Condado Tacos Murals

Artist: Shane Pilster
Project Leads: Matt Spahr, Brian Holderman
Client: Condado Tacos
Dates: January 2021, April 2022, August 2022, March 2023
Media: Spray paint, acrylic marker
Locations:
South Hills Village, Bethel Park, PA
Boardman, OH
Cranberry, PA
McCandless, PA

Condado Tacos is known for inviting local artists to create bold, custom murals at each restaurant location, blending brand characters, food imagery, and regional themes into immersive environments. Across four locations, I was brought on as a contracted artist by lead muralists Matt Spahr and Brian Holderman to develop original mural sections that aligned with each site’s overarching concept while maintaining my own visual style.

Each Condado project followed a clear creative framework set by the lead artist, with individual contributors tasked with designing unique sections that fit seamlessly into a larger composition. The challenge was to balance brand consistency, thematic cohesion, and personal style, sometimes even transitioning directly into another artist’s work on the same wall.

From my first project at the South Hills Village location in early 2021, I was given creative freedom within Condado’s established visual system. At the time, Condado required most artists to outline their work with acrylic markers or brushes for clarity. With approval, I outlined my section primarily in spray paint, using paint markers only for finer background details. That approach became a defining element of my Condado work and helped translate graffiti-based line control into a clean, graphic, pop-art aesthetic.

• South Hills Village, PA (2021)
  Led by Matt Spahr, this location featured Pittsburgh-themed imagery with subtle nods to 90s graffiti culture. I developed a fully sketched concept, incorporated minor revisions, and executed a crisp, spray-painted mural section that aligned with the broader composition.

• Boardman, OH (2022)
  Under Brian Holderman’s direction, I shared a wall with Matt Spahr in a drive-in theater and concession stand–themed space. My section included marquees, posters, vehicles, ingredient Easter eggs, and a star-filled night sky designed to visually flow into Matt’s work.

• Cranberry, PA (2022)
  This retro-futurism–themed location allowed me to explore mid-century sci-fi aesthetics using tall, segmented wall sections around windows and doors. The design featured robotic avocados, alien tacos, space peppers, and a crashed rocket ship made of chips, all adapted to challenging architectural constraints.

• McCandless, PA (2023)
  Led by Matt Spahr, this arts-themed location spanned sculpture, architecture, graffiti, fine art, and writing. Installed in the women’s restroom, my mural reimagined Southwestern Pennsylvania architectural icons, including Fallingwater and the Incline, through playful taco metaphors and Condado characters.

While I was never the lead artist on these projects, the trust extended to me by Matt Spahr, Brian Holderman, and Condado’s marketing team allowed for meaningful creative input and experimentation. Across all locations, the work environment was well-organized, safe, and collaborative, with artists and construction teams operating side by side without friction. These projects were formative in refining my digital mockup process and expanding my approach to branded illustration and spatial storytelling.

• Developed original mural concepts within established themes and Condado branding
• Communicated with lead artists and Condado marketing throughout each project
• Produced digital mockups and revisions on schedule
• Executed murals efficiently, typically within one week per location
• Applied clear coat finishes to meet Condado’s durability standards
• Met or exceeded all project deadlines