MURALS HAVE INCREDIBLE POWER TO TRANSFORM
Creating vibrant murals is creating vibrant community. More than adding beauty to spaces Rae has traveled the U.S. partnering with universities and businesses with artwork with more heart than just a beautiful backdrop for a social post.
Rae has delivered hand-painted, custom murals designed bring spaces to life, whether it’s a high-visibility outdoor storefront, a nonprofit gathering space, or a student center honoring diverse populations.
His passion for LGBTQ+ rights, especially for people of color in the queer community runs deep. Rae is always grateful for opportunities to support causes close to his heart. From public education to healthcare access he knows sometimes there is no better way to spread a positive message than a meters high, brightly colored, and thoughtfully designed mural on display for all to see.
Have a blank wall in mind that needs an impactful message? Let’s talk!
EDGEWOOD COLLEGE
The Edgewood College values are Justice, Compassion, Truth, Partnership and Community. Each year the college focuses on one of these values. The college needed to replace an outdated campaign mural. Painting the values in this prominent, high-visibility area helps reinforce the mission of the college. College brand colors were used to integrate the type-driven piece into the campus and aid the brand.
Rae painted this mural and created outlines of all of the text, numbered the paint cans and brushes so that nearly 60 students and faculty could help paint the mural. Rae finished the mural and added detail to complete the mural.
MONTANA BOOK COMPANY
The Montana Book Co. has been bringing life and literacy to downtown Helena Montana since 1978. A vibrant and vital community hub and fierce LGBTQ+ champions, the owners wanted to uplift the storefront with bold colors and native Montanan plants and flowers. Installing in late fall of 2022.
“Not many people realize they’re so much more than a bookstore. They are a safe haven for a lot of young people … It’s a safe place for so many folks.” ~Kai Bauer, veteran and patron of the bookstore
PORTLAND COMMUNITY COLLEGE Q CENTER
Portland Community College hired Rae to create a mural for the newly constructed Rock Creek Campus Q Center, which had a large, open wall at the center of the space. Each time they tried to place art on the wall, the impact of the art was diminished by the size of the wall. They needed a wall that celebrated the vibrancy, creativity, tenacity and strength of the LGBTQ+ community.
Rae created a geometric colorful wall in rainbow hues and painted six historic LGBTQ+ figures including Ellen Degeneres, Lauren Cox, Bayard Rustin, Sylvia Rivera, and Harvey Milk that the students and staff chose.
EDGEWOOD COLLEGE QSC
The Edgewood College Queer Student Center is a small space that provides a lounge and working area for LGBTQ+ students. With neon lighting and constricted layout, this space needed a grounding yet celebratory mural to bring joy and comfort to the students gathering there.
Rae created this mural in such a way that students could help paint the mural colors and take part in transforming this important community gathering space.
KENTON HOTEL
The Kenton Hotel in Portland, OR is not your typical hotel. The owners purchased an old building that most would have torn down. Instead, they hired local artists to paint a mural in each room, which had it’s own area-specific theme.
Rae was hired to paint the Columbia River Gorge room. Using Rae’s signature rainbow color pallet, the room exudes energy, beauty and creativity, all emotions that reminded the artist of the incredible natural wonder that is the Columbia River Gorge.
STONEWALL COLUMBUS
Stonewall Columbus invited Rae to bring his fine art portraiture of transgender and nonbinary community to the Owens & Kowalski Gallery for Columbus Pride 2019. They also wanted a lasting piece of artwork that would be a permanent mural in their LGBTQ+ Center space.
The organization worked with artist and photographer, Briden Cole to create the photo of 12 local transgender and nonbinary leaders as a base to inspiring the painted portrait mural.
Rae painted the mural live in-person during a multi-day community art event, completing it the following day.