Duffy has a keen idea of what he wants visitors to the Western to feel when they walk out of the building. “What I’m hoping is for a major, major visual, visceral and cultural emotional takeaway,” he says. “I don’t want them to be able to get that old bingo hall out of their minds. We have some great visual artists, performance artists and great photography. We have some very, very baroque installations — this one is going to be unbelievably baroque, and very emotional, too.”

And an original mural design will bring together Tim Bavington, known for his brightly colored Symphony Park sculpture outside The Smith Center for the Performing Arts, and contemporary Japanese artist Sush Machida, whose work can be seen throughout Las Vegas.
<snip.
“It’s a wonderful opportunity that Life is Beautiful can help bring together artists from a multitude of different backgrounds ranging from students at the Las Vegas Academy to some of the most recognized names in the country,” Duffy stated. “It’s our hope that through these works and collaborations we can leave our attendees slightly changed from the experience and to impress upon them that life really is beautiful.”

"The art program is as integral to the overall festival experience as any other aspect at Life is Beautiful," said festival founder Rehan Choudhry, " Our goal is to change individual's everyday relationship with art by inspiring creativity and challenging perspectives, especially amongst those who normally wouldn't consider themselves art enthusiasts."