Supporting The Local Artisan Community
The Union Market neighborhood thrives on its artist character and vibe. Our local artists are major players in making Washington DC so culturally vibrant. We want to take a moment and give a shout out to all DC artists and encourage everyone to shop local and shop artisan.
Looking for a place to start? Here is a callout to some talented artists!
Absurdly Well
The DC artist known as Absurdly Well is famous for posting art in public spaces that draw awareness to current issues, woman empowerment, and protest. Though this work is not being seen on the streets as much, now that fewer people are out and about, you can purchase your own posters through the website, and help support Absurdly Well and important messages which are relevant to the times.
Follow @absurdlywell on Instagram
Holly Bass
You may also check out @hollybass360 on Instagram. Holly is a performance artist, but she also works in many other forms of media. There are some amazing visuals and examples of her work on her IG account, as well as her website, www.hollybass.com. Since COVID, Holly has even taken to Zoom for certain performance pieces.
Maggie O'Neill
Maggie O’Neill’s colorful pop art highlights DC landmarks and people. You can take a look at @maggieoartist on Instagram, and purchase pieces from her website, www.maggieo.com.
Lucinda Murphy
Lucinda F. Murphy has a style all her own. Her inspiration comes from science, and particularly evolution. Her work can currently be purchased through the website: https://www.wpadc.org/artist/lucinda-murphy.
Rose Jaffe
Click https://rosejaffe.myportfolio.com/ to check out an amazing website with some very cool work by a DC artist whose pieces come in all kinds of forms, including everything from cartoons to ceramics. You can also follow her on Instagram at @rose_inks.
Robin Bell
Robin Bell is a DC-famous artist whose work is also dependent upon exposure in public spaces, primarily using large scale projection. You can find his work on Instagram at @bellvisuals. Click http://bellvisuals.com/FundTheArt to learn more, and contribute directly to his social justice efforts.
Support Local:
When in doubt, turn to Shop Made In DC to match you with artisan perfection. https://www.shopmadeindc.com/
There are also online resources to find more local artists, virtual exhibitions, and ways to support the community at this time. Some great ones to try first are https://www.midcityartists.com/ and https://blackartistsofdc.com/. Mid City Artists is a volunteer collective of visual artists in DC. Black Artists of DC features artists, current information, and has a current virtual exhibition entitled “Still We Rise.”
If you have the means, check out some brilliant work from DC’s own artists. Purchase pieces that speak to you, make a monetary contribution, or simply spread the word, and share visuals with friends in the area who might also take an interest in helping the community. Any and all support will mean a great deal.