The “Fox in the Flowers” mural on Fairfax City’s Main Street.
Fairfax City knows how to brighten up a street. It commissioned artist Bailey Sullivan to paint a cheerful, eye-catching mural above Senberry Bowls and Marlowe Ink Tattoo at 10407 Main St., and she definitely delivered.
Titled “Fox in the Flowers,” the vibrant nature-inspired mural is now a highlight of the downtown area. And City leaders gathered inside Senberry (due to impending rain) July 10 to celebrate the welcome new addition.
“It’s been a long journey to get murals on our buildings here in the City,” said Mayor Catherine Read. “There were people who talked about murals many years ago, but it was initially, ‘No, no, no.’ But things change, tastes change, communities change, and suddenly, it’s ‘Yes, yes, yes.’ The community had to embrace the idea that public art brings a dimension and an added value to a city that we can’t get in any other way.”
The colorful mural features local flora including crepe myrtles and dogwoods surrounding the centerpiece, Fairfax City’s Parks and Rec Department mascot Sneakers the Fox. A playful and symbolic figure, the fox is a nod to the City’s charm, history and welcoming spirit.
Sullivan is an award-winning artist whose work has been featured on everything from book covers to U.S. postage stamps – and even Dolly Parton’s autobiography. And although she was unable to attend the ribbon cutting for her mural, she’d earlier explained that decorative European folk art influences her work.
“I love including lots of florals, animals and other bits of nature,” said Sullivan. “For this mural in particular, I was inspired by the fable of the fox and the crow. I’m honored to be able to paint in beautiful Old Town Fairfax and hope this piece sparks a little joy for those passing by.”
Read said she appreciated the collaboration between Fairfax City Economic Development [FCED], City of Fairfax Cultural Arts, Commission on the Arts and the property owners who welcomed the mural and said, “Come and put this on our building.” She also thanked all the artists who’d submitted their designs for consideration.
“Artist Bailey Sullivan is from Richmond, which is full of beautiful murals,” said Read. “Many communities stuck their toe into this pool a long time before we did. But we now have a mission to bring art, color and vibrancy to many different places in the City of Fairfax. This is a beautiful mural, right on Main Street. People who pass by and walk up and down our sidewalks get the benefit of this amazing collaboration that elevates the arts here in our City. We’re a city that appreciates the power of art to help us build a thriving community.”
Likewise, Economic Development Director Chris Bruno called it “an exciting moment for Fairfax City and part of our new Tourism Division. Murals like this one really do create a place – and that’s what we’re focused on when we’re talking about tourism and how to make our placemaking work.”
“Ten years ago, there weren’t many murals in the City, and now we have a number of them throughout Fairfax, such as this one and the two on the back of Draper’s [restaurant],” Bruno continued. “I’m especially excited about this mural here because it’s on Main Street, which is very visible. And I hope it contributes to the Old Town Fairfax Business Association and the business community here in Old Town.”
Bruno said, “When I saw sketches of what it would look like, I thought, ‘Wow, it’s turning out really great.’ I didn’t realize at the time that we had the good fortune to work with a world-class muralist. And you can see, when you look at this mural, that this is something she’s passionate about, and passionate about connecting with the communities where her murals are installed.
“So, for us, it’s mission accomplished. She’s helping us create a place we want to come to, interact with and engage with – and to come back to, which is particularly important. And I think this is a really good start for us as we continue to build our tourism portfolio.”
Stephanie Gerson, Fairfax’s new tourism and placemaking specialist, said public art “provides an opportunity to turn ordinary spaces into places of inspiration, sparking conversation and connection. It tells a story and gives both residents and visitors something memorable to experience. It’s often one of the first things they notice, and it invites people to stop, take photos, share their experiences and spend more time in Fairfax City.”
“This project is part of a broader vision to promote our community as a vibrant destination,” she continued. “Whether someone comes here to shop, dine, explore or simply wander, murals like this enrich their visit. They bring energy to our streets and help small businesses nearby by increasing foot traffic and visibility. I believe this mural reflects the City and adds so much color and happiness.”
Gerson said it might even cheer up people who’ve had a bad day. “I’ve heard so many good things about it,” she added. “And the muralist got so many compliments and thanks from residents and passersby as she painted every single crevice within that brick. Let this mural be a reminder of how art and culture bring people together.”
Brian Howell with the Commission on the Arts said how exciting it was to have this project completed. Whenever he travels to other cities, he said, their public art makes them special. “Things like murals and sculptures can really transform the space in a community,” he explained. “We’ve got lots of wonderful, small businesses on Main Street. And now they have a landmark to point to; people can say, ‘Meet me at the fox mural.’
“Bailey Sullivan is a tremendous artist, and we’re super proud to have her work here. She’s done some great work for other cities, as well, and it’s remarkable to say we have a piece of hers here. It’s not easy being an artist today and, when we have an opportunity to give them a platform to share their work with the public, it’s really meaningful. I hope other property owners will look at this and say, ‘Maybe we can do that on our building.’”
Next, FCED’s Tara Borwey said, “You can’t have a mural without a place to put it. And we were lucky enough to get permission from this property’s owners, including James Marlowe, whose business, Marlowe Ink Tattoo, has been here 20 years. And speaking on behalf of the business is Ben Krist.”
“The outside of our building was just plain and boring, and now it livens up the whole street,” said Krist. “It brings a lot of attention to our business, and we’re really happy about it. Bailey worked hard, even through a storm, and was really awesome.”
OTFBA Executive Director Tina Disch said Old Town Fairfax is special in itself, and the City’s Small Area Plan for it contains a vision of how it can continue to grow and become a place where more people want to linger – shop, dine, attend events and spend their evenings. “This mural represents another layer of that,” she said. “When people look up and see beautiful art, they’re impressed – whether they’re grabbing a coffee, going to an attorney’s office or getting their hair done. And hopefully, they’ll come back.
“The businesses here know that being in Old Town has its own challenges but that we work together [continually] to make their dreams happen and to keep them in business. I watched Bailey paint the whole week she was there [in late June] – when it was 100 degrees every day – but she did great. And we’re so glad this mural had the community’s support.”
Then, just before the ribbon cutting, Jennifer Rose, executive director of the Central Fairfax Chamber of Commerce, further noted the importance of public art. “When you make your community attractive, people love to come and see everything,” she said. “So, congratulations; this mural is gorgeous. I can’t wait to take lots of pictures.”
For more information about other public art projects in Fairfax City, go to gofairfaxcity.com/walkingmap/artwork.