Alexandria’s Next Art Gallery Could Be Your Realtor’s Office

ALEXANDRIA, VA — Visitors walking into the ALX Community Waterfront coworking space are greeted by something they probably don’t expect to find in an office lobby: a striking elephant sculpture fashioned from reclaimed metal, wire, and bottle caps by Alexandria artist Noah Franklin Williams.

It’s the kind of discovery that stops people in their tracks—and exactly the kind of everyday encounter Alexandria Mayor Alyia Gaskins hopes to inspire throughout the city.

Her new summer pilot initiative, Art in Every Space, seeks to pair local artists with neighborhood businesses, transforming coffee shops, real estate offices, coworking spaces, martial arts studios and other everyday destinations into places where residents unexpectedly encounter original works of art.

Where do you expect to find local art? A gallery, perhaps. Maybe an art festival or museum. Soon, the answer in Alexandria may also include the places residents already visit every day.

“The goal of Art in Every Space is to pair local artists with local small businesses and create an opportunity for Alexandria’s artists to display original works of art in spaces all across our city,” Gaskins said in a video announcing the initiative.

Rather than limiting artwork to traditional galleries, the program encourages businesses throughout Alexandria to open their walls to local artists.

“You’re probably imagining restaurants and retail spaces,” Gaskins said. “Yes—and think martial arts studios, think real estate offices, think spaces that you wouldn’t even imagine could contain or display art. But now they will.”

The concept is designed to benefit everyone involved. Artists gain new audiences and potential customers, while participating businesses create more welcoming spaces and attract visitors who may not otherwise walk through their doors.

“It’s a chance for each artist to build exposure and to share with the community more about their work and their story,” Gaskins said. “But then it’s also a way to drive traffic to some of our local businesses.”

According to Gaskins, more than 30 artists have already applied to participate in the pilot, and several Alexandria businesses have agreed to display artwork throughout the summer.

An Idea Born from a Resident

Perhaps the most Alexandria part of the story is where the idea originated.

Gaskins said the initiative grew not from City Hall, but from a conversation with Alexandria artist and resident Robin Jordan.

“The coolest thing about this effort is that it was initially the brainchild of one of our residents, Robin Jordan,” Gaskins said. “Robin came to me and said, ‘Wouldn’t it be cool if we could transform everyday spaces into spaces that promote arts and culture?'”

That simple question has now grown into a citywide pilot that could change where—and how—people experience local art.

Jordan’s own philosophy reflects the spirit behind the initiative. In a recent social media post, alongside a photo of herself wearing hand-painted pants, she wrote:

“When you’re an artist and you literally can’t keep the paint off yourself (usually on my hands, face and arms), WHY WOULD YOU WANT TO? Life is too short for plain clothes and blank spaces.”

Those words perfectly capture the heart of Art in Every Space—the belief that creativity belongs wherever people live, work and gather.

Art Beyond Gallery Walls

Alexandria already has a thriving arts community, with galleries, festivals, public art installations and hundreds of working artists. Art in Every Space expands that creative ecosystem by bringing artwork into the places residents already frequent.

Instead of asking people to visit the art, the program brings the art to them.

The sculpture greeting visitors inside ALX Community Waterfront is one example of that philosophy already in practice.

Born and raised in Alexandria, Noah Franklin Williams discovered his passion for art as a child under the guidance of his mother, his first art teacher. He later honed his skills at West Potomac High School before taking art classes at Northern Virginia Community College.

Williams has become known for sculptures that transform reclaimed metal, wire, bottle caps and other discarded materials into intricate works inspired by both the real world and his imagination. Layer upon layer, everyday objects become extraordinary works of art. Long before “think green” became a popular mantra, Williams was creating recycled art from materials others overlooked.

His sculpture in the ALX Community Waterfront lobby offers a glimpse of what Art in Every Space hopes to accomplish across Alexandria—bringing local art into the places where people work, meet clients, grab coffee and build community every day.

Kickoff Events

The public is invited to celebrate the launch of the initiative at two events.

The first takes place Tuesday, July 7, at 1 p.m. at Corcoran McEnearney on Prince Street. A second launch event follows Wednesday, July 8, at 5 p.m. at ABA Centers on Alexandria’s West End.

Gaskins said the events will introduce participating artists and businesses while giving residents a first look at how the program works.

If the pilot succeeds, Alexandria’s newest art gallery may not have admission hours or white walls. It may simply be the place where you stopped for coffee, signed a contract—or found yourself unexpectedly inspired.