whom SMiLE has said is “sort of like a psychological meme”), and cats (perhaps the images for which SMiLE is best known). Each work of art is tagged with the ubiquitous signature: “SMiLE.”
Like British mystery graffiti artist Banksy, SMiLE’s work only occurs in the obscurity of night. To expedite the process, SMiLE creates intricate stencils ahead of time that could take 30 to 40 hours to cut, then spray paints contrasting hues over them. This process allows the art to be applied to outdoor surfaces in a matter of minutes.
Boulder’s graffiti ordinance strictly prohibits “painting, scratching or coloring” on private or public property without permission, but this hasn’t stopped SMiLE’s popularity from spreading—even by those whose businesses or property have been the canvas for SMiLE’s masterpieces. Some local artists say that street art enhances the feeling of community and togetherness.
“What SMiLE is doing is a great example of how to successfully execute undercover street art,” says Leah Brenner, artist and founder of the Boulder-based mural project And Art Space. “The mystery of who SMiLE is, combined with the great execution, subject matter, and placement of the work makes SMiLE one of the first notable street artists coming out of Boulder that I can recall. For that, I applaud SMiLE’s efforts.”
In addition to work throughout Pearl Street and around town, SMiLE has completed a legal mural of a cat on University Hill. SMiLE’s work was also the subject of a gallery show last summer at madelife, a launchpad for artists and creative entrepreneurs.
As more people catch on and are on the lookout for SMiLE’s next work, it’s incredible that the rogue artist’s cover has not yet been blown. The next time a pop of color or unique graphic on the side of a building catches your eye, take a closer look—you could be witnessing the latest treasure by SMiLE.