Alexandria, VA – This past spring, after the Midwest-based HomeGrown Kitchen committed to taking the space vacated by Brabo in the Lorien Hotel on King Street, HomeGrown reached out to local artists to commission work for the new daytime eatery. This innovative member of the Thrive Restaurant Group emphasizes locally sourced provisions as well as decor.
HomeGrown’s call for art resulted in two area painters winning the community arts-focused commission. Tiara Safić-Martin’s Farmers Market Morning and Stacey Lewis’s South King Stroll, both emphatically vibrant acrylic paintings depicting iconic scenes of Old Town life, are emblematic of the HomeGrown philosophy: Cultivate Kindness.
Bosnian-American Tiara, who recently curated her first art exhibit, Sing Me a Sea Shanty at Del Ray Artisans back in June, specializes in boldly colorful paintings and intricate pen compositions that delightfully capture the imagination. Her composition and line style have a unique illustrative quality that’s confidently expressive and engaging.
Stacey works predominantly in painting and as a ceramic artist using line, space, and color to stunning effect. She’s a 20-year veteran art teacher with a masters in art education from
Columbia University who studied painting at Wittenberg University and in Florence, Italy. If you’ve ever strolled King Street fantasizing about living in Old Town, this painting’s a dream come true.
You can enjoy an expansive brunch seated near Tiara and Stacey’s enchanting artwork (Tiara does take commissions!) at Old Town’s newest place to be seven days a week from 6:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. Be sure to ask for the smile-out-loud local art and homemade Pop’d Hearts!
ART FUN in the SUMMERTIME
While in Old Town take a stroll over to the Athenaeum Gallery on Prince Street for more home-grown art. Sally Kauffman’s Pleasure Park, on exhibit through September 21, 2025, celebrates the pastimes of summer’s end. Kauffman’s oils on canvas are a feast for the eyes and a tonic for the soul.
DOWNEASTER on the POTOMAC
Over at the Torpedo Factory, Printmakers Inc. presents The Maine Coast, a solo show featuring the artwork of Avis Fleming from September 15 to November 1, 2025. Her award-winning painting, printmaking, and ceramics inspired by the breathtakingly pristine coastline of Maine are displayed among the members’ print work in Studio 14.
NEW at NEPENTHE ~ THE COLOR PURPLE, A PIECE for PEACE, COPY CATS, and THEN SOME!
September’s first ART+ WINE + CHEESE Thursday event on September 4 is Limited Space Limitless Art, a collection of original 12”x12” works by local talent, including TFAC’s fan-favorite, Marsha Staiger.
Peace Through Art on September 11 spotlights the importance of peace. An original artwork will be created by one artist to commemorate this day of remembrance. The opening reception begins at 6pm.
Art in the Alley on September 13 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. is an art sale offering original art, prints, and vintage art, in 2D and 3D. Treasures curated by Nepenthe, Urban Redeux, and Robert Murray of the Von Brahler Ltd. Galleries await your discovery.
On September 18 at 6 p.m. join Nepenthe hosting the regional official Master Art Copyists, artists authorized to paint the National Gallery of Art collection. Did you know that Degas and Manet actually met as copyists in the Louvre? Meet the copy artists and learn why they do what they do!
Finally, the last ART+ WINE + CHEESE of September marks the return of Matt Brown to Nepenthe, sharing his abstracts and a special work by the 20th century African American artist Romare Bearden. Matt will speak about his career in the art world as well as discussing Bearden’s artistry.
EVERYTHING OLD IS NEW ENCORE at DEL RAY ARTISANS
Second Time Around at Del Ray Artisans is all about art that is created incorporating at least 50 percent upcycled, recycled, and/or reused materials. The breadth of the imaginative “recreativity” giving second chances to found objects on display in the gallery is impressive. Curator Tracy Wilkerson works extensively with resin and upcycled compositions.
Stop by Friday, September 5, for the opening reception or Thursday evening for a First Thursday in Del Ray preview when the gallery is open until 9 p.m. Second Time Around is on exhibit through September 27.
FALL BACK INTO ALX ART ON EXHIBIT
September leaves summer behind, bringing back to school, back to traffic, back to sweater weather. Be sure to get back to checking out the plethora of galleries in Alexandria. While you’re on upper King Street stop in at Galactic Panther, exploring the DC punk rock roots with Frame of Mind: Photographs from DC & Beyond by Antonia Tricarico. Keep heading west up King Street to HomeGrown for a look-see at the commissioned art work.
Tell them The Zebra sent you!
