The story behind the Mother Fool’s graffiti wall

This project allows local artists to boast their talents in a big way.

Chock-full of galleries, museums, and DIY studios, Madison’s dynamic art scene offers a little something for everybody. Check out a local project that benefits artists + art lovers alike, Mother Fool’s Graffiti Mural Project.

The vegan coffee shop — located at 1101 Williamson St. — has a large brick wall directly facing the busy street. The owners saw this as an empty canvas —literally — and thus, the Graffiti Mural Project was born.

In 2001, Mother Fool’s + its customers approached Madison’s Plan Commission with an idea for a rotating mural wall. Local artist Don Wettach was a driving force in finding a place where he and other local graffiti artists could create freely.

Two decades later + the project is still going strong. The murals change seasonally and serve as a showcase for Madison artists who don’t often get opportunities to present their work. Artists interested in participating can contact Mother Fool’s.

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