Street Art Encounter 2025: A First Look Back

Sep 17

Written By Ashley

This September, Main Street Ann Arbor came alive with creativity as we hosted the very first Street Art Encounter. During A2 Fall Streets, Parents Weekend, and the night before Michigan’s home football game against CMU, Main Street and Liberty transformed into an open-air gallery filled with color, energy, and community connection.

Fifteen artists had just eight hours to bring their visions to life on free-standing walls, designed and built by Renovation by Masters, using NBQ Pro spray paint and Sherwin Williams latex paint. Visitors watched murals come to life in real time, asked questions, and even added their own creative touches on a Community Canvas, painted with upcycled materials provided by Schafer Painting. The result was an event that not only showcased talent but also invited the public to be part of the process.

Adding to the energy, Ain’t Dead Yet performed live on Main and Liberty, bringing the perfect soundtrack to the evening. Their set created a lively, welcoming atmosphere and set the tone for what we hope will become a lasting annual tradition.

One of the most powerful parts of the day was the sense of camaraderie among artists. Many were meeting for the first time, sharing ideas, admiring one another’s work, and building friendships that reflected the supportive, uplifting nature of this creative community. Thanks to the leadership of Lead Artist John Vasquez, Ann Arbor welcomed a diverse group of creatives with unique styles and stories—each adding something special to the city’s cultural fabric.

“The first ever Street Art Encounter happened right on Main Street in the heart of Ann Arbor. This event turned out to be super successful—we got to let the public watch art be created right on the spot and allow them to ask questions and interact. There is something unique about an event like this because most of the time people have questions and the artist isn’t there to answer, but in this format it brings artists closer with their community. We look forward to next year.”
— John Vasquez, Lead Artist

Artist Awards

To recognize the incredible work, three awards were presented by our Gold Sponsors:

🌿 The Green Scene Award – Presented by A2Zero to Shannon Schneider of Saginaw, MI. Shannon’s hand-painted fox, bird, frog, flowers, and greenery beautifully reflected Ann Arbor’s identity as a city rooted in sustainability and the natural world.

*Shannon Schneider of Saginaw, MI, winner of the Green Scene Award, pictured with James Burnham of A2Zero.*

📚 The Awesome Art Award – Presented by the Ann Arbor District Library to DeVaughn “Kidd” Collins of Saginaw, MI. His bold, imaginative mural featured a Dune-inspired Afrofuturist portrait of a figure wrapped in flowing fabric and wearing a futuristic visor, gazing toward a glowing horizon. The piece blended ancestral influence with cinematic sci-fi vision, perfectly capturing Ann Arbor’s tradition of fostering creativity and curiosity in every form.

DeVaughn “Kidd” Collins of Saginaw, MI, winner of the Awesome Art Award, pictured with Eli Neilburger and Rich Retyi of AADL.

*Dune*-inspired Afrofuturist portrait of a figure wrapped in flowing fabric and wearing a futuristic visor, gazing toward a glowing horizon.

💎 The Diamond Brush Award – Presented by DFCU Financial to Caitlyn Williams. Her mural of a woman sipping a warm cup of coffee captured the heart of Ann Arbor’s café culture and the sense of comfort found in our downtown streets.

Caitlyn Williams of Carleton MI, winner of the Diamond Brush Award, pictured with Hannah Lohry and team from DFCU Financial.

*Caitlyn painted a woman sipping a warm cup of coffee capturing the heart of Ann Arbor’s café culture and the sense of comfort found in our downtown streets.*

Community & Sponsors

The event was also a celebration of community support and hospitality. Artists were treated to a full day of food thanks to:

Cahoots, who started the morning with coffee, pastries, bagels, and fresh fruit.
Conor O’Neill’s, CupsNChai, and Little Kim, who provided hearty lunches and dinners.

On Main Street, in addition to our Gold Sponsors the Alzheimer’s Association, HopCat Ann Arbor, and Huntington Bank joined with community tables, engaging directly with festival-goers.

We are deeply grateful to all of our 2025 sponsors—their support made this first Street Art Encounter possible and successful.