The vibrant, whimsical work of Margaret “Meps” Schulte carries messages of hope and generosity. She loves to paint and hang surprise portraits of friends, which evoke exclamations of delight when they find their lives and stories celebrated as public art.
She is best-known as the muralist and art team lead for the Burning Man Department of Mutant Vehicles, where her work has a prominent location in Black Rock City, a temporary city of 80,000 people. Her studio is located in Pinellas County, Florida.
Large-Scale Work by Margaret “Meps” Schulte
“Riding With Freddie”
“Riding With Freddie” is a 60×60-inch painting commissioned by the Dunedin Downtown Business Merchants’ Association. It documents the life of resident Freddie Webb, who was known to residents and visitors alike for her friendliness and sense of humor.
“Young Optimists”
Commissioned by the City of Dunedin, this 6-foot long painted bench celebrates the history of the Optimist sailing dinghy, a famous boat that is raced by fleets all over the world. The first Optimist was designed and built in Dunedin as an alternative to the Soapbox Derby in 1947.
The bench is located at the PSTA (Pinellas County transit system) stop on Patricia Avenue just north of Admiral Avenue in Dunedin, Florida.
“Dunedin Rocks”
“Dunedin Rocks” is a park bench commissioned by the City of Dunedin, Florida in 2020. It celebrates the inclusive and interactive art of painting rocks and hiding them for strangers to find. It’s prominently located on the Pinellas Trail at the intersection with State Route 580.
Visitors from around the county stop by to leave hand-painted rocks for others to take at the base of the bench.
“Surprise in the Desert” and “What is your gift?” (2018-22)
Installed at the Department of Mutant Vehicles at Burning Man, these two installations comprised 19 4×7-foot paintings at an annual event with 80,000 people in the Black Rock Desert.
“Mount Rainier in Spring”
