2024, Commissioned Work, Commissioned Work: Gabriel Pons, Murals, Painting, Stafford, Virginia
Gabriel Pons
Mural at Hartwood Elementary: "Hartwood ...
2023, Commissioned Work: Gabriel Pons, Commissioned Work, Fredericksburg Virginia
Gabriel Pons
"Embreyone" Mural at Embrey Mill
2023, Murals, Painting, Commissioned Work, Commissioned Work: Gabriel Pons, Fredericksburg Virginia
Gabriel Pons
Mural at HiveX Basement Finishing Co.
2022, Murals, Painting, Commissioned Work, Fredericksburg Virginia
Gabriel Pons
"Life Cycles" Mural at Lafayette Elementary
2022, Commissioned Work, Fredericksburg Virginia, Murals, Painting
Gabriel Pons
Love FXBG Mural at Ageless Aesthetics

Murals

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"Generations" Mural at Conway Elementary

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Conway Elementary received a grant from the Stafford Museum and Cultural Center to create a mural that highlights the region’s history. The museum’s mural initiative focuses on representing Stafford County’s rich history in the form of mural artwork. PONSHOP co-owner, Gabriel Pons, collaborated with Conway Elementary teacher, Alicia Rodriguez in conceptualizing mural art that spoke to the legacy of the Patawomeck Tribe in the county and the impact of their agricultural practices on our present-day community.

The mural is titled “Generations”, alluding to the constancy of growth and change through the seasons and the passing of knowledge from generation to generation. Located at the entrance to the school’s courtyard garden, the mural acts as a portal to the outside as well as a passage in time, reflecting on the migratory practices of the Patawomeck tribe, their intimate understanding of the landscape as well as highlighting the “Three Sisters” method - strategically planting corn, beans, and squash - capitalizing on their symbiotic relationship of growth.

Preliminary Concept Sketch

Final Illustration

This has been a project over a year in the making, with early conversations with Mrs. Rodriguez regarding the placement and theme of the mural (she also assisted on executing the painting). We’d like to extend our gratitude to Principal Raybold for facilitating this project and all the faculty and staff at Conway Elementary for their support. Thanks to Dr. Brad Hatch, Tribal Council Member of the Patawomeck Museum and Cultural Center for his consultation at the project’s onset. Special thanks to the students of Conway Elementary for their sustained encouragement throughout the painting process and sharing their “One Family” enthusiasm. Thanks to Stafford County student, Kaia Jensen for her mural assistance. This project is a partnership between the Stafford Museum Cultural Center, Stafford Public County Schools, and the Stafford Education Foundation.

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Mural at Hartwood Elementary: "Hartwood Passages"

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Gabriel Pons was commissioned by Hartwood Elementary to paint a mural as part of the partnership between the Stafford Museum and Cultural Center , Stafford County Public Schools and the Stafford Education Foundation. The goal of the mural initiative is to highlight the unique history and culture of Stafford County in creative and innovative ways.

Titled Hartwood Passages, the mural artwork is a bird’s eye view encompassing South Stafford County, Falmouth and Fredericksburg. Pons’s intention was to depict the region as an abstracted visual text, highlighting historic architectural landmarks in Hartwood as well as encouraging the viewer to explore and ask questions about other key geographic elements. Roads are interpreted both literally and metaphorically. The intersection of Interstate 95 and Route 17 creates an “X” through the center of the mural and other major throughways including route 1 and the railways, depicted as vertical stripes cutting through the landscape. The Rappahannock River, so critical to the region’s history and development, is rendered as a bold sinuous ribbon stretching from end to end, alluding to its prominence in the region. The artwork rounds out to a smooth curve at the base, referring to the global community that students participate in. The composition aims to ordinate the viewer, encouraging them to inquire about the cardinal directions, the landscape’s topography, and their own location relative to Hartwood Elementary.

Concept Sketch - Hartwood Elementary Mural

This mural was a real personal challenge for me. We’ve been living in Hartwood now since moving here from New York in 2005 and it has been home for both our sons. It becomes a “tug of war” when there are so many ideas and concepts to incorporate in an artwork. In fact, one theme I felt compelled to embed in the design is this sense of optimism and unbridled curiosity that a child feels at Hartwood Elementary. Despite the school’s location in a relatively rural setting, we are adjacent to one of the major highway systems on the eastern seaboard. It’s important to impress upon students the idea that the paths they are taking now as elementary students will soon take them well beyond the horizon.

While working on site, I became nostalgic for our school days at Hartwood Elementary. Looking back, the faculty acclimated us to being responsible parents as much as they instilled leadership values in our children. In some ways I feel that this project has brought me full circle back to those years when my boys attended Hartwood Elementary and I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute to the school’s future.

See the key below to learn more about Hartwood Virginia’s history.

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Mural at HiveX Basement Finishing Co.

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PONSHOP Co-owner Gabriel Pons recently completed a 642 square foot mural at HiveX Basement Finishing Company in Fredericksburg, Virginia. The mural, titled “Generations” is a visual timeline of the history of the business, from the company’s inception through today, highlighting its growth as a family-owned business.

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"Life Cycles" Mural at Lafayette Elementary

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Gabriel Pons of PONSHOP and James Monroe High School senior Sophia Pineda have collaborated once again to produce the city’s largest-to-date public mural for Lafayette Elementary in Fredericksburg, Virginia. This is the third mural that Ms. Pineda and Pons have accomplished together since 2021. 

Titled “Life Cycles,” the 1,240 square foot mural adorns the school’s courtyard garden. The inspiration for the artwork came from the mural’s location: a garden plot that acts as both a visceral classroom for students to literally get their hands dirty as well as a living diorama showing the lifecycles of the garden throughout the school year. The mural functions as both a landmark art piece as well as an instrument for instruction, prompting students to investigate the elements of the painting and ask questions. 

The mural painting began in June of this year and was completed in October. Pons initiated the process by holding workshops with Sophia at his downtown studio.  Like any creative endeavor, they brainstormed ideas focusing on the garden theme and created sketches showing the growth of plants from seed to flower. “Life Cycles” is now the largest public mural in the city of Fredericksburg and the mural team’s most ambitious to date.  

Gabriel Pons:  “Murals are a great way of community building. We’ve structured the mural sessions to accommodate a wide range of skill levels and experience working simultaneously. Volunteers ranged from high school students through parents and teachers. The benefit of a large scale project like this is that it prompts participants to work together to create something much bigger than what one can achieve on their own. Sophia has a knack for rallying the people around her for a project. It’s been reassuring to see many of her former teachers join in on this project.”

Sophia Pineda: “I love the colors!  Gabe is the best mural teacher ever!” 

This project was made possible through the initiatives of Lafayette Elementary teacher, Emily Taylor, the Pineda Family (Sophiola) and Team Bayne/Pineda-Cary Street Partners. Special thanks to the all student volunteers that contributed to painting the mural from the hottest days of summer to the coolest days of autumn.

Team Sophiola: Carol and Andre Pineda, Sophia Pineda, Vicky Barrera

PONSHOP Assistants: Jeff Gulick, Dante Jenkins, Kath Loose, Gillian Hoback, Diego and Cairo Pons, Jessica Cox

Fredericksburg Schools : Principal Courtney Wheeler, Emily Taylor, Tammy Hancock, Marylise Cobey, Heather Wright, Barbara Brown, Megan Waite and Casey Willging. Student volunteers include: Nate and Jerry Perrin, Grace McGirr, Eva Lewis and Nate Hessing.

Learn more about Sophia Pineda and her passion for art HERE.

"Life Cycles" Limited Edition Giclee Print by PONSHOP + Sophiola - Lafayette Elementary Mural
"Life Cycles" Limited Edition Giclee Print by PONSHOP + Sophiola - Lafayette Elementary Mural
$40.00
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Love FXBG Mural at Ageless Aesthetics

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In late 2021, Gabriel Pons was commissioned by Ageless Aesthetics MD (3447 Fall Hill Avenue, Fredericksburg) to create a 1,000 square foot mural at their business that embodied the love for their practice and, more importantly, their fondness for the city of Fredericksburg. This was the largest mural Pons had executed to-date and pushed him to create original and iconic art that inspires the community.

The most common question from people that stopped by while he was working onsite is “How long does this take you?” Well, the creative process started back in November 2021 with concept sketches and reference photography. Thanks to our friend Mike Pullum for helping shoot our model, Peyton. The first half of the mural (Love FXBG) was completed in November and December. Work resumed on Peyton’s portrait in early May 2022 and was completed by mid-July. All together, over 175 people hours on site and many hours in the studio.

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"Remembering Spring" Mural at Hugh Mercer Elementary

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Titled “Remembering Spring” , This 8-foot by 8-foot mural by Gabriel Pons is located at the school’s interior entry hallway. Murals have a great ability for place making, creating a landmark for reflection and enhancing a space.

Compositionally, this artwork was a continuation of the “In Bloom” mural completed in the summer of 2021 in the Hugh Mercer garden. The concept was that every flower was like a student, constantly in a state of growth and blooming with curiosity. This piece is like a little sister to the outdoor mural - an arrangement of wildflowers symbolizing the unique and diverse personalities of those that we are commemorating. The inclusion of the “forget me nots” was a deliberate nod to the sentiment that although we will miss those we’ve lost, their impact on our lives will be remembered forever.

“Remembering Spring” was commissioned and generously funded by the Hugh Mercer Elementary PTA.

"Remembering Spring" Limited Edition Giclee Print by Gabriel Pons
"Remembering Spring" Limited Edition Giclee Print by Gabriel Pons
$50.00



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"Fortunate Unions" Mural at Germanna Community College

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This community mural was completed in March of 2022 at Germanna Community College and was a collaboration between Gabriel Pons of PONSHOP and local teen artist Sophia Pineda.

Titled “Fortunate Unions” , The 30-foot long mural adorns the Student Lounge of Germanna Community College and was inspired by the potentials of a college campus-a place that fosters connections between people: academic, professional, personal and social. The artwork acknowledges the diversity, inclusion, and optimism that is embodied in our community. We are confident that it will continue to inspire students through the years to enlighten and bridge differences in our region with the hope of global change.
Thanks to Kelly Saunders, GCC Student Activities Coordinator, the Germanna Faculty and the Pineda Family (Sophiola) for the opportunity to collaborate on this project. Special thanks to the volunteers that helped paint the mural.

Learn more about Sophia Pineda and her passion for art HERE.

"Fortunate Unions" Limited Edition Giclee Print by PONSHOP + Sophiola - Germanna Community College Mural
"Fortunate Unions" Limited Edition Giclee Print by PONSHOP + Sophiola - Germanna Community College Mural
$50.00
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Widewater Elementary Mural - Stafford, VA

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In October of 2021, Gabriel Pons worked with Widewater Elementary School Art Instructor Courtney Hupman to create a 34-foot long mural in the school cafeteria. The concept was to create a panoramic view of the convergence of Aquia Creek and the Potomac River while layering historic and cultural figures as a means to celebrate the Widewater Region. The mural, titled “Sunrise at the Water’s Edge” was made possible through a grant from the Stafford County Museum and is just one of many murals executed in the county schools focusing on history and culture. The artwork also acts as a two-dimensional diorama, featuring insight to the people that make Stafford County so unique historically. See the key below.

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ReFuel Mural Installation

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Gabriel Pons created a 16-foot long mural installation for ReFuel Nutrition and Energy (328 Patriot Highway, Fredericksburg, VA) in the summer of 2021. The business wanted a fresh re-branding of their energy drink business and asked Pons to refresh the look and feel of their logo. His concept was to make the typography emulate the sensory joy of their drinks - bright, refreshing, and inevitably fluid.

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Custom Skateboard Installation at Blue Cow Ice Cream

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Gabriel Pons was commissioned to create a feature wall for Blue Cow Ice Cream Company, an artisan ice cream outfit that opened in Fredericksburg in the summer of 2021. Working with the client, he collaborated to do an “ice cream-centric” installation that included different flavor color ways of cones combined with quotes scribed in the background of skateboard decks.

Thanks to the owners of Blue Cow Ice Cream Company! Check them out in Fredericksburg, VA at 607 William Street.

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"Heart for Art" Mural Project at Hugh Mercer Elementary

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Community is Everything

Late last year, I met a young woman with a passion for art and plenty of positive personality to bring to the table. Since then, I have worked with Sophia in various virtual art classes and this summer we’re embarking on our most ambitious creative endeavor to date.

Help us achieve something monumental as we celebrate creativity through this young artist’s eyes.  Fredericksburg teen Sophia Pineda and the Jayem Pals have teamed up with artist Gabriel Pons to paint a 750-square foot mural at Hugh Mercer Elementary. Follow their progress, support the effort and see what great things can happen when an inspired idea becomes a reality with the help of the Fredericksburg community.

Jayem Pals is a social club that provides students with and without disabilities to be involved in school activities and to form friendships. Click Here to donate to Jayem Pals.

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Josh Lawrence Salon Mural

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Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.

February 2021 was a tough month. It seemed like every week was a sleet or snow storm and temps rarely got above 40 degrees. Fortunately, I was pleasantly distracted working on this mural at Josh Lawrence Salon.

This is the first of two murals in their Fredericksburg salon. The owners, Josh and Lawrence, were fans of PONSHOP through the years and gave me carte blanche on the artwork. My concept for their space is to explore the materiality of hair: color, form, and texture. This first mural, located in the front room, was inspired by a lock of hair that Scarlett sent to me back in the fall of 1995 when I was in Europe doing a semester abroad. If you take a look at the Josh Lawrence Instagram, you’ll see that they are masters of the cut and color and I’ve seen it myself! They have the ability to transform their clients and by the time they’re finished, clients can’t stop looking in the mirror.

Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.

Shout out to Josh and Lawrence for being so patient and accommodating throughout my late night painting sessions . I’m looking forward to the next mural!

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Sweat FXBG Murals

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September 2020 kicked off a series of mural projects that kept us busy until April 2021. Sweat FXBG is boutique fitness venue in Fredericksburg and since opening in November 2020, they’ve been whipping their members into tip-top shape. Gabe initiated the lobby artwork to set the stage for the aesthetic that would be implemented in murals for the HIIT Sixty Room, and Cycle Room. Below are pics and videos from the project. Thanks to Sweat FXBG owners Robin and Carrick and Emily of Ply Interiors for their faith in my art direction from the get go.

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Kenmore Club Art Panels

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Working with the RACSB and Kenmore Club has always felt rewarding. Through the years of working with members on the “Art of Recovery” exhibitions, we’ve built built a great relationship and it was a pleasure to create a custom piece of artwork for the Kenmore Club’s Community Room. Check out Gabe’s Instagram Feed for more work in progress time-lapse video.

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Sunken Well "Otter" Mural Collaboration

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Back in April of 2020, when Covid-19 was in full swing, Steve Cameli of The Sunken Well Tavern reached out to fellow artist Bill Harris and I about doing some murals in their windows since their dining area would be closed. We jumped at the chance to pitch in for a long-time friend and also do something that would lift the neighborhood’s spirits a bit. Our son, Diego wasn't going back to school, so he was recruited and we went to work! The mural panels presently adorn the side wall of the Well. Read the Freelance Star Article HERE.

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"Promise" Art Installation at Hartwood Elementary School

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Gabriel Pons was commissioned by Hartwood Elementary School to create a 27 foot-long mural for their administrative office that embodies the “spirit” of the school. Above is a time lapse video showing the process from start to finish.

The mural reads:

“We are a community of dedicated and determined teachers who believe that students thrive in an environment that is inclusive, safe, purposeful, respectful, collaborative, engaging, and responsive.

Kids come first in our family and we strive for a stimulating learning experience that provides young minds with a creative spark and a nurturing environment where they can excel as children and be free to explore on their own or as a team all that our world has to offer. Curiosity, tenacity, empathy coupled with a supportive, hard-working and hands-on curriculum is key to cultivating success. We are invested in our future and believe that enduring relationships are built upon a foundation of trust, honesty, respect, patience, devotion, and charity.  Students are encouraged to grow together and learn from one another as an integrated community devoted to exploring science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics, traveling the world and understanding our place in history because we are the future.”

PONSHOP extends are thanks to the faculty and staff of Hartwood Elementary for their sustained efforts in making Hartwood Elementary such a stimulating, incusive and engaging school.

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Call for Commission Work: Ceramics and Painting

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Commission-Promo_01Believe it or not, the holidays are right around the corner and Scarlett and I have the perfect solution for gifting that special someone.  We invite you to work with us to create a custom painting (on canvas, skateboard, or 12" vinyl record) or ceramic piece (ranging from yarn bowls to specialty platters, soup bowls and kitchen items).  We are currently taking orders on custom work through November 15, 2013.  To get the ball rolling, simply contact us via email.  For more information, you can view the range of Scarlett's commission work Here and you can view Gabe's most notable commission work Here.

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"Vivify" Mural Commission - Photos

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Below is a chronology of the outdoor mural commission I completed for Vivify Burger & Lounge in Fredericksburg, Virginia.  I worked with the clients (who also own Bistro Bethem across the street) to produce a custom painting that embodied the charge of the new eatery. The concept sketch basically sent me on the path of formalizing my idea for Vivify.  "Vivify" means to bring movement and life to something.  The owners' goal is to host a space that pulses with the energy of the city's downtown, and that is also reflected by the tastes and smells from the eatery and lounge.  What better way  to express the vibrance of the lounge than  in a colorful "canopy" of words.  The piece turned into a family crest of sorts and incorporated the Bethem's names around the center.

The rear of the restaurant opens up to a two-story patio space with stairs leading to a roof deck which provides a great view of the city.  I was excited to work on such rich and fun project this summer.  Thanks to the Bethem family for the opportunity and thanks to my assistant, Jeff Gulick, for his consistent help throughout.