Tulsa artist paints murals to help spotlight local businesses

A Tulsa artist is adding color, creativity and new life to businesses across the city — and he’s doing it one mural at a time.

Daniel Gulick, the owner of Color Studios Tattoo, is using his talent and time to paint vibrant murals on buildings he feels could use a little extra flair. But for Gulick, this effort is about more than beautifying blank walls — it’s about celebrating the city’s overlooked spaces and spotlighting local art.

Where It All Started

Gulick said the idea began with his own tattoo shop. Tired of the plain appearance of his building, he grabbed some paint and got to work.

Not only did Gulick paint his section of the building, but he also painted the rest of the building with the businesses connected to his own.

People began stopping to take photos, admire the artwork, and even check out the business. While he didn't anticipate the big positive reaction from people passing by these businesses, he said he's glad he did it.

A Growing List of Murals

Soon after finishing the piece on his own shop, Gulick reached out to friends who own nearby businesses — including University of Wash Laundromat and Tulsa Body Jewelry — and offered to create custom murals for free.

“They’re pretty established businesses, so I think it’s just adding an extra layer to what they already have,” Gulick said. “It’s really cool to hear about people stopping to take pictures. It adds more flair.”

Spotlight on Tulsa’s Art Community

As an artist who’s been part of Tulsa’s creative landscape for years, Gulick says it’s refreshing to see mural work gaining traction again.

“You know, Tulsa’s got a really beautiful art scene,” he said. “A lot of things go unnoticed, but hopefully more and more of it comes out. There’s a lot of mural painters that have been doing this for many years. Kind of took a break for quite a while, and it’s nice to be back.”

What’s Next

In just a few weeks, Gulick has completed several murals, and he’s not slowing down. He plans to begin another project in the coming days. He says he also has an event with the market district coming up on June 21st from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. that will not only show off the mural out by his business, Color Studios Tattoo, but also highlight the businesses that are there.

The murals that Gulick has painted so far are at Color Studios Tattoo, University of Wash Laundromat and Tulsa Body Jewelry.