As a part of our 10th anniversary celebrations, Resident Artist Lea Craigie has been hired to help us celebrate this huge milestone – with a mural on the exterior of our much loved building.
Biography: Lea Craigie – Multidisciplinary Artist and Designer
Lea Craigie is an award-winning multidisciplinary public artist, fine artist, sculptor and designer rooted in the DMV region. Born in Falls Church, Virginia, raised between Washington, D.C. and Alexandria, and shaped by a childhood growing up in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains of the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia, her work blends urban vibrancy with a deep love of nature and history.
Her expansive body of work includes public art commissions, historical and contemporary murals, mosaic murals and sculptures, laser cut steel panel installations, suspended sculptures, molded resin sculptures, stained glass, acrylic panel sculptures, acrylic wall installations, sculptural installations, and fine art painting—many created in collaboration with local governments, nonprofits, developers, and communities.
Flourish: A Mural for Artists & Makers Studios
This mural, proposed for the exterior panels of Artists & Makers Studios, is inspired by the timeless botanical elegance of William Morris. Drawing from his rich legacy of pattern, flora, and hand-crafted beauty, the design is a joyful celebration of nature’s intricate rhythms — featuring bold blossoms, curling vines, and pollinators that evoke creativity, growth, and community.
Set against a warm terracotta backdrop, the flowing composition reflects the spirit of the studios within: vibrant, welcoming, and ever-blooming with artistic energy. The mural spans 18 panels, unifying the multiple entrances with color and movement while serving as a visual invitation to the public to engage with the creative work happening inside.
As an artist deeply committed to public art that uplifts and connects, I’m honored to bring this piece to a space that nurtures makers of all disciplines.