In Italy, they’re called madonnari, in Germany they go by strassenmaler, and in the United Kingdom they’re screevers. At the Festival, we call them street painters. Watch them reveal their artistry as they transform a non-descript State College street into an art exhibition in four days.
The Arts Festival’s Street Painting exhibition will once again feature street painters of national and regional significance. In addition, local artists, Penn State artists, and local secondary school students will showcase their work.
Street painters will be on-site at Foster Avenue on the east side of South Allen Street from Thursday, July 10 to Saturday, July 12 between the hours of 10:00 am and 7:00 pm, and Sunday, July 13, from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm, weather permitting.
Abby Cramer will be back this year again as our 2025 featured street painter. Abby is a graduate of State College Area High School, and received a Bachelor’s of Art Education with a Minor in Art History from Penn State, as well as a Master’s of Art Education from Kutztown. She is currently an art teacher at Pennsbury High School in Bucks County, PA where she teaches Art, Photography, and AP Art History. Abby has been participating in the CPFA Street Painting Festival since its inception in 1999, missing only two years along the way. Abby became a featured artist in 2006. Her painting is sponsored by Strong Tower Associates.
We have been truly blessed to have Holly Foy as our intrepid coordinator of our Street Painting exhibition since 2001. Creative, resourceful, and good-humored, she brings together an immensely talented group of street painters. Their work brings an extra element of joy to the festival.
You can join in at our Little Art Alley
On Foster Avenue on the west side of Allen Street, our Little Art Alley provides artists of any age and ability the opportunity to add their own creative flair to the Arts Festival! No pre-registration needed. For a $5 donation, you can use our on-hand fine-artist pastels to create your very own masterpiece in a 14 x 14 inch square. A $10 donation will also get you a beautiful box of pastels to take home. What will your masterpiece be? The Little Art Alley is coordinated by Jill Parrilla.
