MURAL MAKERS

North Mankato Floodwall

Mural Artist: Jordyn Brennan
Location: Twin Cities, Minnesota

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One of my recent murals is located alongside the Minnesota River and Scenic Drive in North Mankato, MN. Inspired by this location, I aimed to capture the natural beauty of North Mankato. Whether you’re exploring solo or with family, the parks and trails in North Mankato offer abundant opportunities to enjoy the outdoors. The flowers in the mural represent the local wildflowers, and the silhouettes provide a glimpse of the many ways to spend time outside in North Mankato. The mural also features several historic elements specific to North Mankato, and the pattern throughout incorporates the city’s logo. In the background, you can see a map of Mankato-North Mankato and a river leading to a waterfall, paying tribute to Minnemishinona Falls and Minneopa Falls. This is one of my personal favorite designs because of the array of plants, people, and places that are so specific to North Mankato. Seeing this design come to life and transform a not-so-typically shaped wall was so fun!

About the Mural:
Name: North Mankato Floodwall
Approximately 640 sq ft, 70 ft long concrete floodwall
Products used: Golden Paintworks Mural & Theme Paint and Varnish
See it at:
1001 Belgrade Ave, Mankato, MN 56003:

About the Maker

My name is Jordyn Brennan and I am visual artist based in the Twin Cities, Minnesota. I received my BA in Studio Arts from Upper Iowa University and my MFA from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design. I’ve been collaborating with businesses and cities across the United States to create site-specific murals for over 5 years. My work tends to change with each project but over the years, I’ve become known for my painting of large flowers and plants that exhibit bold realism, color, and contrast in a collage-like composition. Along with my visual practice, I teach a group and individual arts enrichment class for older adults.

How did you get started painting murals?

I, like most college students, did a lot of small gigs around town to make an extra buck. I first started painting windows for local businesses, which then grew to designs on garage doors and residential spaces, etc and I began to realize how much fun it was to paint at a larger-than-life scale. I had super encouraging faculty at Upper Iowa University and they were instrumental in pushing me to apply for my first mural. That mural led to another, and another, and 5 years later, I still feel every bit as excited, nervous and a little crazy with each new project I start.

Love For All, 2021, Golden Mural Acrylic Paint and Varnish on Metal, 85’ x 35’, Faribault, MN. The hands represent the American Sign Language (ASL) alphabet and the Braille letters spell out “love” paying tribute to the Minnesota State Academies for the Deaf & Blind (MSAB/D). Collaborating with MSAB/D, a QR code accessing an ASL video, audio description and Braille plaque was created for the mural.

Radies Silo, 2021, Golden Mural Acrylic Paint and Varnish on Concrete, 15’ x 15’, Marion, WI. This mural was a private commission located in rural Wisconsin that accompanies the natural beauty of the local landscape.

Love - Friendship - Energy, 2021, Golden Mural Acrylic Paint and Varnish on Metal, 20’ x 8’, Park City, UT. This mural was created to reflect the mission to #shareLFE. Love, Friendship and Energy is about sharing. Appreciation. Encouragement. Inspiration. Sharing your love with friends and family. It’s about giving positive energy to everyone everyday. These simple acts of sharing bring out the best in all of us.

Wedding Entrance Driveway Mural, 2024, Hopkins, Minnesota. This mural was painted on a residential home driveway specifically for the family’s backyard wedding. This permanent mural provided an immersive experience for wedding guests to walk across the colorful flowers throughout the ceremony, cocktail hour and reception.

Chester L. Krause Legacy Park, Iola WI, - Golden Mural Acrylic Paint and Varnish on Exterior mural on wooden panels. 58’ x 16’. This mural was designed to highlight the history of Iola and the impact of Chester L. Krause.

Do you have any other projects coming up that you’d like to share anything about?

A current project I am working on is the second part of a mural series at the Noelridge Greenhouse in Cedar Rapids, IA. The first part was a two-story floral mural at the greenhouse entrance, and now, Part Two extends that design around the building. This mural aims to captivate passersby while providing an educational experience, featuring an eye-spy-like design that showcases various native plants, insects, and birds of Iowa. I’ve been painting this mural on a material called Poly-Tab which will then be permanently installed like wallpaper to the building. Check out my Instagram for in progress photos!

Noelridge Greenhouse Part 1, 2022, Golden Mural Acrylic Paint and Varnish on Concrete, 25’ x 18’, Cedar Rapids, IA. This mural was designed to enhance the outdoor space and invites more guests to step inside the greenhouse. The design features larger than life flowers that make the view feel that they are a tiny bug among the massive garden. Noelridge Greenhouse, 4900 Council St NE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52402

See more of Jordyn Brennan work:
Website: jordynbrennan.com
Instagram: @art_by_jordynbrennan

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