The City of Grants Pass continues its commitment to fostering public art by honoring a new standout work: the vibrant “Wings” mural, selected as April’s Public Art of the Month by the Committee on Public Art (CoPA).
Located on the side of Oregon Pizza and Pour Authority (OPPA), the mural faces H Street just off the bustling corner of 7th Street in downtown Grants Pass. Bold, colorful, and uplifting, the piece is impossible to miss, catching the eye of locals and visitors alike with its dynamic depiction of dragonflies mid-flight.
The mural was completed in 2024 by lead artist Crystal Pyren, a well-known local muralist and community art advocate, in collaboration with several talented student artists from local high schools. The project reflects a broader initiative to involve youth in public art and give emerging artists a platform to express their creativity on a meaningful scale.
The theme of dragonflies was chosen for its symbolic meaning—often associated with transformation, adaptability, and self-realization. The mural features large, iridescent dragonflies in motion, set against a sweeping, sky-toned backdrop with elements of movement and light. The mural’s name, “Wings,” reflects both the imagery and the deeper message of hope and forward momentum.
Grants Pass continues to expand its downtown art scene, with several other public art pieces already featured throughout the city, from sculpture installations to painted utility boxes and community-led mural projects.
For Pyren and the student artists, Wings represents not only a completed work of art but a lasting connection to the community.
To view the mural in person, visit the east-facing wall of Oregon Pizza and Pour Authority at H Street and 7th in downtown Grants Pass. Click to view all artwork.