Abel Jackson - @artbyabel

Abel R. Jackson III is a deliberate creator who chooses to live his life as a painter and muralist in Charlotte NC. As a childhe excelled in the visual arts, spending considerable time coloring, drawing, and painting for fun. It was not until Abel took a transformative art class in high school that he learned that his love for visual creation could be used as a powerful form of purposeful self-expression.

“As an artist, I believe in the transformative power of art to bridge gaps, evoke empathy, and encourage dialogue. Through my paintings and murals, I strive to awaken the viewer's senses and provoke introspection, inviting them to explore the depths of their own consciousness

Artist’s Why: "The Black Maestro on Pegasus"  - This mural pays homage to Jimmie Winfield, a remarkable black jockey soaring triumphantly across the finish line astride the mythical Pegasus. The mural's primary objective is to celebrate and honor the enduring legacy of black jockeys and horse trainers who showcased exceptional prowess in thoroughbred horse racing.

During the early chapters of horse racing, black jockeys and trainers left an indelible mark on the sport, clinching victory in an impressive 15 out of the initial 28 Kentucky Derby’s. However, their contributions were unjustly stifled as they faced systematic bans from participation during the tumultuous era of the early 1900s. Undeterred by the constraints of Jim Crow laws and segregation, Jimmie Winfield exemplified resilience by choosing to continue racing in Europe, ultimately securing victory in over 2000 horse races.

The mural also serves as a tribute to other trailblazing black jockeys, including Oliver Lewis, Willie Sims, and the legendary Issac Murphy. Together, their stories contribute to the rich tapestry of horse racing history, underscoring the remarkable achievements of black athletes in the face of adversity.

Carlito Quartz - @Carlitoquartz

Carlito Quartz, is a highly-inspired creative, solely focused and specializing in large-scale contemporary muralism, as an artist, creative director, curator and producer. Having traveled the world since 2005 and visiting over 40 countries, he has created significant artworks across the US, South America, Europe and Australia, totalling over 100 murals in public and private spaces. As a co-founder of The Mural Co., he has facilitated as a curator, creative director and producer over 250 mural projects, alongside 50+ world leading mural artists. Working with latex, acrylic and spray paint, Carlito likens his process to that of a sculptor: intuitively carving away at the wall with the paint to reveal the final piece. Inspired by his adventures; connecting with people from different environments, places, languages and cultures, his artwork seeks to share the universal message of gratitude, beauty, connection and celebration. Embedded in his artwork and process is always the intention to connect with place, engage and inspire audiences, and beautify, transform & activate spaces.

Artist’s Why: The Northern crested Caracara (Mexican Eagle) has long been associated with Native American culture and mythology. In Native American folklore, the Caracara is a messenger between the worlds of Earth and the Spirit. In South America, the Caracara is considered to be a bringer of good luck and protection. Carlito is an Australian artist living in Costa Rica  He wanted to share brightly colored beauty and protection with the visitors of Luminous Lane.

Ann Duarte - @duaRte_designs

We are Ann Duarte (@duarte_designs) and Sydney (@traveling_gypsy). Together, we are a dynamic muralist and interactive art installation duo turning BIG dreams and visions into reality; spreading positive messages through our original artwork. Our pieces are meant to spark thought and help you pause, reflect, and breathe in all the things that make you feel grateful for this life. We create to inspire, bring love, laughter, hope and awareness back to the community. We help communities transform spaces and create vibrant neighborhoods that people want to visit, live in, and take care of. Our most favorite moment of this project was was Face Painting and connecting with everyone during the celebration party at Luminous Lane to transform your face with color while painting endless fun designs and creatures for everyone that stopped by to say hello.

Artist Why: This Tulip is from my friend’s garden that recently passed away. She loved seeing them blossom and sharing them with others. They continue to bloom each year and remind me of all of the goodness that life has to offer. I wanted to share that message with the visitors of Luminous Lane and remind them that “Even in the darkness, to let your light shine.”

Emerson Stoldt - @e_h_k_s

Formally schooled as an architect, Emerson Stoldt specializes in the design of buildings for Education, Community Use, and The Arts. As an architect, he enjoys designing and building sustainable spaces for people of all types to come together. As an artist, he often creates tension in his pieces by combining clear, hard-lined geometry with abstract gestures and flowing strokes of color and motion. By treading the legal gray-area of wheatpasting, he is able to create temporary guerilla street-art installations that contain colorful messages and expressions, and often include imagery of current popular culture issues juxtaposed with instantly recognizable themes from classical and contemporary art.

Artist Why:

This piece is meant to capture the joy that you experience when you find a true compliment in life. A partner, a yin-to your yang, your other half, the light to your shadow; it doesn't matter if your companion is romantic, professional, personal, social, or a furry friend, they are your unexpected light that will keep you afloat through your journey.

emily andress - @awakengallerync & @etandress

Emily Andress graduated from William Woods University in 1979 with a Bachelor Degree in Fine Art with concentrations in printmaking and painting. Early on in her career, Emily chose the path of printmaking and developed a style recognizable as her own. Utilizing plenty of negative space, vivid color, and black line, the work proved to be popular in the US and abroad provided a good living for 25 years. Feeling uninspired by a style that had changed very little since the mid ‘80’s, Emily took a hiatus from printmaking and worked towards finding her style in oil painting. Drawn to the innovations in art that happened in turn of the century Paris, Emily traveled there to become inspired by the voices from another time. In particular, the uniqueness of Modigliani and the color use of the fauvists and German expressionists proved to be the inspiration to find that new identifying style. Recently she has been working with master painters to bring deeper meaning to her work. By including her line work from her printmaking days into her paintings, Emily’s style is, once again, instantly recognizable as her own. Emily’s work has been shown nationally and internationally in group and solo shows. She looks forward to another month long residency in Ireland and also one in Paris in 2017.

Artist why:

The point of Awaken Gallery is to show the continual patterns throughout history as they equate with today. This gives the opportunity to shine a light on the lessons of the past in order to move forward in a better way. In collaboration with Rex Ritarita and Randy Pender, our wall represents two sun gods and one sun goddess from different ancient cultures; the Philippines, Norse, and Greek. The sun gods and goddesses of different world cultures were very powerful and we wanted to depict the balance and light that comes when men and women are equally valued. Balance is key to everything.

estko - @estko

ESTKO (Erin Svitko) is an multimedia artist, and graphic designer living in Charlotte, North Carolina, since 2014 and is originally from Southern Maryland. She was lucky to have the constantly evolving ecosystem of graffiti and street art when she lived around DC, and then Philadelphia and Baltimore. This directly influenced her art from early high school in the 90’s through college in the early 2000’s. That gave her the inspiration needed to develop her own creative style. In 2013 she started drawing and painting geometric abstractions, and then botanical elements and body parts soon became incorporated into the paintings. Her goal was to build enough confidence and skill to paint large canvases and walls. Abstract line art is ESTKO's way to celebrate women and abstractly express struggles that are uncomfortable but need more awareness. It’s important that her art serves a purpose, especially raising awareness. ESTKO wants her art to help end stigmas, stereotypes and encourage others to do the same.

Artist Why:

To me, bringing light to dark spaces means to illuminate the unknown, the scary, the misunderstood. Bioluminescent Jellyfish were chosen as my subject because they are mysterious, important to the ocean's ecosystem - they are essential prey but very potent predators. Also they are very feared. Most jellies are bioluminescent, making them seem otherworldly. Jellies have no brain, no heart, no lungs, yet they have survived and adapted to Earth’s changes for 600 million years. I’d like to share my appreciation of "one of evolution’s simplest yet compelling designs.” I connect bioluminescence, jellies, and the ocean to some of my favorite family memories - and there is a lot of hidden symbolism in this piece and some happy mistakes. The challenge of getting this freehanded mural to be symmetrical, glow was exciting to take on. Learning so much about bioluminescence and trying new painting techniques for this mural made this entire experience extra special.

esther moorehead - @esthermooreheadart

Esther Moorehead was born in Toronto, Canada. She has lived in Canada, Northern Ireland, and the USA. She’s an avid traveler, soaking up inspiration with every opportunity and each new place has significant impact on her creative journey. She is curious and independent, thriving on exploration and observation. She grew up immersing herself in many creative outlets, from drawing and painting, to stage design and small theatre production, music, and event planning and catering. After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in Art Education in South Carolina in 2005, she returned to Toronto to teach high school art and geography. During that time she was married and had two daughters. She also began taking painting commissions and soon realized her true passion lay in building a career as an independent studio artist.

Artist Why: The last several years have felt very dark in so many ways. Our whole world has been ravaged by social, political, and economic upheavals.  No one has been unaffected.  At the beginning of 2023, it was already clear to me that my work needed to be grounded in hope and light.  So when I found out the theme of "anchoring light in dark places" for Luminous Lane, I could not have been more excited to contribute. I constructed a cityscape using people I have photographed in multiple places at different times, placing them on a crosswalk to travel together in the light.  Together, they create a metaphor for our collective journey through life. Though everyone has a different story, all of us can find hope that will anchor us in dark places.

Euli - @eulizerd

Born and raised in Los Angeles CA, Eulises “Eulizerd” Orellana is a self taught artist on a mission to bring dope yet silly art to the streets of Charlotte. Euli’s illustrative style is influenced by Japanese anime, American comics, and the cartoons of yesteryear. His designs are best described as carefree in subject yet careful in execution. When you see clean lines, big teeth, and squishy faces you best believe you’re looking at a Eulizerd special. 

Artist Why: My why was easy for this piece, it’s meant to brighten up your day with its whimsical simplicity. The only literal usage of illumination you can find would be the shine coming off the big lizerd’s gold tooth! I knew what I was going to paint the moment I saw the space in person, it's rare for that to happen so I was immensely grateful for it. I knew when I saw the air duct I had to incorporate it cleverly, so why not add a salmon nigiri 🍣With most of my work, I just enjoy making silly characters that’ll put a smile on your face, deep meanings have their place but sometimes the best answer is the simplest. I believe the energy you put into your work is what you receive in return, and I put a lot of good into this one! I hope any viewers can feel the fun and love I had in making this piece and carry that energy with them the rest of their day.

dorian williams - @_fauxcus

Dorian Williams is an artist and designer from Virginia who has put down his roots in Charlotte, NC. He has lived primarily in Northern Virginia and the coast (Norfolk) before settling in Charlotte in 2018.

He specializes in vibrant colors and illustrative character work. He has been featured in several live art performances and is set to put up several murals later this year. He is inspired, and frequently uses pop culture references in his work mixed in with his own original characters; inspiration is also drawn from world cultures/religions and folklore.

Artist Why:

I didn’t hesitate to accept the opportunity to contribute to luminous lane! A collaborative space for artists in the city… it’s the start of something beautiful for Charlotte. I hope we can continue to brighten up the walls all around the city!

Brian Michelotti - @hobo_husband

Based out of Charlotte since 2019, Brian is a mixed media artist specializing in large scale murals and lettering for businesses. He uses a blend of spray paint and acrylic mediums to create deep textures and glowing atmospheres that counter abstract 3D elements in an aesthetic way. Deeply inspired by graffiti and classical art, he seeks new ways to illustrate the two worlds mixed with a pinch of architecture. Brian has accomplished much since 2019, including finishing the first Brand the Moth Meta Mural residency, a community involved mural at Queens University, murals in both Wooden Robot locations, worked with Lowe’s tech hub in south end, and many others.

Hxncho - @H_x.n_c.h_o

Hxncho? is a Designer/Artist from Charlotte, NC who likes to paint his euphoric imaginations and express his inner worlds of aliens and monsters, Specializing in painting and multimedia works he gives a new twist to abstract cartoonism. While also pursuing the works of fashion design. A young prodigy some say but the young Don just started.

Artist Why:

Coming from the street art scene I used to make graphic designs and turn them into stickers to place around the city. My ground level piece is a tribute to my whole art career with characters and all the wacky wild style I do in my art and the different things that bring light to my life. I made it to look like as if there was stickers slapped in my mural. “vandalizing” my own mural with love bombs. It was such fun experience painting it. I’m glad to have had the opportunity to pour my heart and soul into my piece and share it with everyone that enters Luminous Lane.

jeks - @jeks_nc

Jeks, graffiti/mural artist from Greensboro North Carolina USA, has made a name for himself globally with his hyper realistic monochromatic portraits as well as massive full color pieces. The amount of meticulous detail, smooth gradients, emotion and saturation in his pieces set him apart from other artists in the realism field. He has painted hundreds of walls across the US as well as Colombia and Canada which have become beloved community landmarks. Between painting commissioned and independent eye popping new murals each month, technical graffiti burners and a relentless hunger to push the envelope, he is on his way to become a well known and sought after name in the public art world.

Artist Why: Happy to Squeeze in a quick love delivery in Uptown Charlotte. This is a portrait of my nephew Weston. He rules and I wanted to share his light and sweet smile with all of you.

JBIRD -@jbird.the.vandal

Jason “JBIRD” Parker is a street artist / muralist Native to the Charlotte NC area . Jbird is heavily influenced by retro pop, pop culture and subculture particularly the art and design influence of graffiti, punk rock, hip hop, skateboarding, arthouse and cult cinema. It is Jbird’s mission is to spread art far and wide to keep the world colorful, beautiful, and weird.

Artist’s Why:
I try not to be too wordy with these things, less talk, more art. But, I have to say how honored I am to have been asked to be one of the Luminous Lane artists. How stoked I am to see the happiness it brings, and humbled to have a little nook amongst some of the most talented people I have ever met. Luminous Lane is bigger than a single event, it is a beacon of light and love, inspiration, creativity, hard work, artistry and community. An example that positive change can be made with positive energy and effort. @traveling_gypsy and @treazytreaz worked incredibly hard to make it happen and never lost their vision or enthusiasm along the way. Every artist and creative involved crushed it and delivered a really beautiful thing. I designed kiki the cat for a client years ago and fell in love with the image and began to paint it and paste it everywhere. It was then I realized that other people loved kiki as much as I do and it brought smiles, joy and wonder to all that found it. Kiki has in a way became my monicker or mascot, and I love to leave Kiki’s wherever there needs to be light and love. Love grows where kiki goes. I hope you enjoy.

Obsoe - @joeyobso

Joey Obso is a graffiti artist and muralist born and raised in Charlotte, NC. He has played a large role in pioneering the local public art scene. A student of the craft, he studied in the streets and abandoned buildings around the region. Lessons were learned through experimenting with all available spray paint techniques, in a relentless effort to steadily improve upon his past. While his work today is rarely contained within one specific style, his shapes and colors are infused with a youthful energy and sense of exploration, bright, bold and full of expression. Obso currently operates Big Trouble Studios, with space in Plaza Midwood. He has created large scale murals and paintings for restaurants, offices and organizations, while also finding a balance by continuing to create personal works. In the future he hopes to find new mediums to explore and bring his work to exotic places, while inspiring others along the way.

john hairston jr - @john_hairston _jr

John Hairston Jr. is a fine artist/ illustrator from Charlotte, North Carolina. Raised in the era of Reaganomics and hip-hop culture, Hairston uses a mixture of street art, expressionist sensibilities, and vibrant colors to create an aesthetic all his own. Hairston had participated in dozens of group gallery shows across the country, as well as hosted almost a dozen solo art exhibitions. He has done work for the ACC Network, Raycom Sports, the NBA, the NFL, and the NCAA. He has also provided the illustration for numerous musical acts including, The Wu-Tang, Del The Funky Homosapien, Earthgang, and the Grammy award nominated children’s album “The Perfect Quirk” by Secret Agent 23 Skidoo. He is the recipient of many awards including, but not limited to Charlotte Shout! Poster Contest 1n 2018, the Center City Vision Award in 2016 and Midsouth Regional Emmy in 2015. Hairston is a firm believer in art and activism, and can be found hosting workshops working for numerous nonprofits across the United States.

Artist Why:

I enjoy celebrating the spirit of joy and imagination in my body of work. I chose to capture the essence of free play and the inner child that exists in all of us.

@kiikcreate - Gray Edgarton

The world of KiiK Create is thriving with vivid pops of color and bold abstract patterns. Our art and design studio creates uplifting, high-vibrational art experiences. Our mission is to inspire everyone to BE VIBRANT!

Artist Why: “I am precisely where I am meant to be" is about pursuing what you are passionate about in the face of adversity. The stone moongate in this mural is a tribute to an actual stone moongate that I built in a Charlotte garden. To the left, Golden Teachers symbolize the wisdom of the natural world, and to the right, a copperhead snake symbolizes the threshold guardian - the fear that keeps you from following your path. The rainbow leading to or emerging from the center is the path of following your heart, and the ice cream is the joyous reward of doing so.

Marcus Burke - @_marcusburke

Born in Beaufort, SC and raised in Queens, New York, changing the World one interaction at a time.

Artist’s Why: Being in Luminous Lane with my peers and family was everything I needed! The city will be changed by this moment forever and I’m just proud and blessed to be a part of something so special and unique. Our artist community definitely needed this! We are healing and changing plus challenging each other to do better and do greater! This piece was brought to life on the last day and it was divine timing. Light v.s. Dark 🐺 There is a story of an old Cherokee is teaching his grandson about life. "My son, in life, there is a battle inside all of us between two "wolves." One is dark – representing anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego. The other is light – representing joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith. The same fight is going on inside you – and inside every other person, too.” The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather, “Which wolf will win?” The old Cherokee simply replied, “The one you feed.”

Whether or not it’s your first time hearing this story, it serves as an important reminder of the power we have over our experiences and emotions. This is the message that I wanted to share with the visitors of Luminous Lane. Love yourselves and care for your light wolf so that you can care for others and help heal humanity.

Mitzi Patton - @litlebirdmitzi

Mitzi was born in Charlotte, NC in 1972. She was born into a creative family and spent her childhood being taught various skills from needlework to welding. Her family fostered her artistic growth and self-exploration in the arts. Her mother fiercely defended her when she was brought into the elementary school for multiple parent teacher conferences where the staff wanted to correct her interpretation of the sky being above the earth. Mitzi always felt the sky was a magical place and after receiving her BFA in Fine Arts with a painting concentration she went on to flight school where she earned her commercial pilot and flight instructor ratings. She flew for the magic and the view, and when she wasn’t driven to fly big metal like her classmates, opting to stay in smaller corporate and cargo aircraft, she was nicknamed Littlebirdmitzi and it stuck. After living in Florida and traveling the country for some time, she returned to make her home base on family land that had been in the family since the original land grant in the late 1700s. Over the years Mitzi worked as a set designer, graphic designer, muralist, illustrator, decorator, and even an antique lamp restoration painter. Mitzi and her husband wanted to share the magical land with others and create a space to foster inspiration, and so began Abide-A-While Acres, an enchanted venue for workshops, celebrations, photography, film making and whatever they feel led to pursue.

Artist Why:

Day of the Dead is a holiday full of customs that resonate with me in very profound ways. We operate our venue, Abide-A-While Acres, out of an 1850’s farmhouse built by my great great grandparents. Everyday I am aware of being loved to where I am today by those that came before me and gave me the gifts of the land to tend to and share with others. I also gravitate to the bright colors, playfulness, and joy that surrounds the holiday and those things are typically core constructs in the art I create. I feel that we are programmed to view and treat death a certain way in our American culture that isn’t as beautiful and light as I have experienced death to be. I’m driven to not only inspire others but to help cultivate a view of death that is more expansive, colorful and light.

Mark Doepker - @markdoepker

Mark Doepker is a Charlotte, NC based artist, originally from Mid-Michigan. Mark is a lifelong self taught artist and draws from life/live models. The people you see are your real neighbors from our local community. He believes figure drawing is one of the cornerstones to any creative/successful community and perhaps always has been. Mark exhibits his work regularly throughout the region in group and solo shows. He has work in collections across North/Central America and Europe. With his current work there is no preliminary sketch, what you see is “the sketch” start to finish. "I think we learn a lot about each other and ourselves when we draw. I feel when a piece is finished it kind of serves as a mirror of sorts and helps you see and know things about yourself that may not have been so easy to realize without this mirror”

Artist’s Why: My piece is a combination of my portrait work on a large scale. The title of the lower face is “Charm”. This piece naturally fit the theme for the “Luminous Lane” as the model’s positive and uplifting demeanor comes through in the work. The hair color was changed here from to fit the palate of the alley.

The upper piece is titled “Are We Human”. The name is borrowed from lyrics to a popular song by The Killers. A version of this was also my Artpop billboard a few years ago. I like the expression as it has this watchful feel to it. She used to watch the cars go by on the freeway. Now her gaze goes out over the stars and people of which YOU are. l chose to extended those stars from the neighboring piece by Miss Lotus.

Most of my work including this one is intentionally created using real people from the community in a community setting. In doing so I become further interwoven into the populace.

Miss Lotus - @misslotus_

Miss Lotus is a dynamic and engaging street artist dedicated to exploring femininity and the alluring female form through the use and exploration of the spiritual lotus flower. In all her work Miss Lotus brings glowing energy and a sparkling vitality that uplifts as it transcends. Miss Lotus prides herself on bringing her artistic explorations to places where such imagery and beauty is acutely needed. The work of Miss Lotus has appeared across the country in places like Los Angeles, New York City, Honolulu, Las Vegas, Miami, Atlanta, and Charlotte.

Artist’s Why: The lotus flower is a sacred symbol visually representing spiritual enlightenment. As the seed roots in darkness, it grows upwards through the water to fully bloom in the light. This is a metaphor for the spiritual journey each one of us takes throughout our life. I included crystal imagery with the lotuses in Luminous Lane because both originate in darkness, yet persistently seek to bloom and shine in the light. They reflect one’s ability to remain positive and hopeful when things are dark and full of pressure. These are the conditions which allow for growth and the creation of something incredibly beautiful.

Natalie daratony - @nataliedaratonyart

Is a Charlotte-based, self-taught artist and muralist who loves all things nature and neutrals. She seeks to bring the peace and intricate beauties of nature into the city to remind everyone to pause and breath in the natural world around them. She hopes her art, colors, words, and creations bring more peace to all the environments they are found in and fill people with the calm and pause.

Artist Why: For Natalie, bringing light to dark places means loving and supporting people through their darkest moments, no matter how messy it gets. In Natalie’s darkest times her family members have been her light and love so she has painted each of her family members birth flowers as a way of thanking them and reminding any viewer that there are always people around you ready to be your light when you’re in the dark. You are not alone, you are surrounded by love.

Nony - @nony_clt

I’m a local Charlotte mural artist, born in Trujillo, Peru, district of La Libertad. I came to the US at 10 years old in 2000 with my mother and sisters to Charlotte and now 22 years later my wife and I are raising our beautiful daughters in the city that allows me to call art a career. I’m blessed and thankful for all my art friends embracing me as I was starting out a few years ago and more importantly for the opportunities this community has given me. My work is painted with Montana Colors spray paint.

Artist’s Why: The Theme was “bringing light to dark places” and as I pondered on what to do, my lovely wife had the awesome idea to do an Angler Fish for they bring light in the darkest places on the planet. The Charlotte Crown accent was inspired by my friend @sungai.lrc, and the dogwood flowers highlight the beauty of our state.

Matt Moore - @puckmcgruff

You can’t look at Charlotte’s skyline without seeing his mark. Charlotte is known for its financial backbone. However, under the banking towers and high-rises, what the city is most known for is a growing art movement. Art is proving to not only be a creative outlet but an investment in our community. From murals to sculptures, the local art scene is unavoidable. Using a handful of paint brushes, and dozens of spray paint cans, Moore’s street art can be spotted in nearly every neighborhood in the Queen City. From NoDa to Southend, he’s blowing up boring walls with his take on modern murals. Moore has always used art to express what his words cannot. From a young age, he started with a simple sketch pad, transitioned to watercolors, then to painting in front of audiences. He still paints in front of audiences. It’s just different these days. It just happens to be on a 10-story tall canvas in front of hundreds of people a day. He just wants to create art that’s emotional; like him. Art that’s thought provoking; like him.

Artist’s Why: Man…where to even begin. These past few weeks have inspired me in a way that I didn’t quite anticipate. Painting alongside old and new friends for #LUMINOUSLANE has been one of those moments in time that I will forever cherish. To witness all the many ways these artists worked together, encouraged one another, adjusted when needed, and pushed themselves creatively has made me fall in love with our CHARLOTTE art scene even more than I already was. I am eternally grateful and so very honored to have been a part of it.

When @traveling_gypsy first mentioned the idea of a bunch of artists collaborating on blasting this alley uptown, I initially had a concept that I was pretty stoked on. But, because we were all going to be doing this for free and because we had total creative freedom, my idea was definitely a bit creepy and intended to be…”disruptive.”
It wasn’t until I came out to the alley and witnessed the magic Sydney and @treazytreaz were cultivating that it all shifted.
Watching these two push themselves to the absolute MAX, day after day, but do so with a smile on their face and unfaltering love in their hearts spoke to me in a way I couldn’t ignore.
I unexpectedly had a new direction.

For me, this piece is not only a simple and necessary message I feel needs to be delivered, but an homage to the lady that made it all happen. Although I am now convinced she’s a crazy supermutant from another planet, @traveling_gypsy is a consistent and undeniable force of warmth and compassion.
She gives 20x more than she takes and is an altruist through and through.

* She’s someone who simply chooses to keep the light on and see the world through a lens of LOVE, rather than one of fear. *

This piece is most certainly inspired by and dedicated to her and the entire group of artists who not only made #LUMINOUSLANE a reality, but also made history this month.
Now let’s show this city what happens when you bring light (and a whole bunch of paint) to dark places.
I EVOL ALL YALL!

Osiris Rain - @osirisrain

Osiris Rain is an international muralist and post-contemporary figurative painter who was formally trained at the Angel Academy of Art in Florence, Italy, and apprenticed under master painter Odd Nerdrum in Stavern, Norway. He is the founder of Osiris Rain Studios, Can Jam CLT Mural Festival, and The North Carolina Academy of Art. He has been featured in publications such as Fine Art Connoisseur, Southwest Art Magazine, Juxtapoz Magazine, The Huffington Post, and more. His murals and paintings are featured in numerous private and public collections including the European Museum of Modern Art in Barcelona, Spain

Artist’s Why: This mural of an imagined exotic lily depicted as a "wallflower" is a reminder that strength and beauty can be found in adversity. The graceful blooming flower, surrounded by darkness and uncertainty, symbolizes the ability to create something beautiful out of challenging circumstances. Amidst the darkness, it encourages us to remain calm, centered, and introspective—to look inward for strength and determination during difficult times. Ultimately, this mural speaks to our capacity for resilience through personal transformation. In this way, we can develop our own creative power in order to overcome any obstacle that comes our way.

Katrina Pinkclouds - @pinkclouds83

Katrina Cherry is a painter from Charlotte North Carolina. She is skilled in creating 2D and 3D art for people to enjoy. Katrina partners with local art focused non-profit organizations that advocate for social justice in Charlotte's marginalized communities. Katrina's art often consists of tranquil landscapes and concepts that relate to African American culture.

Artist’s Why: Bringing Light to the darkness means... Being a positive example to others. Treating people with kindness and respect. Supporting and encouraging others to be the very best version of themselves. Actively being involved in your community to inspire more positive change. Bringing joy to others.

Quez & Silver - @primednreadymurals

Primed N Ready are a dynamic duo who have been creating street art together since 2018. Specializing in spray paint, they love to depict characters, abstract letter forms, and brightly colored designs inspired by childhood nostalgia and adventure. They add personality and enhance the environment by adapting their style to interact with the unique structure of the surroundings. Both are self taught artists who never stop experimenting with different media and ways to express themselves, with a goal of designing more murals for the US and beyond.

Artist’s Why: CharLIT by Primed N Ready murals - Our mural depicts the Charlotte city skyline meshed with the Blue Ridge mountains to showcase the overall magic of North Carolina. We included fireflies to symbolize that no matter how insignificant you think you are, you have the power to be a bright light shining in the darkness. We all shine our own unique light to illuminate our World. Fireflies remind you to be intentional about the light you seek in others, since they flash their light in special patterns to attract the right mate. Another element of the mural is the tropical white morning glory, which only blooms in the evening and remains open until touched by the morning dew.

randy pender - @randy_pender

I am a portrait and figurative artist living in Charlotte, North Carolina. I was the typical creative kid growing up in a small South Carolina town with limited access to artistic resources. I always had a love for photography, drawing, and painting but never studied those seriously. Those artistic talents were considered ‘hobbies’, not career choices! I managed to find a creative niche and went on to be a media arts major at the University of South Carolina. But, I found myself with no single focus in school. After University, I pursued jobs that supported my artistic interests but were not specific to painting. Before I realized it, a summer job as a window dresser turned into a full-fledged career as a retail executive. Now after 30 years, I have turned my attention to full-time painting and my creative passions

Artist’s Why: As a traditional figurative and portrait oil painter this project allowed me to participate in a project very different from my typical format. This piece represents my version of Helios, the Greek god of the sun. It explores the personification of Helios ‘bringing light’ to the world. He looks forward toward the light of the day with the night to his back. To me Helios represents possibility, consistency and continuous hope as he shines daily on humanity and the optimism of what could be.

Rebecca Lipps - @REBECCALIPPSART

Rebecca Lipps is an artist and educator cultivating interactive experiences by combining sculpture and video. She loves pushing the boundaries of technology and art making to create a new form of expression. It is also important for her to impact her community by making public art, teaching classes, and involving herself in arts organizations around Charlotte. Rebecca’s love for technology started during her studies at Winthrop University where she received her Master of Fine Arts for video installation. She combines video technology with sculpture to transition the way we interact with video in our society. Rebecca enjoys using projection mapping to change the shape of video and layering it like a collage.The interactive portions of her work are important to her to cultivate community engagement. Rebecca wants her viewers to touch, play, and experience multiple senses of her artwork. She also engages the community through her freelance painting classes and through her classroom with her students. Rebecca is on the board for Talking Walls Mural Festival and other arts organizations around Charlotte. Her goal is to impact her community by collaborating with other artists to create events and experiences for the public

Artist’s Why: Bringing light to dark spaces means spreading selfless love and kindness to honor others. My mural depicts a portrait of someone looking up with a flower growing from their head. I frequently paint a flower growing from a portrait to encourage others to recognize the beauty of their own growth. The Night Blooming Jasmine also called "Dama de Noche" depicted here only blooms out its white petals when the moon rises, bringing light to the darkness. This flower is the favorite of Tadeo Muleiro, a visiting McColl Center Resident Artist from Argentina. I chose to leave a small mark of Tadeo to honor his Charlotte experience so far away from home. Anyone can view my mural in Luminous Lane and connect with the growth message themselves."

Rex ritarita - @ritaritarex

I was born in the Philippines and traveled to America at 5 years old when my Dad, a Senior Chief in the United States Navy was stationed in Long Beach, CA. We migrated to the East Coast and I was raised in Virginia Beach, VA and have lived in Charlotte, NC since 2008. I have had several careers in my 50 years from registered nurse in pediatric oncology, to hairstylist and small business owner. I have always been inspired and drawn to creativity and self expression in a variety of forms including fashion, interior design, hair and of course, art. I have always been inspired by people and I hope this collection inspires others to pursue individual artistic endeavors and encourage introspection on his/her/their own past and present and the role those experiences play in shaping future perspectives and experiences. I hope everyone has the opportunity and ability to celebrate with given or chosen families and lets light and love guide the path to peace and love.

Artist Why: My wall highlighted the Filipino sun god Apolaki and featured native plants and flowers to the Philippines where I was born and spent my early childhood years.

I have always been proud of the cultural richness of my heritage and my art work often incorporates aspects of this history as well as personal experiences and family. The peacock is featured symbolically as a motif in many of my fine art paintings.

As my family owned and worked rice fields, the sun was an important part of daily life, providing light, warmth and nourishment to both farmers and the crops. Apolaki has his face turned toward the Filipino sun which adorns the Philippines national flag with its eight-rayed golden sun symbolizing unity, freedom, people's democracy, and sovereignty.

Apolaki is also the God of War and patron god of warriors including soldiers such as my dad who was a Navy veteran of over 23 years. The sun god brings light to dark places by shining his light from within spreading it outward to cast away shadows but he also serves as protector and advocate for the people.

Pam Imhof - @theleftbrainedartist

Artist Pam Imhof has been in the Charlotte area since 2013. Currently, she teaches grades K-5 at First Ward Creative Arts Academy. First Ward is a magnet school for the arts that maintains many partnerships with the community. Pam works as an artist part time. She has completed murals and other public pieces in the Charlotte area as well as in New Jersey, where she previously resided. Her personal artwork includes paintings, needle tatting, drawings, free form crochet sculptures, and more. Pam has been mostly focusing on floral subject matter. Her work is whimsical, colorful, and dramatic.

Artist’s Why: Always Find the Light" is a piece that represents Pam Imhof's artistic journey as both a fiber artist and a muralist.  This piece combines crochet and spray painting.  Pam struggled for a long time with choosing between fiber arts and painting until she realized that she was able to do both.  The color palette, circles, and swirls pay homage to the CLT SHOUT Festival and the moths represent the journey towards artistic enlightenment. 

Swych - @swych19

When it comes to his art, his style is influenced by graffiti, cartoons, comics and every day life. He gains inspiration and knowledge through friends, family, music, movies and other artists he looks up to. Evolving with each piece that he creates. He likes to take a silly, quirkiness approach with his characters and create vibrant colors for the subject to tell a story. At the end of the day, he wants to put a smile on people's faces through his art.

Artist’s Why: I chose to create a character that is carrying a pencil that has a glowing tail moving with him as he flies to show that creativity can bring lightness to dark and to brighten someone’s life or thoughts. To lift their spirits up no matter what one is facing or going through. We all need some creativity in our lives and bring smiles to our faces.

Scott Whitehead - @Toonsbeforetime

After years of living among the animation archives in the Burbank Studios, Scott Whiteside has returned to his hometown to put his unique fingerprint on the complex art world of appropriation. He has found his own creative voice through his love and appreciation of the rich history of animation.

Artist’s Why: The subject matter was inspired by my recent research into cartoon sketch concepts. My latest piece really needed direction. When Sydney and Treazy described their vision for the alley, bringing light to dark places, it helped me see something positive hidden within my current work. The alley really needed attention. They chose to celebrate the process by sharing it with Charlotte’s Arts Community.

Pinocchio is one of my favorite Disney animations. I spend a lot time drawing from the movie, but rarely would it make it into my final pieces. The Blue Fairy brings life to Pinocchio one night, through her wand of light. It’s a beautiful scene. A thankless gesture of kindness in an otherwise unseen existence.

Painting it for this wall to come to life made it all the more meaningful.  Anytime I find myself smiling as I work, I know I’m doing it with intention. I hope the visitor’s of Luminous Lane enjoy it.