5 Questions: Patrick Kane McGregor, Denver Mural Artist

If you’ve wandered around Denver lately and spotted a massive, lovingly rendered dog face staring back at you from a brick wall, there’s a good chance Patrick Kane McGregor was behind it.

Born in Denver in 1971, McGregor has spent decades honing his craft—from sketching Frank Frazetta-inspired figures as a kid to becoming one of the city’s most prolific muralists. His journey spans coastlines and creative disciplines: graffiti in the Bay Area, towering hand-painted billboards in New York City and soul-stirring dog portraits.

McGregor got his start in the art world the way many greats do—by following his curiosity.

A job at Tower Records in his teens introduced him to graffiti, and from there, he was hooked. The urgency and scale of graffiti gave way to a long career in commercial mural work, painting everything from luxury brands to photorealistic advertisements on the sides of buildings. But it wasn’t until he returned to Denver in 2012 and began painting his own beloved bulldog, Boug, that his work took on a new personal dimension.

Today, McGregor runs the mural company Esoteric Art alongside his son Tristan, with whom he’s been painting for over a decade. Their work blends street art sensibility with fine art technique, and they’ve collaborated on everything from restaurant facades to community spaces.

In this week’s 5 Questions, McGregor reflects on the creative instincts that guide his work, what it’s really like collaborating with your kid and why dogs have become his most meaningful muses. For anyone who’s ever loved a pet, stared longingly at a blank wall or dreamed of making their art bigger and bolder, this one’s for you.

How would you describe your work, and what steps led you to create the art you do today?

My work today is primarily focused on portraiture—most often dogs—but it is deeply rooted in decades of experience painting people, faces and large-scale murals.

I started painting at a young age and got into graffiti in the Bay Area during my teens. I was working at Tower Records at the time and was introduced to graffiti by a coworker. That style—lettering, texture, color and energy—had a huge influence on me.

Later on, I found myself working in commercial art and advertising murals, painting photorealistic images for brands and big clients. I did that for over 30 years, and it taught me technical precision, speed, and how to work with every kind of surface.

Eventually, though, I felt called to shift toward something more personal. I still love mural work and commercial painting. However, today, I lean into subjects that are closer to home … literally. My own dogs became my muses.

There is something pure about painting animals, especially dogs. Their expressions, their stories, and the connection we have with them speak to me in a way that human portraits sometimes don’t anymore.

I’ve painted everything from towering cityscapes to brand activations, but when I get to immortalize someone’s beloved pet on a wall, there’s a different emotional weight to it. It’s less about marketing and more about memory and meaning.

How did you and your son come to work together, and can there ever be too much togetherness?

My son Tristan and I have been working together for well over a decade now. Back in 2007, when I moved to New York City, he was about 14. During his school breaks, he’d come to stay with me, and at first, I’d leave him at home while I went out to paint. Eventually, I thought, why not bring him along and show him the ropes? So, I did.

At first, he would help out with the lettering or fill in background color—basic stuff—but over time, he started doing more and more of the work. And he got good. Really good.
That apprentice-style, hands-on training turned into a real partnership.

These days, we run Esoteric Art together. He’s got his own style and strengths, and we really balance each other out creatively. I’m more portrait and figure-focused; he gravitates toward design, patterns, and more experimental elements. We complement each other.

Of course, being family and business partners comes with its fair share of tension. We definitely butt heads sometimes—any parent working closely with their kid probably knows what I mean. But ultimately, we have a strong foundation of respect and trust.

I feel lucky to have a job where I not only get to paint every day but also share that space with my son. Watching him evolve as an artist has been one of the greatest rewards of my career.

When you see an empty wall on a building, what goes through your mind?

When I see an empty wall—especially a big one—I immediately start visualizing possibilities. My brain almost does a quick sketch without me realizing it. I think about the surface, the scale, how people will interact with the wall when they walk or drive by. And if the wall has the right energy, my first thought is usually, “That needs a dog on it.”

I’ve painted walls for national brands, restaurants and nonprofits, but there’s something particularly special about transforming a blank space into a tribute to someone’s pet or to animals in general. Dogs have a presence that translates beautifully to large-format art—they’re expressive, soulful, and full of character.

An empty wall isn’t just a surface; it’s a chance to create joy, spark emotion, and add warmth to the cityscape. I always encourage people who love dogs and have access to big walls—whether it’s on their business, their home, or somewhere public—to reach out.

Because to me, every blank wall is an opportunity to celebrate these amazing companions and the roles they play in our lives.

You paint a lot of dogs. Why do they inspire you?

Dogs are endlessly inspiring to me. The connection between humans and dogs is one of the most honest, loving, and intuitive relationships we get to have in this life. They give so much and ask for so little. They comfort us, protect us, and often know how we’re feeling before we do. That depth of emotion and loyalty—they carry it in their eyes, their posture, the way they sit beside you—it’s something I love trying to capture in paint.

My inspiration also comes from personal experience. My bulldog Boug, who passed in 2017, had a massive influence on me and still does. His energy, presence, and even his silence taught me a lot about patience and observation.

I think of painting dogs as a way to honor the unspoken bond we share with them. And because their lives are shorter than ours, there’s a sense of urgency and reverence when I paint them. A mural becomes a memorial, a celebration, and a permanent way to say: “You mattered. You made a difference.”

Painting dogs isn’t just a trend or a style choice. It’s a heartfelt practice. Each one is different. Each one tells a story. And every time someone sees their dog up on a wall, the joy it brings is contagious. That kind of reaction keeps me coming back to this subject over and over again.

Do you have any big projects or commissions planned for the future?

Right now, I’m deep into a mural project for Home Dog, which is a dog-centered community space on South Broadway and Mexico in Denver. It’s a really cool concept—a coworking and co-playing hub for dog lovers and their pets—and I’m painting a wide range of dog portraits across the space.

It’s a dream gig because it’s all about honoring the diversity and personality of different breeds and the humans who love them. Each portrait brings new energy to the wall, and I’m excited to watch it all come together.

I also just wrapped a mural for Lucky Noodle’s new location on Broadway and 1st. They used to be on Colfax, and the new spot is a fresh start for them. The mural features the owner’s dog, Biggie, and it’s a fun, bright piece that adds personality to the neighborhood. I love when businesses want to incorporate their pets into the art—it adds a layer of authenticity and storytelling.

Not long ago, I finished a piece at LiveWell Animal Hospital in the RiNo district. That one’s special because it includes portraits of my own two dogs, Maverick and Leo. They have such a unique connection, and I wanted to showcase that dynamic—two different breeds, different energies, but a total bond. It’s one of my more personal public pieces.

I’m headed to New York City for the Bushwick Collective 14th Annual Block Party and Mural Fest on May 31. It’s a big event that brings muralists from all over the world. This year, I’m creating a memorial dog portrait for a local resident who recently passed. I love participating in projects like that—it’s a chance to contribute to a neighborhood in a meaningful way and leave something behind that reflects love, remembrance, and beauty.

I always say—if you’ve got a dog and a wall, let’s talk. Whether you want a mural, a portrait, or something custom and creative, I’m open to collaborations.

Just DM me on Instagram. Tristan and I are a full-service team—between his skills and mine, we can paint just about anything, from photorealistic animals to bold typography, abstract concepts, and more.

What started as a father-son art experiment turned into a business, and what started as commercial painting became personal. That blend of family, craft, and purpose drives everything we do. Our mission is to bring color, story, and soul to the walls we touch—and to make sure that dogs, in all their goofy, beautiful glory, get the spotlight they deserve.