Even over Zoom, it’s hard not to get swept up in Bree Stallings’ all-encompassing passion for the blossoming artists community in Charlotte, North Carolina. Bree foresees a bright future for the city as a hub for artistic innovation and, in her eyes, its potential lies in local artists who reflect the rich tapestry of the city’s past and present.

Since stepping into her role as Art Director for the IVG exhibit in Charlotte, Bree has focused her attention on the voices of previously underrepresented Charlotteans. And when comparing what she advocates for in this interview with her own artistic work, the correlation is clear. Bree’s murals are wild landscapes of ferocious color, scaling buildings with equal parts beauty and pinpoint precision; but they also leave striking, celebratory, contemplative images in their wake, inviting the viewer to question what they believe to be true.

In conversation with smART Magazine, Bree reflects on the challenges of navigating the monochromatic creative world that COVID-19 left behind, and the part she has played in expanding the list of talent in Charlotte’s artistic portfolio. Bree discusses her position within her community, how she takes care and responsibility for the environment that supports her, and why she insists on questioning the world around her and herself. We learn about The Blumenthal Artists Program, Charlotte’s tightly-knit artistic community, the historic Ford building at Camp North End, and how her own work reflects the history of Charlotte.