As a kid, Chris Carlson didn’t want to join the circus. He wanted to be a stockbroker. By the time the Denverite graduated with a business degree in 2008, however, he was no longer so bullish on the markets. In search of direction, Carlson came across a photo of three-dimensional chalk art, a technique that uses precise geometry to allow flat images to leap off the pavement when viewed from a specific position. “I was fascinated by the illusion,” Carlson says, “so I just started practicing anywhere I could find a hard surface.” Despite having no formal art training, he took to the form, and after a video of Carlson went viral on YouTube in 2012, he soon quit his job managing an assisted living facility to make chalk art full time.

Catch him crafting a custom piece in his signature style, which pairs often fantastical creatures and landscapes with lifelike lighting and drawing techniques, during this month’s Denver Chalk Art Festival (June 1 and 2; 12th and Bannock streets). “I was in a rush to grow up,” Carlson says. “Now, I just want to stay a kid as long as I can.”

5280 June 2024
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This article was originally published in 5280 June 2024.
Nicholas Hunt
Nicholas Hunt
Nicholas writes and edits the Compass, Adventure, and Culture sections of 5280 and writes for 5280.com.