Recorded at Create Space in Alpine, Texas, Chris Trew sits down with muralist and sign painter Monte Welt — a fellow Louisiana native who traded Metairie for the wide-open desert of West Texas.
Monte shares what it’s really like to move to Alpine sight unseen, build an art career from scratch, and navigate the cultural differences between Alpine and nearby Marfa. They talk Donald Judd’s minimalist influence, graffiti vs. gallery culture, “West Texas time,” and why Alpine might just be the hidden gem artists overlook.
You’ll also hear:
The real difference between Alpine and Marfa
How Monte went from door-knocking for walls to painting 20+ buildings across the Tri-County area
The grind of making a living as a full-time artist in a small town
Why “trust your artist” isn’t just a slogan
The exposure vs. payment conversation (and the alleyway mural offer that’ll make you laugh)
If you’re an artist thinking about relocating, chasing a creative life, or wondering how murals actually happen from sketch to wall — this episode pulls back the curtain.
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