588 - Jessica Wachter - Coloring Outside the Lines
Mandan artist Jessica Wachter is known for her bold abstract style and dynamic use of color. Her work has appeared in exhibitions nationwide and in the permanent collection of the North Dakota State Museum. She founded the Jessica Wachter Visual Arts Scholarship at North Dakota State University and continues to champion creativity in her community.
I am incredibly honored to have been selected as one of 12 regional artists for the inaugural Art Alley Cohort here in Mandan, North Dakota! Not only is this my first-ever outdoor mural, but it’s also taking place in a city that has been my creative home for the past 12 years. Being able to leave a permanent mark through public art in a place that I love so much is humbling.
I was given a clean, white rectangular wall to work with. But if you know me, you know I don’t like to stay inside the lines–literally or creatively. That’s where the title of this work, Coloring Outside the Lines, comes from. As a child, I wanted blank paper so I could create whatever I imagined. I didn’t want to be told how something should be done. That independent, expressive spirit remains at the heart of my work today.
The mural was inspired by North Dakota’s landscape, especially that shift from summer into fall when the colors feel almost electric. I began with neon yellow, evoking canola fields beneath an endless blue sky. From there, deep green, sweeping black marks moved across the wall, guided by the rhythm and energy of the prairie.
The wind became part of the story too. Whether you love it or not, it moves the landscape and gives it life. I introduced bursts of color to suggest the richness of North Dakota’s wildflowers–the pink prairie roses, the blue and violet blooms of native legumes and alfalfa, and the iconic bold orange and yellow of our sunflower fields.
My hope is that when you view this mural, you feel something tactile–like you could reach out and catch the flowers before they drift away. More importantly, I hope you see what you want to see. Whether it’s a cowgirl riding across the prairie, children swimming in the Missouri River, or a golden sunset out your back door, I invite you to find your own story in this work. That’s the beauty of abstract expressionism–it’s open to your interpretation.
Creating this piece was especially meaningful because my daughter added a few marks of her own, which I’ve left in the final mural–a reminder to both of us to never stay inside the lines and to be creative, boldly in this one previous life we’re given. To see more of my work and to view and follow along on this creative journey, I invite you to visit my website at www.jessicawachter.com.