Gus Rey is an illustrator, muralist, and graphic designer based in Denver. Rey draws most of his inspiration from the mountain scenery of Colorado where he grew up. His work can be described as a mix of pop art, propaganda, and cartooning. Rey creates commercial and personal artworks, both of which can be found in Denver and worldwide. In 2022, Rey founded High Hoops, an ongoing poster series celebrating the Denver Nuggets.

"I started my High Hoops poster series as both a challenge for myself and as a way to link two passions of mine – Nuggets basketball and art," Rey says. "I loved the idea of highlighting specific games because every poster design was influenced by where the Nuggets were in their season and whatever weird thing was on my mind on the day I created it. By the end of the season, the whole poster series tells a nine-month story about both the Nuggets and about me as an artist."

Website: gusrey.com

Instagram: @_gusrey

Transcending his legacy as a professional snowboarder, Pat Milbery emerges as a visionary artist and advocate, showcasing a creative journey steeped in resilience and connection. Over the course of two decades, Milbery’s artistic endeavors have embellished city walls on four continents. Bold geometric elements blend with nature-inspired motifs, creating a backdrop for his iconic heart—a symbol that has become synonymous with his artistic expression. Milbery has collaborated with international artists and powerful brands to paint over 500 murals infusing urban landscapes with vibrant hues and positivity. In doing so, he conveys powerful messages of what is possible when our hearts are open.

Website: patmilbery.com

Instagram: @PatMilbery

Jazz Holmes creates drawings though a variety of media. She received her Studio Art BFA from the University of West Florida and her Drawing MFA from Colorado State University. Her works are inspired by the deep love and respect she has for every aspect of Black culture. She showcases this love through the use of bright vibrant colors and activated figures. She currently has a studio at Redline Contemporary Art Center.

"I’ve been a Nuggets fan ever since I was a kid living in the South," Holmes says. "The core of my childhood was during the Carmelo days of the team, but I’ve always appreciated its history. Though he was before my time, I’ve always heard a lot about David Thompson and his importance within the sport. After getting a chance to watch some of his career dunks I wanted to make a piece depicting him that’s showcases why he’s known as 'Skywalker.'"

Website: jazzholmesart.square.site

Instagram: @Metaphoricalmuse

John Carlson is a Colorado artist, designer, and Denver Nuggets fan who works in various creative forms including graphic design, illustration, painting, and printmaking. John is currently a freelance graphic designer with a focus on branding and package design. He also sells his poster art at various retail shops in Boulder, Colo., and shows his fine art at local galleries in both Denver and Boulder. John received his degree in Illustration from the Rocky Mountain College of Art & Design.

"Last year during the Nuggets playoff run, I came across a vintage sticker of Maxie the Miner.” Carlson says. “That gave me the idea to do a few ink illustrations of how Maxie would be acting during the playoff run and after the Nuggets won it all. I think the pieces celebrate the Nuggets Championship last year with a solid nod to their rich basketball history."

Website: carlsondesign.org

Instagram: @jowcreative

Thomas Evans, a.k.a. Detour, is an all-around creative specializing in large scale public art, interactive visuals, sculpture, immersive spaces, and creative directing. His focus is to create work where art and innovation meet. A born collaborator and “military brat,” Detour pulls from every conceivable experience that shapes his landscapes and perspectives. His work seeks to highlight the heart and soul of their surroundings and provide a unique visual representation in an abstract and colorful way. With each mural there is a relationship-building opportunity that results in a product that is derived from its surroundings. The style that Detour executes uses splashes of bold and bright color in an abstract way, while still creating a recognizable form that feels familiar with the audience.

The inspiration behind Detour’s Nuggets-inspired work came from his love of combining art with sports. In 2023, as the Nuggets were elbowing their way through the Western Conference Finals, Detour took it upon himself to create the Nuggets mural on Race and Colfax. He wanted to create a rallying point for fans to celebrate and champion the team. Following the NBA Finals win, Detour proceeded to add the Larry O’Brien trophy as well as the phrase "2023 NBA Champions" to the mural.

Website: iamdetour.com

Instagram: @Detour303

Michael Canda is a Denver-based artist who started out making art for friends and family and then leaned into his hobby when an Achilles tear sidelined him from his love of playing basketball.  Specializing in pop culture art mashups, he reached out to The Basketball Social House in Centennial, Colo., and was given an opportunity to showcase his love of drawing and basketball in one place.  What started out as one poster has led to multiple art pieces at their location, commission work, and poster requests, as well as artwork for other clients such as Fubo, Solepack, book authors, and local businesses.

"Seeing Jamal's performance in the bubble made me think of him as a superhero. Since I do a lot of pop culture mashups, I was inspired to draw him in a post like the DC comic hero Green Arrow. I drew the original Joker card after Nikola’s first MVP award. This was an updated version after the Championship, but being a fan of poker, it was an easy inspiration to mash up the two. A lot of my artwork that I sell is based off album covers and mashing up an appropriately related character(s) with said cover.  This was just taking the five rappers from the Straight Outta Compton cover and mashing up with Nuggets starting five. XOXO Nugs and Swishes was requested by The Basketball Social House for a large piece of art to pay tribute to the hometown champs and this is what I came up with. I made sure each player who played on the Finals court was well represented.  With Jamal being the first piece and foundation of the drawing, I used his pose as the glue and made sure everyone else had a similar effective stance that made sense. Jokic holding a joker card, KCP with a 3, AG with a chain, MPJ with the 'Mike, Mike, Mike' chants, and the rest of the team scattered everywhere else.  Lots of 'nuggets' hidden throughout the piece."

Website: theuniversecollider.com

Instagram: @candamonium4