PONSHOP Owner, Gabriel Pons is partnering with Fredericksburg Academy this summer to embark on a 26-foot long, 10-foot tall mural in one of their new campus classrooms during the summer’s Camp FA Program. Learn the planning and creative techniques required to turn an idea into a full-scale work of art that will adorn their school for years to come. Campers will work as a team to help bring Pons’s creative vision to life.
Cost: $325
Time: 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
June 22-26
Grade 6 to Grade 12
Gabriel Pons was contracted to paint his fourth mural at Embrey Mill Town Center in September 2025. This 61-foot long mural pays tribute to the Rappahannock River incorporating Fredericksburg’s iconic train bridge and river trout into the composition.
Gabriel Pons was commissioned to create a new mural in the patio of Locavore (314 William Street, Fredericksburg). Inspired by the farm-to-table spirit of the restaurant, Pons created a “bounty” of fresh foods in his signature style.
Gabriel Pons of PONSHOP was the instructor for a 2-week summer camp at Fredericksburg Academy in July of 2025. The goal of the mural-themed camp was to adorn the middle school’s multi-purpose room with inspiring artwork that will stimulate and motivate students for years to come. Pons used the school’s mascot, the falcon, to compose the artwork for students to paint. Thanks to the campers and the FA Faculty for their hard work!
Gabriel Pons was contracted to install his third mural at Embrey Mill Town Center in Stafford, Virginia in June 2025. This mural initiative is part of the developer’s master plan to adorn several key “gateway” entrances into the new shopping complex that celebrate the region’s unique character incorporating native floral elements like the dogwood tree blossom.
In July of 2025, PONSHOP completed our latest mural collaboration with Sophiola, Rapp Arts, Fredericksburg City Schools, Cary Street Partners - Team Bayne/Pineda, and Sherwin-Williams. This 58-foot long mural adorns the playground at the Walker-Grant Center.
The content of the mural was developed by Gabriel Pons and Sophia Pineda. Pons and Pineda embarked on a history lesson of Joseph Walker and Jason Grant, two key African American leaders in Education in Fredericksburg, and the namesake for the original Walker-Grant School, the first public African American High School in the city. The mural incorporates motivational language inspired by the school’s legacy as well as the historic class of 1950 student protest. They also included messaging for the next generation of students at Fredericksburg City Schools. This mural project is the fifth in the “Heart for Art” initiative that PONSHOP and Sophiola started in 2021 - a collaborative effort between students and faculty, artists, and community members.
Thanks to the following for volunteering their time in helping contribute to this mural:
Zach Barnette, Shawn Jacques, Melissa Fischer, Sophia Pineda, Carol Pineda, Andre Pineda, Miguel Pineda, Brooke Lopes, Enrique Huaiquil, Molly and Jim Bowen, Magilly and Flynn Bowen, Cairo Pons, Dante Jenkins, Jeff Gulick, Anna Gatewood, Zoey Gulick, Vicky Barerra, Megan Waite, Nico Waite, Kelly Mollohan, Laura Dove, Dr. Marcy Catlett, Catherine Walker, Cathy Herndon, Pete Morelewicz, Tanya Green, Cara Feys, Olivia Kisila, Mathias Kisila, Ann Witkowski, Nathaniel Gist, Olivia Kukahiko
PONSHOP Studio is pleased to announce the call for entries for “Electric Cafe” , a community art exhibit focused artwork that explores ideas like robots, wires, gears, circuits, machinery, the digital. This co-exhibit invites University of Mary Washington students, alumni, and local artists from Fredericksburg and the DMV area to showcase their artwork inspired by the mechanical. Online submissions are due Sunday, September 21. There is no submission fee.
“Electric Café” will be on display across two venues:
For Five Coffee Roasters located on the University of Mary Washington campus. Opening Reception will be Thursday October 2 (6pm)
Ponshop Studio and Gallery 712 Caroline Street, Fredericksburg. Exhibition runs from Saturday October 11- Saturday November 1. Opening Reception at PONSHOP, October 8 (6-9pm.) This reception will include a gallery talk focused on opportunities for emerging artists. Don’t miss this electrifying opportunity!
“Electric Cafe” is organized by MacKenzie Martin, made possible with the support of the University of Mary Washington Dining Department, the Studio Art Department, and UMW Galleries in collaboration with PONSHOP Studio and Gallery.
For Five Coffee Roasters Exhibit (exclusive to UMW students)
Deadline for Digital Submissions: Midnight, Sunday September 21
Opening Reception: Thursday, October 2 (6pm)
Exhibition Dates: October 2 - December 4, 2025
Artwork Retrieval: Friday December 5-6, 2025
PONSHOP Exhibit (Community Artists and UMW alumni))
Deadline for Digital Submissions: Midnight, Sunday September 21
Opening Reception / Gallery Talk: Wednesday, October 8 (6pm)
Exhibition Dates: October 8-Saturday, November 1, 2025
Artwork Retrieval: Sunday, November 2 – Tuesday, November 4
Submission Requirements:
PONSHOP Studio and Gallery is accepting original 2-dimensional artwork in any variety of media. All work must conform to the dimensional limits (no greater than) 36”x36”. Submit your best work! Artwork must be framed and ready to hang in accordance with gallery standards (see image below). The gallery reserves the right to reject artwork based on quality, uniqueness and creativity, craftsmanship, and execution. Entries must be original creations of the artist – no reproductions of others artwork.
Entry Conditions: All artwork must be for sale at the PONSHOP venue. Artwork must include a label with the title, medium, artist’s name as you’d like it to be displayed, and the retail price for the art. Retail Price is the price the art will be listed for sale, not the 50% consignment.
Artists are responsible for acquiring insurance on their own artwork. Although PONSHOP will take great care in the hanging and display of artwork, the gallery will not be held responsible for items on exhibit. Artwork delivered that is not dry, of poor assembly, or is incomplete will NOT be accepted.
Entry Procedure: The entry fee is free. Please use the corresponding Google form (button below) to digitally submit work for consideration.
Delivery: Artwork must be delivered between Sunday, October 5 through Tuesday, October 7. Work delivered outside of these time windows will not be accepted, unless shipping is delayed or you are given permission to deliver late (or early) by gallery staff. ent that you will receive after the conclusion of the exhibition.
Artwork Retrieval: Hand-delivered unsold artwork must be picked up between Sunday, November 2- Tuesday, November 4 2025.
It’s that time of year! PONSHOP Studio is excited to announce our “Remixed” exhibition for September 2025. We’ve rescued stacks of old 12” vinyl records, wiped the dust off and, with the artists help, will turn them into something that people will continue to enjoy—a fun and original work of art. “Remixed 10” is the tenth annual vinyl album art show at PONSHOP and one of our most popular community exhibits. All ages and skill levels are invited to participate in this community show. This exhibition is limited to fifty (50) submissions.
Opening Reception: First Friday, June 6 (5-9pm)
Exhibition Dates: June 6 - July 31
Gallery Talk: “Second Saturday”, July 11 (6pm)
PONSHOP is proud to present Sweet Season, a solo exhibition by Courtney Burke featuring new works in pyrography and oil. This deeply personal collection explores themes of fertility, femininity, and the shifting identity of motherhood with symbolic still lifes rendered in Burke’s signature process of wood burning and oil painting.
Courtney Burke is a Fredericksburg-based artist working at the intersection of traditional craft and fine art. Her distinctive technique combines drawing, pyrography (wood burning), and oils to build luminous surfaces full of warmth, texture, and memory. Sweet Season reflects on the artist’s own journey through early motherhood. This body of work marks the physical, emotional, and spiritual transitions that have unfolded through pregnancy, postpartum, and the quiet conclusion of her childbearing years.
From milk-filled shells and pearl-dotted fruit to collared shirts kissed in red and mirrored glasses of suspended sweetness, these works examine the body as both vessel and offering. Each painting invites the viewer into a space of intimate reflection-where tenderness and symbolism are rendered with tactile, deliberate beauty.
Learn more about Courtney’s work at courtneyburke.art
PONSHOP Owner, Gabriel Pons is partnering with Fredericksburg Academy this summer to embark on a 36-foot long, 12-foot tall mural on their campus during the summer’s Camp FA Program. Learn the planning and creative techniques required to turn an idea into a full-scale work of art that will adorn their school for years to come. Campers will work as a team to help bring Pons’s creative vision to life. This year’s mural will be the largest ever attempted at Fredericksburg Academy, so big in fact it will span two weeks. You can sign up for either week, or both.
Cost: $275
Time: 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
First Week (Week 8): July 21-25
Second Week( Week 9): July 28-August 1
Grade 6 to Grade 12
PONSHOP is excited to announce our latest mural collaboration with Sophiola, Rapp Arts, Fredericksburg City Schools, Cary Street Partners - Team Bayne/Pineda, and Sherwin-Williams. In the Spring of 2025, we are endeavoring in a 58-foot long (560 Square foot) mural to adorn the playground wall at the Walker-Grant Center (210 Ferdinand Street Fredericksburg).
Conceived in late 2024, the content of the mural was developed by Gabriel Pons and Sophia Pineda. Pons and Pineda embarked on a history lesson of Joseph Walker and Jason Grant, two key African American leaders in Education in Fredericksburg, and the namesake for the original Walker-Grant School, the first public African American High School in the city. The mural incorporates motivational language inspired by the school’s legacy as well as the historic class of 1950 student protest. They also included messaging for the next generation of students at Fredericksburg City Schools. This mural project is the fifth in the “Heart for Art” initiative that PONSHOP and Sophiola started in 2021 - a collaborative effort between students and faculty, artists, and community members.
We are always happy to receive help from volunteers! If interested in pitching in to paint, Contact PONSHOP.
Gabriel Pons returned to Embrey Mill in Stafford, Virginia to incorporate additional graphics on the future Turning Point Restaurant location. Based on conversations with the client, Pons proposed incorporating farm animals such as a chicken and cow to the South Elevation as well as the slogan “A Happy Day Starts Here” on the East Elevation.
PONSHOP is excited to exhibit the paintings of Hayden Griffith for the month of February. Hayden is an Alum of The University of Mary Washington where she studied Studio Arts, graduating in 2024. She also works at PONSHOP, providing classes and sharing the process of their painting among the community.
Hayden’s work connects natural environments and animals with the home. This harmonization expresses feelings on environmentalism and childhood memories. Hayden emphasizes the process, organic form, and color scheme in these paintings. Done in oil, the works range in size (the largest is 36” x 36”) to emphasize the details.
View Hayden’s website Here
Follow Hayden’s Instagram
Opening Day: Thursday, February 13 (11:30am-5pm)
Celebrate your creativity and the love of friendship this Valentine’s weekend at the newly opened Creative Café at PONSHOP Studio. You deserve a moment to relax, connect, and engage in a fun art exercise. Choose from three inspiring self-guided art projects, sip a comforting cup of tea, and make something uniquely yours. Bring your friends and turn your holiday weekend into a celebration of creativity and connection!
The idea of a casual and creative space stems from PONSHOP owner, Scarlett Pons, who envisioned an experience where guests can engage in something creative and simultaneously communal.
“Through the years, so many of our customers will see our shop and say ‘I don't have a creative bone in my body.’ We’re offering an opportunity for them to literally play for a while, free of expectations.”
“The joy comes in the process” says PONSHOP co-owner Gabriel Pons. “Through the years, many of our past students remarked on how relaxing an art project can be. This provides a space where guests can take a break from their day, slow down, and hopefully feel refreshed and inspired afterwards.
Visit PONSHOP Saturday, December 14 (10am-4pm) for a special Pop Up Jewelry Show featuring Lisa Beth Goldsmithing and Rachel Ruddle Jewelry.
Lisa Beth will have a collection of sterling silver botanicals: flowers, seed pods, and acorns with some also in 22 karat gold. She’s excited to share her latest work inspired by nature. You can visit Lisa Beth’s studio at LibertyTown Arts Workshop.
Rachel Ruddle has been a resident artist of PONSHOP since 2021. She explores floral and organic themes using silver and semi-precious stones. She will have an array of earrings, rings, and necklaces all made with her signature style.
Gabriel Pons collaborated with Kate Waller-Barrett Elementary to paint a mural as part of an ongoing initiative by 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 new and innovative ways.
Located in the school’s cafeteria, the mural is titled, “Legacy”, and depicts the school’s namesake, Kate Waller-Barrett with an assembly of families, rendered in gestural lines and forms. At the start of the project, my initial question was “Who is Kate Waller-Barrett? and how can I spark interest in her story?” After doing plenty of homework, I assembled this summary which only scratches the surface:
Kate Waller-Barrett was born in Stafford County on 1857 and grew up to became a prominent physician, social reformer, and humanitarian. Dr. Barrett became General Superintendent of the National Florence Crittenton Mission, a progressive organization established in 1883 to assist unmarried women and teenage girls in need. She also played an active role in the National Council of Women. Her multi-faceted work impacted the health and livelihood of countless women of that era, advocating for women’s suffrage, healthcare and education.
Preliminary Concept Drawing
One of the most impressive qualities of Kate Waller-Barrett’s impact on the community was her sustained efforts at social justice for women through political activism. She was vice president for the Equal Suffrage League in Virginia, president of the National Council for Women, president for the American Legion Auxiliary, and vice president for the Conference of Charities and Corrections of Virginia. Her lifelong investment in social work has impacted countless families. Thanks to Kate Waller-Barrett Principal Rachel Novak and art instructor Sarah Hudson for their logistic support and collaboration throughout the project. Also, thanks to Susan Henderson of the Stafford Museum and Cultural center for doing some archival hunting to locate Kate Waller-Barrett’s signature for me to incorporate in the mural artwork. Most importantly, thanks to all the students and faculty of Kate Waller-Barrett. I spent a total of 70 hours painting in the cafeteria and can attest to the students’ curiosity, exuberance, and fascination with the mural-making process. This project became more than paint on a wall, and turned into an interactive and immersive experience for the students - prompting them to ask questions and igniting their interest in our region’s history.
This project is a partnership between the Stafford Museum Cultural Center, Stafford Public County Schools, and the Stafford Education Foundation.
Gabriel Pons had the pleasure of creating a custom piece of artwork for Hyperion Espresso to celebrate their 30th anniversary. The 31”x30” mixed media piece, titled “City Flavors”, is executed in Pons’s signature style, incorporating paper collage and handwritten text inspired by Fredericksburg’s collective experiences at Hyperion through the years.
Pons used pages from Hyperion’s menu and employee handbook as well as pages from books like Don Quijote , Catcher in the Rye, and even an old Encyclopedia Britannica. He also mixed in copies of Hyperion’s guest book from their 25th anniversary which included handwritten memories and well-wishes.
What’s the handwriting? Read from the top down:
“Sit with me again face to face and smile the many years, You will always be at the heart of me, pulsed in the present and pasts a place for all.
Gave us the space and place for a communal cup to stir on this city.
To reed and seed to stem and branch to leaf and bean and soil.
Because you became a landmark memory.
And nourish me to the soul and senses. Fire and Water , steamed and sweet love is at the corner of friendship and folly and fun! Fredericksburg for family and friends for our past and present tenses.”
Limited Edition Prints of “City Flavors” are available at Hyperion Espresso. Each print is signed and numbered by the artist. ($25)
PONSHOP co-owner, Gabriel Pons was commissioned by Latitudes Fair Trade to produce a "Fred-Centric" tee shirt for Summer/Fall 2024. Drawing on his meticulous surveys of the city's architecture and a painter's eye for stacking shapes and colors, Pons aspired to create a tee that celebrates the spirit of the city. Tees are professionally screen printed on GoEx Apparel so you can look good and feel good about buying fair trade. Now available at Latitudes Fair Trade Fredericksburg ($28).
PONSHOP owner Gabriel Pons and Team Sophiola have completed a mural in the courtyard of James Monroe High School during the summer of 2024. This is the fourth public mural that Ms. Pineda and Pons have accomplished together since 2021. Titled “Habitat”, this 980 Square-Foot mural is a collaboration between Fredericksburg City Schools, Sophiola, PONSHOP, and community volunteers. The inspiration for the artwork came primarily from the school’s unique geographic location, situated between the city’s canal path and the Rappahannock River - highlighting the wildlife, flora and fauna of the area.
The mural project initiated in the Spring of 2023 when Pons and Sophia Pineda worked together in his studio, creating sketches and studies of the different components: the blue heron, local fish, and the river otter. On-site painting kicked off later that summer (July) and the team started priming the walls and transferring the line work.
This project was made possible through the initiatives of James Monroe High School teachers, Casey Willging and David Lovegrove, the Pineda Family (Sophiola) and Team Bayne/Pineda-Cary Street Partners. Special thanks to the all student volunteers that contributed to painting the mural throughout the year. Thanks to all the faculty and staff of Fredericksburg City Schools that helped facilitate the mural initiative. Thanks to Sherwin Williams paint for supporting this project with paint supplies.
Team Sophiola: Carol and Andre Pineda, Sophia Pineda, Vicky Barrera
PONSHOP Assistants: Dante Jenkins, Gillian Hoback, Megan Shaughnessy, Cairo Pons
Learn more about Sophia Pineda and her passion for art HERE.
Photo Credits: Hyperbole and Print Jazz
The Fredericksburg Grain Tower (also known as the “Purina” Tower) received a facelift in June with a new color palette as well as the message: “Welcome to Fredericksburg”. This project was the result of an initiative facilitated by the Fredericksburg Economic Development (EDA) and the Fredericksburg Department of Economic Development and Tourism, with funds from the American Rescue Plan Act.
Pete Morelewicz of Print Jazz created the graphic design variations for the mural renovation, incorporating the “Welcome” messaging. Saul Garcia of Rainbow Painting was contracted to repair and repaint the checkerboard patterning with the revised colorway. Pete and Gabriel Pons of PONSHOP executed the lettering mural on all four sides of the tower.
This collaboration was an exceptional example of the confluence and collaboration between the municipality, the building owner, Green Family Fitness , and local artists and contractors.
