GhostBeard: Bringing Stories to Life Through Art

Aeisha
2 days ago
4 min read

One of the most unique parts of ILLFest isn't found on stage.

Throughout the weekend, artists from across the country transformed walls, structures, and festival spaces into living works of art, creating an immersive environment that extended far beyond the music. Among them was GhostBeard, whose colorful murals and unmistakable cartoon-inspired style became part of ILLFest 2026’s visual identity. While attendees moved between stages and sets, GhostBeard spent the weekend bringing a blank wall to life in real time. At the end of Day 3, we sat down with the muralist to discuss the story behind his name, the inspirations behind his work, and what makes creating art at ILLFest so special.

EDM Texas: I have to ask, where did the name “GhostBeard” come from?

GhostBeard: The name GhostBeard comes from a real-life situation. My Dad was one of my best friends, and I wasn’t prepared to lose him at a young age. I was 30 years old, with a large beard that had been part of my identity for as long as I could grow one. Art, motorcycles, beards, sports... that was me.

After he passed away, I experienced a lot of grief and developed alopecia from the stress. The beard started disappearing. First, I shaved it into a Fu Manchu, then into a mustache, until the remaining hair eventually fell out completely. My eyebrows and hair were next. I started shaving my head to avoid the strange hair patterns, but I left my face alone in hopes that the beard might return.

Eventually, it did, but much thinner and completely lacking pigment. It came back white. My nephew was about five years old at the time, and after I explained alopecia to him, he looked at me one day and said, “Hey, Unc, you said you had no beard, but you’ve got a ghost beard.” I replied, “I am GhostBeard.” At that moment, the light bulb went off. GhostBeard was born!

EDM Texas: Can you tell us about the kind of art you create?

GhostBeard: I’m a muralist and aerosol painter, and I’ve been painting with ILLFest for multiple years now. My style is inspired by the energy of the festival community. Returning year after year, I feel a sense of family that fuels my creativity and makes the experience meaningful.

EDM Texas: What originally inspired your artistic style?

GhostBeard: I grew up loving cartoons, so I’ve always considered myself a cartoonist at heart. My style is heavily inspired by classic animation, such as Hanna-Barbera, Disney, and Looney Tunes. It’s all the things I watched growing up in the ’80s.

EDM Texas: What inspired your mural and theme for ILLFest this year?

GhostBeard: My mural this year focuses on a storytelling narrative built around two of my “dream car” Car-toons. They represent people I’ve known both in life and in the afterlife, or what I call the “Otherworld”. The junkyard dogs within the piece represent people’s spirit animals. The Otherworld is my personal Tooniverse, a place where spirit animals and Car-toons come to life.

EDM Texas: Do the music and crowd energy influence the way you paint while working at festivals?

GhostBeard: Definitely. Music plays a huge role in what I create. I’m heavily influenced by hip-hop culture, street art, graffiti, and urban life in general. All of those elements naturally find their way into my work and help shape the energy behind the murals I paint.

EDM Texas: ILLFest blends music and visual art so seamlessly. What makes that experience special for you as an artist?

GhostBeard: I’ve painted at a lot of festivals over the years, but ILLFest really stands out because of how close the community is. A lot of these people are deeply rooted in Texas. For those of us who travel here every year, we’ve built genuine relationships with the Austin and Houston communities. Over time, it really becomes family.

EDM Texas: Is there a mural or project in your career that feels especially meaningful to you personally?

GhostBeard: My most meaningful project is actually my most recent large-scale mural in Detroit on Gratiot Ave. It’s in my hometown and was the first mural I could share with my daughter. I even brought her up on the lift while I was painting and hid her name within the piece. That experience will always mean a lot to me.

EDM Texas: What’s one thing you wish more people appreciated about mural artists and live painters?

GhostBeard: Whenever we travel and paint in different cities and communities, we genuinely try to absorb as much of the local culture as possible so we can create from a sincere place. We’re telling our own story while also respecting and honoring the culture around us. We appreciate the love people give us, and we always try to give that love back.

EDM Texas: What advice would you give younger artists pursuing creative careers?

GhostBeard: There’s no such thing as a linear path when it comes to living a creative life. It’s less of a traditional career and more of a lifestyle built around passion. If you trust your intuition, follow your creativity, and aim high, you can go much further than you ever expected. The experiences you gain from this kind of work are things money can’t buy.

For GhostBeard, creating art at a festival is about much more than finishing a mural. It's about sharing the creative process with thousands of people in real time, fostering an environment where music and visual art coexist, and creating something that becomes part of a festival’s collective memory.

As attendees reflected on their favorite moments from ILLFest 2026, many remembered the music and murals that transformed the festival grounds into an open-air gallery. Thanks to artists like GhostBeard, those worlds continue to collide in colorful and unforgettable ways.