Levitt at the Falls Announces Muralists for Sweetman Atrium Expansion

by | May 11, 2026 | Announcements

Levitt at the Falls drone image of Sweetman atrium construction
Levitt at the Falls announced two mural commissions tied to the Sweetman Atrium expansion and new public art installations at the Levitt campus and along Phillips Avenue.

The projects include an interior mural by Sioux Falls-based artist Les Cotton and an exterior mural by Rough Edge Collective, a husband-and-wife artist team based in the San Francisco Bay Area. The commissions were selected through a public art process that received more than 70 submissions from artists nationwide.

Les Cotton’s mural will be installed this month in the Paulson Family Green Room within the T. Denny Sanford Hospitality Center. Additional applications of the design will appear on dressing room doors and 2026 Levitt at the Falls promotional materials, including T-shirts and stickers. The work will be completed ahead of the June 4 opening of the Levitt summer concert series.

The Rough Edge Collective mural will be installed on the exterior of the Sweetman Atrium on the walls along Phillips Avenue in late June and early July. Installation will take place during Levitt programming, allowing the public to observe the artists and participate in engagement events during the three-week installation period.

Both projects were selected through a yearlong public art process conducted in partnership with the City of Sioux Falls Arts Coordinator and the Sioux Falls Arts Commission. A volunteer selection committee reviewed submissions and included representatives from Levitt staff and board members, the Sioux Falls Arts Commission, Sioux Falls Visual Arts Committee, and downtown and neighborhood stakeholders. The commissions were funded through a private gift from philanthropist Tess Kirby.

Levitt officials said the selected artists reflect a mix of local and national talent and expand access to public art in downtown Sioux Falls.

Les Cotton is a Sioux Falls-based artist and designer whose work spans branding, illustration and public art. He operates Les Cotton Design, a creative studio focused on visual identity and community-based projects. His work can be seen throughout downtown Sioux Falls, and he has previously collaborated with Levitt at the Falls on branding for the Innoskate and That Sounds Decent festivals. He is currently working on a public art installation project with the City of Sioux Falls Arts Commission for area park basketball courts. “Community is not an accessory to my work. It is the foundation,” Les Cotton said. “This project is an opportunity to create something that reflects joy, rhythm and belonging for the community.”
Les Cotton stands smiling within a tree with pink flowers
the members of rough edge collective stand smiling with a recently completed mural behind them
Rough Edge collective stands painting a large scale mural outside
Rough Edge Collective is the creative partnership of husband-and-wife artists Maria-Jose (MJ) and Josh Lindo-Lawyer. The pair met in San Francisco in 2010 and have since completed mural and gallery projects across the United States and internationally, including work in Japan, Peru, Germany and the United Kingdom. Their work has been featured at the de Young Museum in San Francisco and in publications including Juxtapoz and American Art Collector.  In 2021, they founded The Mural Project, a nonprofit organization that supports public art programming in Santa Rosa, California. The organization has produced two mural festivals and supported the installation of more than 20 public murals.  Their work emphasizes hand-painted techniques, texture, and site-specific design, creating murals that evoke the grandeur of museum-quality paintings and transform walls into immersive, captivating works of art.
“We’re honored and excited to collaborate with the Levitt team. We love how music has a way of gathering people, turning shared space into shared experience and sparking connection in unexpected ways. We’re thrilled to bring that spirit to life as we paint at the Levitt in Sioux Falls,” the artists said.

“I am thrilled to partner with Levitt to bring two murals to the Sweetman Atrium,” philanthropist Tess Kirby said. “A project like this, combining visual and performing arts, can help strengthen connections within the community.”

“We are excited to incorporate visual arts into the expansion of the Levitt space,” said Rose Ann Hofland, Vice President of Programming at Levitt at the Falls. “These murals will welcome visitors into the venue and reflect the creativity that defines this space and the joy that we aim to foster here. We are grateful to donor Tess Kirby, to the artists who responded with such enthusiasm, and to the volunteer selection committee for helping bring this project to life.” 

“Public art brings vibrancy to our community,” said Maren Engel, City of Sioux Falls Arts Coordinator. “We are proud to partner with Levitt at the Falls on projects that bring accomplished artists into public spaces and contribute to the city’s arts landscape.”

The installations are part of broader cultural planning efforts underway in Sioux Falls and align with the city’s expanding arts and culture initiatives.

Les Cotton’s mural will be completed in time for the opening of the Levitt concert season on June 4. The Rough Edge Collective mural will be completed in early July.

Levitt at the Falls is located at 504 N. Phillips Ave. and is part of a national network of Levitt venues presenting free outdoor concerts to strengthen community through music and public space. 

Read about the Sweetman Atrium Levitt Expansion