The Cody Public Art Committee (CPAC), a committee under the direction of the City of Cody, selected Wyoming artist Dan Toro to complete a mural on the By Western Hands building in downtown Cody. Toro was selected through an open call process and developed a design for the building that reflects the surrounding nature and the western culture of the area. The artist will be in Cody to work on the mural in June. 

“We’re excited to partner with Dan Toro to create a vibrant, engaging new mural in Cody,” said Diane Ballard, CPAC chair. “Dan’s work is stunning. Cody will be proud of this memorable painting.” Toro’s mural work draws from his background as an oil painter and attention to fine details. By Western Hands, where the mural will be sited, looks forward to having artwork on the exterior. Said Mary Sims, executive director of By Western Hands: “The By Western Hands Building and Enterprise Plaza have become a focal point of Cody’s history and future in Western functional art. We are honored and excited to have an amazing display of art and talent on our building.” CPAC received a grant from the Wyoming Cultural Trust Fund which helped to support this project. The public will be invited to a mural unveiling; details to be announced. 

Dan Toro is a mural artist from Laramie, Wyoming, who has painted murals around the country for the past decade. He studied art at the University of Wyoming, with an emphasis on oil painting and printmaking. Those disciplines helped define his work at a large-scale, where he emphasizes details and patterns. 

Under the direction of the City of Cody, the Cody Public Art Committee was created to enrich the cultural and historical aesthetics of the community for both residents and the many visitors who travel to Cody. 

By Western Hands aims to preserve western functional art and design through the celebration of past and present artisans. The  mission to educate, conserve and perpetuate the legacy of western design and traditional arts corresponds with three main elements—a museum and archive, educational training programs, and legacy artisan gallery.