MONSTER MASH. Chris Johnson (pictured) recently completed this mural on the side of the new 5th Row Lifting Company location in Eau Claire's Cannery District.

Gyms can sometimes come across as intimidating and hard-core, but 5th Row Lifting Company wanted to show that anyone is welcome to start their fitness journey there. Enter 5th Row Phil and Phil Jr., 5th Row’s newest monster mascots, created by local street artist and Passion Board Shop owner Chris Johnson.

“The beginning goal for my art was to spread joy through it,” Johnson said. “I really wanted to just paint large fun characters on buildings around the city and so for me, it was very fulfilling to be able to get hired to do something that was purely my work.”

Johnson was approached by 5th Row Lifting’s owner, Ryan Boos, while he was completing one of his other monster murals, “Barry,” on a skating platform on First Avenue. Boos told Johnson he wanted to add a mural to the side of 5th Row’s newest location at the old Classic Garage building, 2111 Third St. Since a lot of 5th Row’s clients bring their kids to the gym when they work out, Boos also wanted to make sure the art was kid-friendly, which is why Johnson decided to add Phil Jr. to the design.

Phil is a circular red monster with a sweatband and some impressive monster arm muscles, depicted lifting two bags of rocks. Next to him, Phil Jr. is trying his own hand at lifting, but with a much smaller stick. People are already flocking to the image, and one of 5th Row’s clients said their son already calls the building “the monster gym.”

With weather challenges, Johnson completed the mural in about a week and a half, though he had some setbacks with all of the rain. The mural is finished now and the public can check out Phil and Phil Jr. for themselves at 2111 Third St., Eau Claire.

With the winter months coming up, this was Johnson’s last outdoor mural of the season, but he is already pumped for a full 2024 season of mural making.

You can reach out to Johnson on Instagram (@passionpod) to inquire about his art. Learn more about 5th Row Lifting Company at 5throwlifting.com.