Artist A.L. Grime Details the Complex Process Behind New F1 Arcade Mural in RiNo
Photo by Developing Denver
DENVER, CO – A new mural created by Denver-based artist Ally Grimm (A.L. Grime) is now installed on the exterior of the incoming F1 Arcade in RiNo, following a project timeline that stretched more than a year from initial outreach to final approval. Grimm spoke with Developing Denver onsite about the process, emphasizing that large-scale public art, especially on corporate projects, is far more complex than people often assume.
Grimm said she was first approached by Formula One around 13 months ago, kicking off a long design phase typical of major corporate clients. “With bigger clients, there are usually more rounds of design iterations and more layers of approval,” she explained. That early work moved in parallel with building construction, and she even completed portions of the interior artwork while the construction team was still onsite.
Coordinating around that was a major part of the job. Grimm described carefully timing work so she wasn’t blocking construction crews, staying aligned with the general contractor, and making sure all onsite activity was safe and properly sequenced. “It was a lot of coordinating with the construction team to make sure I wasn’t in their way,” she said.
Permitting was another essential step and a common hurdle for early-career muralists. Denver now requires special mural permits for exterior artwork to prevent unapproved advertising, and violations carry heavy fines. Grimm emphasized that point repeatedly. “Never underestimate how long a permit takes, or how many permits you actually need,” she said. “You don’t want to put a client in a compromising position, especially when they’re new to Denver’s rules.”
Because F1 Arcade’s ownership group is based outside Colorado, Grimm made sure they and the contractor were fully aware of the city’s mural approval process before work began.
For emerging artists, Grimm recommends learning the craft by assisting more experienced muralists, just as she did when she started. “There’s no real school for this. It’s a newer art form,” she said. “The best way to learn is by helping an artist on a wall, even if it’s just carrying paint or filling buckets. You learn how to scale artwork by seeing it done.”
She also encouraged new artists to volunteer with Denver Walls, where younger painters often get hands-on opportunities to support large public murals.
Grimm also addressed a common creative tension in today’s art world: balancing personal work with corporate commissions. She said the turning point for her was getting clear on her voice and understanding that commissioned work allows her to sustain her broader practice. “The client work is how I buy the time to make the experimental work I don’t get paid for,” she said. “At the end of the day, I’d rather deal with corporate clients than sit behind a desk. When the contract ends, my time is mine again.”
Although the F1 mural pushed her outside her usual monochromatic style, Grimm said choosing selective compromises, especially on dream projects, is part of maintaining a professional creative career. “There’s so much power in knowing your voice and knowing what you do,” she said. “When you understand that, those two worlds…art and client work…can exist together.”
With the mural now finished, the building’s exterior is fully complete. F1 Arcade has already been open for more than a month, and the new artwork adds the final visual layer to the venue’s presence in RiNo. Visitors can see the mural anytime by stopping by the site, and the installation now serves as one of the defining exterior elements of the project.
Developing Denver will continue to follow future updates and any additional improvements tied to the space.
All project information was sourced from publicly available site plans, renderings, and permitting documents.
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All project information was sourced from publicly available site plans, renderings, and permitting documents.
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