By: Amy Barnes
Photos provided by: Wylie Caudill
Known as “the chalk guy” in college, Cynthiana Kentucky native Wylie Caudill’s career took off quickly via word-of-mouth. His work on campus at local events caught the attention of several people, and within a year of graduation, he was gifted with the good fortune of working full-time as a muralist and painter.
Caudill, an EKU broadcast major who started painting and drawing at a very young age, began his initial post-college career working for Kentucky for Kentucky, gaining further notoriety as a regional artist.
“People have always reached out to me since I started doing chalk art,” said Caudill. “There are not a lot of local mural artists and it’s becoming a booming industry.”
Caudill quickly caught the attention of Spendthrift Farms.
“The first time I ever painted a racehorse, it was Authentic,” said Caudill. The horse raced in the 2020 Kentucky Derby. Caudill’s painting included the Winner’s Circle roses that accompanied the winning garland.
“It was my first time painting the roses, and I loved the way it looked,” he said. From there, his work took off; he posted his sky-blue cerulean roses on Tik Tok, and it garnered 6 million views. After that, Caudill included the roses in many of his pieces, and developed a more recognizable style using repeating patterns and florals.
Now based in Lexington, his designs can be found throughout the community, in bars, restaurants and local establishments. A few of the locations include: a mural at The Grove, with an “atmospheric image” inside the bar with a large outdoor space and big trees, a moon and stars; at Lexington’s Summit, with a blue horse surrounded by Kentucky florals (goldenrods, sunflowers, roses and other native flowers to Kentucky); and Crank & Boom ice cream distillery.
Caudill made his debut in Louisville with a mural inside Louisville’s Boxcar PR and will soon paint a live piece of his signature roses for Woodford Reserve at Churchill Downs prior to Derby.
Caudill recently took a national tour with Woodford Reserve representing the 150th signature Derby bottle wrapped in his rose-patterned label. Woodford also recently announced its limited edition of 150 hand-blown crystal decanter bottles created by the artisans of renowned French Maison Baccarat, retailing at $15,000. This thrice-barreled American whiskey has rested in three unique casks – the original bourbon barrel, a cognac cask and a couture barrel whose staves were seasoned in the Kentucky Derby Winner’s Circle. Each is priced at $15,000 and arrives in a bespoke leather carrying case. To pay homage to the famed Garland of Roses, infused the decanter’s crystal stopper with 24K gold to create a striking red color.
To view and learn more about Caudill’s work, and to order prints of his pieces, visit wyliecaudill.com