Murals are a dialogue.
A well designed mural can not only spark conversation, but help propel conversations that are already in motion. My multi-faceted background in theater design and production has informed my mural practice for over a decade, and guides the questions I ask throughout the design process. I (like many muralists) am not just a painter, but wear the hats of historian, community organizer, storyteller, art teacher and friend whenever I am creating in public. My goal is to accompany and strengthen a neighborhood’s already pulsing energy, not disrupt it. With a vibrant color palette and modern twists on traditional trompe l’oeil techniques, my plant-inspired murals offer a chance to explore, play and intimately connect with our surroundings. Large scale florals and slightly surreal landscapes beckon people to optimistically ask, “what if?”
Classically trained in theatrical scene painting, my work blends traditional trompe l’oeil techniques with modern color palettes and imagery. My community practice is dedicated to incorporating input from any mural’s neighbors and visitors whenever possible. Native plants and local architecture of every location in which I paint consistently inspire me, and are often integrated into murals. The design process begins by clarifying the specific goal of the artwork, and then we work backwards to accomplish it with a thoughtfully crafted mural design.
Scroll down to see mural portfolio.
#PaintTheStorefronts window painting curated by Pipkin Creative for the National Landing Business Improvement District as an effort to support local businesses during the pandemic.
Chelsea putting the final touches on a mural completed in May 2021 in Washington, D.C. Photo by Mariah Miranda Photography
Backyard Mushroom Forest
8’ x 50’ acrylic latex on stucco wall, in the backyard of a private residence in Washington, DC. As passionate naturalists with a fascination for fungi, the homeowners desired a larger-than-life composition that celebrates their favorite mushroom and floral species of the area in which they live. The mural can be seen through the windows of their home, making for multiple exciting viewpoints!
Wisteria Wonder Mural
15’ x 8’ acrylic latex and spray paint on metal door and cement brick, at the new site of Past Tense Yoga Studio in Washington, DC. Wisteria was chosen as the leading character of this floral story because of its connections to the history of vaccination and yoga, a timely combination for painting a mural in a global pandemic!
Botanical Music Mural
16’ x 8’ acrylic latex on wooden garage door, at a residential property in the Adams Morgan neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Completed in 2020. The family that commissioned this project have lived in this house since the 1960s, and it was an honor to help bring their vision and passion for music to life.
Watering the Future Mural
36' x 12' latex paint on brick at Past Tense Yoga Studio in Mt. Pleasant neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Completed in 2020. Installed on a high-traffic corner, the intention of this mural is to offer passersby moments of pause, reflection and playful exploration in our increasingly screen-focused world. Succulents and native flora remind us to be resilient and graceful in harsh environments, being watered by my nieces and nephews who gracefully modeled for the mural :)
Santa Fe BK Restaurant Mural
I was thrilled when my longtime friends offered to commission a surreal desert scene in their new Williamsburg, Brooklyn restaurant celebrating Santa Fe cuisine. Quickly becoming a local favorite and receiving rave reviews, this restaurant is true to its quirky personality and authenticity that we aimed to amplify with this mural. The imagery welcomes visitors in from the street entrance while seamlessly merging with the surrounding interior. There are touches inspired by the owners’ favorite authors, life memories, and shared desert daydreams.
An Ode to Kittens!
20’ x 4’ latex paint on wooden fence. Mt Rainier, Maryland.
As a shameless cat lover myself, I was thrilled when approached by a homeowner who wanted to honor all six of her beloved cats with a mural in her backyard. I incorporated flowers from her garden into the design, achieving a colorful display for she and the neighbors to fully enjoy.
Flint’s Secret Garden
50’ x 9’ latex and spray paint on cinderblock. Completed 2021.
Selected as a participating artist in the annual mural festival produced by Flint Public Art in Flint, Michigan, I was thrilled to be assigned a storage shed managed by the Parks and Recreation Department that needed some TLC. Lucky for me, it sit in the middle of a gorgeously lit, wooded area full of native wildflowers! I drew inspiration from the wildlife around me while also incorporating nods to my own family’s heritage, as my great grandparents met in Flint, Michigan after emigrating from Mexico and Finland. The trompe l’oeil wood was fun to create with such a bold grain, and the shed can be enjoyed from all angles of the adjacent walking path.
Little Free Library Mural
4’ x 12’ latex paint on wood panel in Mt. Pleasant neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Completed 2020. One of many active “Little Free Libraries” in the neighborhood, the commissioner and I saw the opportunity to give this one a facelift. The books selected are a mix of personal and loved ones' favorites, books written by D.C. authors, and books valued by the nearby yoga studio and neighbors. Since these photos were taken, there have been a few additional books added.
Indian Botanicals Mini-Mural
3’ x 4’ latex paint on wood panel and aluminum frame. Private residence in Washington, D.C. completed in 2021. This commission was created for a couple who was tired of looking at an old boarded up window on their back patio! They requested a warm bouquet of Indian flowers, so we chose hibiscus as the leading character surrounded by Indian culinary flowers, because the painting is visible through their kitchen window. I also sprinkled in a flower native to the D.C. area to represent the blending of American and Indian cultures.
Un/fold: A Style Anthology of DC
A portraiture mural featuring DC residents that were subjects of an ongoing fashion research project, led by Tribute Collective. Each portrait was painted from reference photos provided by Tribute, taken by Joilyn Jackson and Amit Mehta. I painted them onto parachute cloth and pasted them onto the wall, and the motif was painted directly onto the surface. Located in Adams Morgan in Washington, D.C. Completed 2020.
A statement Via Tribute Collective, my partner and collaborator on this project:
Tribute Collective is proud to present "un/fold: a style anthology of Washington DC", a research project that brings together art, photography, storytelling and fashion in powerful ways to look at the clothed body in the city as a site for production of meaning, narrative, performance and communication.
un/fold aims to answer the overarching question: why does fashion matter in Washington DC?
We dive into the untold history of fashion in the capital and how it has evolved over time. The objective is to sustain DC diverse style culture and claim a place for fashion as an essential element of its history alongside other more well-established aspects of the city’s life.
Aridity X Mural
18' x 22' latex paint on wood panels in downtown Napa, California. Completed in 2018. Painted as part of the "Artist Alley" initiative to activate buildings under construction as the property developer rebuilt after a large earthquake. All plants are native to Napa Valley (sans eyeballs).
#PaintTheStorefronts Window Mural
6' x 12' latex paint on window glass in Alexandria, Virginia. Completed 2020. Painted as part of a local initiative to positively activate small businesses otherwise closed down due to the pandemic. This was my first time painting on glass but I’d love to do it again sometime!
Surreal Desert Kingdom Mural
20' x 10' latex paint on brick wall in Phoenix, Arizona. Completed 2018. A desert palace of personified succulents and very curious cacti, inspired by the plants of the surrounding deserts I was honored and lucky to enjoy prior to painting.
Trampoline Park Murals
“The Edge” mural is 40’ x 34’, the eagle head is 15’ x 12’ and its claw is approximately 10’ x 7’, all acrylic paints on sealed concrete. These were painted at Gravity, Etc Indoor Trampoline Park in Dallyellup, West Australia. Completed in 2017.
City Sewing Room Mural
6' x 15' latex paint on wooden panels as advertising for a community sewing maker space in St. Louis, MO. Completed 2017.
Gigantic Purple Kraken Mural
Kraken attack! Purple kraken is approximately 65' x 18' latex paint on stucco, at a popular souvenir shop in The Outer Banks, North Carolina. Completed 2016.
Resiste Cactus Mural
6' x 3' latex paint on wood panel in Downtown Napa, California. Completed 2018. Kids followed suite with their own accompanying chalk art!
Crocogator Kissing Booth and Wildcat Patio
10' x 10' x 3' two-plane interactive mural at Napa County Fairgrounds in Calistoga, California. Latex paint on wood panels. Completed in 2017 and 2018.
