Montana muralist grateful to be part of Boulder history

Rilie Zumbrennen never thought she’d be touching up history all over the state of Montana, but after painting a four-story tall buffalo mural in her hometown of Billings last summer – an opportunity she said was a dream come true – doors have continued to open for the young artist.

A former elementary art teacher, Zumbrennen is in her first year as a full-time professional artist. Many phone calls have been coming her way. She’s worked on murals in Frenchtown, Missoula and most recently another mural in Billings, on the Best Western Plus Clocktower Inn building.

It was Mechele Anderson, founder of ReImagine Boulder, who called Zumbrennen about bringing her talents to Boulder, asking her if she’d do the honors of restoring Boulder-artist Connie Smith’s painting on the side of Hardware Hank’s.