Artist Kate Fitzpatrick - a child of deaf adults (CODA) - realized that despite years of attending mural festivals, she had never seen a space created by and for deaf and hard-of-hearing artists. To change that, she founded the first-ever KissFist Mural Fest, held at Denver’s RiNo ArtPark in October 2025.
The festival invited nine deaf and hard-of-hearing artists from across the U.S. and included two student artists, Riordan and Finn, from the Rocky Mountain Deaf School (RMDS). Their mural, titled “Rebel,” featured a bold underwater scene with the phrase “We Deaf People Signs Loud!”- a playful and powerful declaration of Deaf pride. Their participation was widely celebrated as an example of how young Deaf artists are shaping the future of accessible public art.
Fitzpatrick structured KissFist to remove the access barriers that often exclude Deaf artists from mural projects. Interpreters were present, schedules were flexible, and social media posts included captions. Artists received $1,000 stipends and shared in auction proceeds for their work- an equitable pay model meant to set a new standard for inclusion in the mural world.
Beyond the art itself, the event carried an important social message: Deaf artists face higher unemployment and income disparities in Colorado, with nearly 40% unemployed or out of the labor force. KissFist sought to create visibility and opportunity, while celebrating Deaf culture as a vibrant, creative, and self-defined community- not something to be “fixed.”
For Fitzpatrick and participants like Finn and Riordan, the festival wasn’t just about painting walls- it was about connection, identity, and showing that Deaf artists have a powerful voice, one that speaks loudly in color, movement, and pride.
KissFist Mural Fest in Denver
Alt text: Two students stand outdoors beside a large, colorful mural on an easel. The mural shows an underwater scene with blue water, coral, and fish. At the center is a bright yellow pufferfish wearing black sneakers and shouting. The painted text on the mural reads: “WE DEAF PEOPLE SIGNS LOUD!” The students are smiling and pointing toward the artwork. White overlaid text at the bottom of the photo reads: “Rebel by Finn and Riordan (Rocky Mountain Deaf School).” The setting is grassy with buildings and trees in the background.