05/26/2026
For Rae Wilson, every painting begins with a question about connection, transforming people, places, and possibilities into visual stories that reveal what lies beneath the surface.
Known for her bold color palettes, expressive portraiture, and imaginative nature-inspired compositions, Rae creates visual stories that celebrate curiosity, community, and the relationships that connect us to one another and the world around us.
A self-taught artist, Rae built her career through persistence, practice, and a willingness to follow her creativity wherever it led. After rediscovering painting in her hometown after leaving college, she developed her skills through real-world experience, mentorship, and public art opportunities that helped shape her distinctive artistic voice.
In 2016, an unexpected conversation at a local restaurant led to her first mural commission and launched a career that now includes large-scale public art projects, local exhibitions, educational programming, and community engagement throughout Arizona. Today, she teaches painting classes across the Valley, leads a public art sketching tour for The City of Surprise, serves as a Studio Artist in Residence for the City of Tempe, and was recognized as a 2025 Valley Metro Artsline Spotlight Artist Award recipient.
As part of the American Landmark Artist in Residence Program at The Access, Rae continues her commitment to making art accessible and engaging. She shares her love of creativity through hands-on workshops and experiences that encourage residents to explore new ideas, build confidence, and connect with one another through art.
Whether she's creating a mural, teaching a class, or painting one of her symbolic worlds filled with plants, animals, and circles, Rae's work is rooted in the belief that creativity has the power to bring people together.