We recently connected with Alex and have shared our conversation below.

Alex, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.

I’ve been making art for as long as I can remember. From a very young age, I dreamed of becoming a professional artist. One of my earliest and most vivid memories is painting happy little trees along with Bob Ross on TV when I was just three or four years old. Growing up, I was always known as the “art kid” — designing school yearbook covers, getting recognized for my creativity, or even getting in trouble for doodling during class.

After high school, I pursued my passion more formally by studying art in college, earning my BFA in Visual Communications from Washington University in St. Louis in 2010. However, launching an art career wasn’t a straightforward path. In the wake of the 2009 financial crisis, I struggled deeply with mental health challenges, self-doubt, and confusion about my future. For a while, I stepped away from art completely and attempted to build a career in finance. While well-intentioned, it quickly became clear that this corporate sphere wasn’t where I belonged — I needed to reconnect with my creativity.

Finding my way back to an artistic life was a winding, organic process. Even when I felt lost, I knew I had to lead a creative life, whatever shape that might take. My first major step was landing a role at Gensler, a global architecture and design firm, where I was able to blend creativity and professionalism. That experience laid the foundation for my evolving art career.

Since then, I’ve worked in Art Consulting and, for the past four years, I’ve been with Urban ArtWorks, a nonprofit organization in Seattle focused on public art, youth mentorship, and community building. Today, I serve as the Project Director, overseeing all commissioned and community-based art projects. Through my work with Urban ArtWorks, I’ve experienced a personal creative renaissance — reigniting my passion for mural-making and public art, and fully embracing my role as both an arts leader and working artist.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I discovered my path into murals and public art somewhat organically. Now that I’m fully immersed in it, it feels obvious and intuitive — but it took time, exploration, and growth for me to make that connection.

I first fell in love with drawing and painting as a child, and I’ve always been passionate about making things with my hands. While I enjoy other creative outlets like writing and sculpting, I consistently return to visual art and creating experiences through painting, drawing, mixed media, and collage. My work ranges in scale from intimate, small-format pieces to large-scale murals that transform entire environments. More recently, I’ve been branching into immersive and experiential art, and I find great joy in curating the work of other artists when opportunities arise.

Today, I focus on murals, environmental artwork (both painted and printed installations like vinyl wraps), and experiential design projects. My experience at Gensler Architects — a global leader in placemaking and the built environment — opened my eyes to the power of art in shaping spaces. However, it was my time with Urban ArtWorks, a Seattle-based nonprofit specializing in public art and youth mentorship, that truly ignited my creative fire to tell deeper stories through art and create meaningful community connections.

At the heart of my work is a passion for empowering communities through creativity. I strive to create a sense of belonging, foster pride of place, and spark meaningful conversations through visually impactful, narrative-driven artwork. Whether through direct community engagement or thoughtful mural design, my goal is always to tell a story that resonates with the people who live, work, and gather in each space.

What sets me apart as an artist is my wide stylistic range and my ability to bridge both fine art and design. While art and design are closely related, they require different mindsets — and my strength lies in seamlessly integrating both approaches to serve the needs of a space and its community. For my clients, this results in enhanced livability, stronger emotional connections, and a deeper sense of personal investment in neighborhoods, public spaces, and cities.

I’m most proud of the moments when my work helps people feel seen, connected, and inspired. At the end of the day, my brand and my mission are about more than just making beautiful walls — it’s about creating environments where people feel a sense of identity, belonging, and community.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

The driving force behind my creative journey is a deep passion for helping others discover — or rediscover — their own creative spark. Creativity has been a vital part of my personal healing journey, and I know firsthand how powerful and transformational it can be.

Throughout my life, I’ve struggled with mental health challenges, including anorexia and addiction, both of which, at times, felt like insurmountable obstacles to fully expressing myself or reaching my potential. Aligning with my joy and pursuing my creative dreams has been a crucial part of overcoming those struggles. Today, I stand on those experiences not as setbacks, but as powerful sources of inspiration and motivation to keep moving forward — and to help others do the same.

I believe passionately that every single person is inherently creative. It’s my mission to inspire others to see that within themselves, to connect with their inner artist, and to experience the healing, empowering joy of creative expression. If my work can remind even one person that their voice matters, and that what they have to share is valuable, then I know I’m moving forward on the right path.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, like so many others, I had a lot of time for reflection. Out of that stillness, I began dreaming up community-driven art projects designed to empower people through creativity. One idea that took root was a large-scale public art project centered on the “Butterfly Effect” — the idea that small actions can create ripples of profound change. This project invites people to reflect on how we show up in the world, and specifically, how engaging with our creativity can have a positive impact not only on ourselves but also on our communities.

At its core, my creative mission is about empowerment, connection, healing, and joy — using art as a bridge to remind us all of the beauty, resilience, and creativity we carry within.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

There are so many rewarding aspects of being a creative, and I feel incredibly fortunate that I get to experience this both as an artist and as an arts administrator.

In my role as an arts administrator, it’s deeply fulfilling to serve my community and connect other artists with opportunities that help grow their careers. It’s powerful to facilitate public art projects and community events that strengthen community ties and create shared experiences. One of the most rewarding parts is helping emerging artists land projects they might not have otherwise accessed — seeing someone’s career take a step forward because of a connection or opportunity I helped facilitate is truly amazing.

As an artist, the most rewarding feeling is watching my visions come to life and realizing that I am capable of achieving goals I may have once doubted. Every project represents personal growth: tackling larger challenges, building new skills, and stepping into spaces I once thought were out of reach. Just a few years ago, I picked up a paintbrush again after a long break, unsure if I could still do it — and today, I’m painting large-scale murals for professional clients. It’s genuinely a dream come true.

Looking ahead, I am most excited about using my creative work to inspire change, especially around mental health awareness. This mission is personal to me, and it’s incredibly important to share messages of hope, resilience, and self-worth through public art. I want my work to remind people that their lives matter, that it’s okay to ask for help, and that we’re all doing our best as we navigate life’s challenges.

Ultimately, I hope to inspire others to reconnect with their own creativity — whether that’s by seeing my journey as an example or through direct participation in community-driven art projects like The Butterfly Effect. Empowering others to engage with their creativity is one of the greatest rewards of all.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.alexandranason.com/index.html
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nasecase
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Alexandra.L.Nason
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexandra-nason/

Image Credits

Mark Woods (took image of me with all the hexagons). Otherwise, either myself or my partner took all of the photos.