1st place: Rachael Peterson, Rochester, Minn.
Theme: Iconic Grunge/Nirvana Nails

2nd place: Bella Martinelli, Costa Mesa, Calif.
Theme: Fairies

3rd place: Kadee Brown, Onalaska, Wis.
Theme: Rain Forest

The winning entries from this year’s Mural Contest couldn’t be more different in style, yet they all reveal incredible skill and creativity on the part of the artists who created them. The first-place mural was created as a tribute to Kurt Cobain and the band Nirvana by nail tech Rachael Peterson of Serenity Couture in Rochester, Minn. Peterson feels Cobain best represents the music of her generation, Generation X. She added a modern twist on Cobain’s signature smiley face, melding it with a yellow emoji. “I began with a sketch, which I scaled down and placed beneath clear tips,” says Peterson, who used colored acrylic, gel-polish, and watered-down acrylic paint to complete the mural.

Congratulations to all this year’s talented winners.