Call Description

 Project Description 

Pirate Ship is seeking proposals for a large-scale mural that captures the essence of Jackson Hole with a pirate twist. Pirate Ship is a pirate themed shipping company dedicated to helping small businesses with discounted shipping rates and free software. Pirate Ship’s offices are designed with rich wood textures, nautical details, and immersive custom elements, the space features a real tiki bar, portholes, a secret library, and more, making you feel fully transported aboard a Pirate Ship. Pirate Ship is looking for a mural of a pirate ship on Jackson Lake with the Tetons in the background.
 

Art Goals/ Criteria

The selected artwork will creatively merge pirate lore and maritime symbolism with the distinct character of Jackson Hole living and the iconic Teton Range. Artists are encouraged to interpret the theme broadly and creatively. 

Location Description

The mural will be located on the East facing outside wall of Teton Mountaineering, directly across from the Pirate Ship offices. The site is highly visible and intended to become a recognizable artwork that reflects both the company’s brand and the local landscape.

Eligibility

Artists living in the United States are invited to apply. 

Media/ Style/ Size 

The mural wall is approximately 30x80 ft. Note: the Teton Mountaineering building is clad in wood panels that will be power washed and primed with a base coat in a color specified by the artist before the artist begins installation. We encourage artists to be creative in the usage of the space to activate the wall in an engaging way. The primary focus is on the portion of the wall seen from the Pirate Ship offices. Artists will also be required to submit a high resolution file of the mural design that will be used for printing the utility box wraps. The artist should use high-quality, professional-grade materials for painting the mural. 

Budget

One - three finalists will receive a $500 stipend to develop a site-specific concept. 

One finalist will be selected to receive the commission of $23,500 to paint the mural.

The artist will be reimbursed for supplies up to $4,000.

The artist will be paid an additional $1,500 to create high resolution images from the mural concept for the utility box wraps. 

The artist is responsible for travel and lodging.  

Selection Process

A selection panel of Pirate Ship stakeholders will review the artist's qualifications and identify 1-3 finalists to submit site-specific concepts. From the pool of finalists the selection panel will review concepts and identify one artist to receive the commission.

1. Submit Qualifications:  Applicants will submit qualifications through the CAFÉ website. 

2.  Identification of 3 Finalists: Three finalists will be identified to receive a $500 stipend to develop conceptual designs. Artists will enter into conceptual design contracts with Pirate Ship

3. Conceptual Designs: The selection panel will review site-specific concepts and recommend one for approval. If approved, the artist will enter in a commission agreement with Pirate Ship

Artist Selection Criteria/ Final Concept Selection Criteria

The Selection Panel will refer to the criteria listed below while evaluating qualifications. 

• Artistic merit, originality, and creativity as evidenced by prior artwork.
• Excellence in technical execution of past work.
• Professional experience delivering projects of similar scale, scope, and budget.
• Demonstrated ability to undertake the design, fabrication, and delivery of the artwork within the timeline.
• Demonstrated responsiveness and understanding of the goals specified in the RFQ through their Letter of Interest.
• Ability to appeal to a diverse audience.
• Past experience using proposed materials.

Project Timeline: 

• Deadline to Submit Proposal: February 13, 2026
• Finalists Notified: February 20, 2026
• Site Specific Plans Due: March 20, 2026
• Final Artist Selected: March 27, 2026
• Installation: ideally May 1- 17, 2026 (Weather dependent) Painting times may vary. Weather in Jackson in May can be cold and wet. Installation can happen in the first half of June if necessary.

About Pirate Ship 

Pirate Ship is a free, web-based shipping platform that helps individuals and businesses buy and print UPS and USPS shipping labels at deeply discounted rates, without monthly fees, markups, minimums, or hidden costs. 

Designed for small businesses, online sellers, and high-volume shippers alike, Pirate Ship provides a simple, intuitive interface that makes it easy to compare carrier rates and delivery speeds, create shipping labels one-by-one or in bulk, and manage shipments from a central dashboard. 

About Jackson Hole Public Art
Jackson Hole Public Art forges partnerships for the integration of art into any environment to inspire lasting cultural, educational and economic benefits. JH Public Art is a non-profit organization and our community’s leading presenter of artist-driven projects in public space. We place artworks outside traditional venues of museums and galleries to provide access to art for all people. www.jhpublicart.org 

About Jackson Hole 

The Town of Jackson is located approximately 60 miles south of Yellowstone National Park and 12 miles south of Grand Teton National Park. The headwaters of the Snake River are located in Teton County and offer white water rafting, kayaking, fishing and scenic floating. In the winter, visitors come to ski at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, Grand Targhee Resort or Snow King Resort. The Tetons attract climbers from all over the world and many miles of hiking; mountain biking and horseback riding trails are located throughout the valley and complemented by 33 miles of pathways.

Application Requirements

Letter of Interest (labeled as Artist Statement on CAFÉ): The letter should articulate the artist’s interest in this project in particular. The artist should describe how their work, process, and experience relates to this project. Please limit the letter to 500 words or less.

Resume: A two-page (maximum) current, professional resume. Artist teams should submit resumes for each team member compiled into one document.

Images of Work: Please provide up to 7 images of previously created art that relates to this opportunity. 

References: please provide 3 current references. References of finalists will be checked.

Eligibility Criteria

Artists living in the United States are invited to apply.