Street Painting

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 Festival’s Street Painting exhibition will once again feature street painters of national and regional significance. In addition, local artists, Penn State, and local secondary school students will showcase their work. To apply to be one of our street painters please contact us.

Finally, our Little Art Alley provides artists of any age and ability with the opportunity to add to the festival! No pre-registration needed.  Step right up.  For a $5 fee, you get a beautiful box of pastels, a 14″x 14″ square to draw on and the opportunity to create a masterpiece!

Street painters will be on-site at Foster Avenue on either side of South Allen Street from Thursday, July 13 to Saturday, July 15 between the hours of 10:00 am and 7:00 pm, and Sunday, July 16, from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm, weather permitting.

We’ve been fortunate to have Holly Foy as the 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. 

Holly Foy, Street Painter

Meet Abby Cramer, our featured artist-in-action

Abby Cramer is 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 one year, in 2005, when she was studying art in Italy. Abby became a featured artist in 2006. Sponsored by Northwest Bank.

Check Out These Masterpieces from the summer of 2020! (click the magnifying glass for a full screen view).  

Visit the Festival Store!

Get a Festival poster and buy Festival wristbands, t-shirts and other merchandise at the corner of College and Allen – or visit our online store.