“People frequently laugh or smile when they see my work,” says artist Mark Davis. “That is everything. If I can turn pigment into joy, I win.”

Originally trained as a potter, Davis has been painting for the past decade.

The artist would like to see color everywhere in Roanoke, and even more importantly has the goal of seeing “everybody eating well and able to read and write. If we all have the basics down, we are limitless.” He started a garden at the Rescue Mission and is an adult literacy tutor through Blue Ridge Literacy. One of his learners was recently named “Learner of the Year.”

The artist has executed a number of art projects in the public realm and looks forward to more.