Vanessa Mayoraz

Collaborative Mural: Symbolic Landscape

August 2 - 7, 2026

Open to All Skill Levels

Special Topics, Painting, Mixed Media

Overview

This dynamic workshop invites students to collectively design and paint a permanent, site-specific mural on Arrowmont’s campus. The workshop is guided by the themes of identity and memory, explored through the symbolism of plants and nature, demonstrating how visual storytelling can reflect the history of a creative community. Working in small groups, participants will experience the complete mural-making process—from concept development and collaborative sketching to color planning, scaling, and final execution on the wall. Emphasis will be placed on cooperation, skills transfer, communication, and best practices for medium- to large-scale outdoor or indoor murals. No previous painting experience is required; this workshop welcomes beginners through advanced artists excited to contribute to a shared creative vision that will become part of Arrowmont’s permanent visual landscape.

Course Fee : $760.00

Scholarships & Material Fees

Need help covering workshop costs? Arrowmont offers financial aid opportunities to broaden access to our arts and craft programs. We believe a diverse community enriches the learning experience for all.

Material fees are not included in our national workshop costs, but are included with the cost of our winter short workshops. A material list with estimated costs will be emailed about 30 days before the national workshop begins.

TUITION & FEES

SCHOLARSHIPS

Cost Breakdown

Registration Fee

$50.00

One Week Workshop Tuition

$760.00

Estimated Cost*
*Fees exclude housing and meal plans

$810.00

VIEW HOUSING & MEAL PLAN COSTS

Artist Bio

Vanessa Mayoraz

Vanessa Mayoraz is an artist and Associate Professor in the School of Art and Art History at the University of South Florida. She holds a BFA from the Haute École d'Art et Design in Geneva, Switzerland, and an MFA in Art and Public Spaces and New Artistic Strategies from the Bauhaus University Weimar in Germany. Mayoraz’s artistic interest centers on observing the paradoxical relations built between personal history, social landscape, and the natural world. She has exhibited nationally and internationally at venues including the Qui Vive! Young Artist Moscow Biennial, the Museum of Contemporary Art of Belgrade, Le Commun in Switzerland, and Chashama Gallery in New York City. She presented a solo exhibition at Sketchroom Gallery in Bogotà, Colombia, in 2019, and her solo show at Space 204 in Nashville was included in the Tennessee Triennial RE-PAIR. Mayoraz has received significant support for her work, including a Current Art Fund Grant in 2022 and the Pro-Helvetia national Swiss grant three times. She has also performed workshops and lectures on subjects such as "artist as archivist" and "contemporary art practices."

Artist Website

Explore the 2D Arts Studio

Located in the historic West Building, the 2D Studio is a bright, multi-use room for all 2D related workshops at Arrowmont. Ideal for our printmaking, bookmaking, and painting or drawing classes, there’s plenty of room for groups of up to 20. A small outdoor courtyard offers a shaded place of respite or an extended outdoor instruction space.

Explore the 2D Arts Studio