New statues from Colorado and Utah artists installed on CMU's campus
GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. — Colorado Mesa University has expanded its Campus Art Walk and outdoor art installation through a new collaboration with the Grand Junction Downtown Development Authority (DDA) and its vaunted Art on the Corner program. The partnership has created new opportunities for students, artists and the community to experience art on CMU’s campus.
The expanded Campus Art Walk announcement aligned with Art Fest, which took place Oct. 2-3, 2026. The Art Walk partnership expands on CMU’s commitment to making art a visible and accessible part of campus life integrated with community collaboration.
Through the partnership, artwork procured by the DDA will become part of the on-campus statue collection on a rotating basis. The first five pieces were installed on Oct. 2. On the same day, three new pieces created by CMU students were installed as part of the Art on the Corner collection, which is found along Downtown Main Street.
“We enjoyed working with CMU staff to develop this new campus art walk. We are excited to see how this program will create new space for public art installations on campus and provide additional opportunities for CMU art students,” said Downtown Grand Junction Project Coordinator Sarah Dishong.
The DDA’s Art on the Corner Program complements the Campus Art Walk, which begins at the front doors of the Moss Performing Arts Center and extends through the heart of campus to the front door of Asteria Theatre. The eastern terminus of the Campus Art Walk features a newly procured statue of Mary Rait, and the western terminus of the Campus Art Walk features a newly procured maverick bull statue titled “Duster”, proudly anchoring the new campus roundabout in the heart of the CMU Formation District.
The CMU Campus Art Walk will expand into the growing CMU Formation District, which will house mixed-use spaces for the campus and broader community. Amenities already in the Formation District include Hotel Maverick, Asteria Theatre, Ember Eatery and Centennial Apartments. The architectural elements of each building signify their presence in the Formation District, which is another unique artistic touch that reflects that of the CMU Campus Art Walk.
“A critical role of our university is to help inspire awe and wonder among students, faculty, staff and our community at large,” said CMU President John Marshall. “The transformative power of the arts is alive and well on our campus and this new partnership with the DDA only serves to enhance both of our efforts to engage our community through beautiful art pieces.”
The expanded partnership between the DDA and CMU is a mutual investment and appreciation for beautifying the community with art that represents its people and experiences found on the Western Slope. By bringing art into shared public spaces, the expanded Art on the Corner project encourages people to experience the university in a different setting while highlighting the talent of the CMU community.
The New Statues
