Art on the Streets (AOTS) brings downtown Colorado Springs to life with displays of public art. Now in its 27th year, the selected exhibitions are showcased in a downtown gallery for one year. In 2025, a panel of jurors selected from nearly 150 proposals submitted by artists from across the state, the country and around the world.

Among those selected was Green Briar resident Bethany Yetter, who received honorable mention and a $500 award.

Fresh from her college graduation, Bethany is an artist with a passion for creating art from nature. Her submission was a series of mini murals that celebrate Colorado’s natural beauty in a playful and imaginative way.

Her murals feature iconic Colorado Springs landscapes—Pikes Peak, Garden of the Gods and Helen Hunt Falls—brought to life by woodland critters like foxes, bunnies and squirrels. Each animal is portrayed as if they are painting the scenes themselves.

“I wanted it to be more playful than anything,” said Bethany. “Little critters are taking over the city, bringing a piece of their world into ours.”

“The jurors wanted to recognize an early career artist,” said Michelle Winchell, Downtown Colorado Springs’ creative district director. “They also appreciated that Bethany had researched local landmarks specific to the Pikes Peak region.”

Bethany’s journey into public art was as unexpected as it was inspiring. What began as a sculpture class assignment in college quickly turned into an opportunity to showcase her work in AOTS.

“It was shocking, unexpected and really exciting,” Bethany recalled.

Bethany aspires to become an art therapist—working with nonverbal, disabled adults and children—and sees this experience as more than just a milestone, possibly a turning point.

“I learned about public art through this journey. It is not a route I thought I would take, but I am probably going to explore it more. It makes me feel capable of making a bigger impact,” Bethany said. While Bethany has always loved painting, especially with acrylics, she has recently experimented with sculpture, metalwork and welding.

Growing up in Centennial, Bethany attended Grandview High School in Aurora. She graduated in May from CU Denver with a major in psychology and a minor in art practices. “That crossover shows up in my work. I like to highlight intersections of how being outside is good for your mental health,” explained Bethany.

Outside of the art studio, Bethany enjoys time with her dog Ozzie and her frog Ferg (short for Ferguson), works as a bartender in Greenwood Village and nurtures her love for nature by pressing flowers and cooking with herbs from her own garden. She and her mom have lived in Castle Pines for the past three years. Originally from Michigan, they moved to Colorado 11 years ago and fell in love with the natural beauty here.

Bethany’s murals plus the other selected exhibits will be on display until May 2026.

To learn more about AOTS, visit downtowncs.com/arts-and-culture/aots/.