Makenzie Crump is a self taught artist from Utah who specializes in painting and creating large scale chalk murals. From a young age she's always loved art, and even illustrated for a published book in elementary school. She's taken many commissions, with a focus on human and animal portraits. She has a passion for realism in art, but loves to use bright contrasting colors to bring her pieces to life!
Makenzie thrives in the fast-paced, ever-changing environment of live chalk art, where creativity meets endurance and connection. She loves the interactive nature of street painting — engaging with festival visitors, watching reactions unfold in real time, and transforming blank pavement into vibrant storytelling spaces. Her large-scale pieces often highlight expressive portraiture, dynamic lighting, and bold color palettes that draw viewers in from across the street.
As a chalk artist, Makenzie embraces both the temporary beauty and technical challenges of the medium. She enjoys pushing the limits of scale, depth, and realism while adapting to outdoor elements and working within a limited timeframe. Whether she’s creating a striking human portrait or a lively animal scene, her goal is always the same: to create artwork that feels alive, memorable, and uplifting.
Makenzie has competed at chalk competitions in and outside of Utah, including Chalk It Up in Utah, Uptown Chalk the Block in Pennsylvania, and the Chalk a Lot Festival in Arizona.
Her artistic passions are always growing and this year she aims to work as a muralist! She currently works as a freelance artist while also working full time as a sign artist for the Harmons Grocery store, creating custom hand-painted signs.
