Studio Dodge Paints Mural in Downtown Rapid City

Let me introduce you to Studio Dodge’s first outdoor mural. Thanks for stopping by to see the wall, either in person or through your screen. 

This piece is called “SunRose of the Black Hills”. Created and installed in 2026 by Dani Dodge, artist and owner of Studio Dodge.

The Rapid City Arts Council (more info on them here)published an open call for mural artists early in 2026. I had created indoor murals before, for businesses. But this application would put my name in the running to potentially land my first gig for an outdoor mural. Not only that, but this would be a public mural. No entry fee, or peer pressure purchase required. The council requested artworks with a theme of “The Beauty of the Black Hills” So I included lots of views from the adventures I’ve been on since moving here. A drive through Spearfish Canyon, a walk around Sylvan lake, the view of the hills from Rapid Valley, an aerial view of the cathedral spires near Black Elk Peak, the Badlands, and the first thing I fell in love with: the pink sunsets and sunrises of autumn and winter.

You can find a scribbled diagram showing you what features in the mural match what local view.

This mural would not have happened without the support of a few I’d like to thank here.

To my mom, my assistant, my apprentice, thanks for being a badass in her 70s helping me live a dream.

Thank you to the arts council for taking a risk on an unknown transplant, and especially to Jeannie for facilitating.

Thank you to my coworkers who carried a little extra patience with them while I worked full time while painting this.

Thank you to the insects that are forever memorialized in this mural, you will be remembered. Thank you to the emotional support pigeons. And lastly, thank you to viewers like you. 

Ciao for now,

Dani Dodge

 

PS, I made a lil video about it if you want to peep: