Murals, 2024, Art Installations, Commissioned Work: Gabriel Pons, Fredericksburg Virginia, Painting, Stafford
Gabriel Pons
"Legacy" Mural at Kate Waller-Barrett Elementary
2024
Gabriel Pons
"City Flavors" Commemorative Painting and ...
2024, Art Tees, Commissioned Work: Gabriel Pons, Fredericksburg Virginia
Gabriel Pons
Latitudes Fair Trade X PONSHOP Tee Shirt ...
Virginia, Murals, Fredericksburg Virginia, Commissioned Work: Gabriel Pons, 2024
Gabriel Pons
"Habitat" Mural at James Monroe High School
Murals, Painting, Fredericksburg Virginia, Commissioned Work: Gabriel Pons
Gabriel Pons
"Welcome to Fredericksburg" Tower Project
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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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2022 First Friday Fun: The City Scroll Project

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Event Dates: Monthly, Every First Friday in 2022 (5-9pm)

PONSHOP is excited to announce a year-long First Friday initiative that aspires to better connect and showcase the creativity of Fredericksburg’s art community. The “City Scroll Project” is an interactive art exercise that invites participants to make their mark during our First Friday openings each month.

Why City Scroll? In the spirit of adaptability and creative solutions for First Friday events, PONSHOP owner, Scarlett Pons, posed the question “How can we provide the public with a free event that encourages crowd participation on a large-scale, but is orchestrated incrementally in a personal and comfortable setting?” The answer was to create a collective art project that is built little by little each month.

How it Works Inspired by the “exquisite corpse” format that surrealist painters and writers used as a parlor game in the 1920s, participants will have the opportunity to collectively create a tapestry of drawings, building off of the artwork of the prior artist.  PONSHOP is providing a 3-foot tall by 200-foot long paper scroll to be used throughout the course of 2022.  Each artist (or artist group) will have access to approximately 6-feet of paper during their 50-minute session.  The creative content is up to the artist. We only ask that it is appropriate for family viewing and that it responds to the previous artwork.

Participant Registration Everyone is eligible to participate in the City Scroll Project and requires no fee. Individuals or groups of up to 4 can reserve a time on the PONSHOP website.  Blocks of 50-minutes are available between 5pm and 8pm every First Friday. All drawing materials (pens, pencils, colored pencils) are provided by PONSHOP, however participants can certainly bring their favorite tools (as long as they work well with paper).


Click Here To Register for a First Friday City Scroll time slot.

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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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Foode "Pass The Peace" Mural Collaboration

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Foodē has become a landmark in Fredericksburg over the years. Owners Beth and Joy have worked hard to create a restaurant that provides the community with much more than just a meal. Right before Covid-19 hit, they reached out to me and Fraser Wood Elements to create these barn doors that would separate the kitchen from their back room. Needless to say, all of our worlds turned upside down that spring, but Foodē persevered and by August, my son and I were putting on the final touches of the wall mural.

The concept behind the artwork was inspired by a conversation that I had with Beth and Joy, talking about how food is the great equalizer - it can bring people from all walks of life to the table. When people are eating, they’re comfortable and genuinely happy and that can lead to conversation and better understanding. I thought it would be interesting to show feminine hands passing spears of asparagus to allude to the inherent power and joy that comes when we’re able to share something that nourishes. The installation is titled “Pass the Peace” which is an ecclesiastic reference of community as well as nod to the J.B’s “Pass the Peas” song (and for all you Hip-Hop heads - “Pass the Plugs” by De La Soul which is what I grew up listening to on my Walkman).

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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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Call for Artists: 16th Annual "The Art of Recovery" Exhibition

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Deadline for Entries: Monday, April 1

Opening Reception: Friday, May 1

Exhibition Dates: May 1–May 31

 Fredericksburg, Virginia – Rappahannock Area Community Services Board seeks entries for the 16th Annual “The Art of Recovery” exhibit. The art show features original artwork by adults with mental health challenges. The show is organized by members of Kenmore Club, RACSB’s psychosocial clubhouse for adults with severe and persistent mental illness. The exhibit will open Friday, May 1 at PONSHOP Studio and Gallery (712 Caroline Street) in Fredericksburg, Virginia. The opening reception is from 5-9pm and corresponds with Fredericksburg’s ‘First Fridays’ event calendar. The exhibit runs through May 31 and coincides with National Mental Health Month.

The Art of Recovery provides a forum for artists living with mental illness to gain confidence in their abilities, address misconceptions surrounding mental illness and experience community support.

 The RACSB is accepting original 2-Dimensional drawings, paintings, prints, and mixed media. Artwork should be submitted by April 1. Visit rappahannockareacsb.org for an entry form and display instructions. Entries must be accompanied by a completed entry form with the following requested information: name of the artist; year of completion (if known); locale of the artist; dimensions; medium; and sale price. PONSHOP will apply a reasonable commission on all artwork sold.

For details or to submit artwork, contact Amy Jindra at 540-373-7737 or artofrecovery[at]rappahannockareacsb.org

Submissions may also be mailed to:

RACSB, Attn: Art of Recovery, 600 Jackson St., Fredericksburg, VA 22401.

Founded in 1970, the Rappahannock Area Community Services Board (RACSB) provides public mental health, developmental disability, substance abuse and prevention/early intervention services to the residents of the City of Fredericksburg and the counties of Caroline, King George, Spotsylvania and Stafford. To learn more, visit www.rappahannockareacsb.org.

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Adorn Exhibition Announced

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Opening Reception: Friday, March 6 (6-9pm)

Exhibition Dates: March 6-31, 2020

PONSHOP will be open late from March 23-29 (10am-8pm) in coordination with the 54th Annual National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts event held in Richmond,Virginia.

Adorn is an exhibition of women artists using clay in the fine art of jewelry making. Jewelry and ceramics have been a vital part of nearly every culture around the world. Throughout history, ceramic jewelry has been used for currency, tribal recognition, adornment and creative expression.  

This exhibit will explore the use of color, contemporary form and detail work using a variety of clay mediums. Each artist in the exhibit not only makes ceramic jewelry, but also creates functional ceramic items for the home. The jewelry that each artist creates is an exploration of scale - translating her larger work into a smaller item to be worn. These functional pieces are typically used and enjoyed in a private setting of one’s home, whereas the jewelry is worn in public and travels with the owner - breaking the bounds of how ceramic items are typically used. 

Participants include: Joelle Ferrara, Jenna Vanden Brink, Scarlett Pons, and Rachel Vitko.

The National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts is a non-profit, membership organization that fosters global education and appreciation for the ceramic arts.

In 2020, NCECA is hosting its 54th annual conference in Richmond, Virginia on March 25-28 at the Greater Richmond Convention Center. The conference will bring thousands of ceramics artists and enthusiasts to the city to attend four days of lectures, demonstrations, exhibitions and more.

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Remixed 7 Exhibition Announced

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PONSHOP Studio and Gallery is pleased to announce one of our most popular community art exhibitions for August and September of 2019. “Remixed 7” features original artwork using 12” vinyl record albums. The exhibit includes over thirty participating artists working in this unconventional canvas. September’s artist reception for “Remixed 7” is Friday, September 6 (6-9pm).

This is the seventh year of the “Remixed” vinyl-themed show and PONSHOP has received an overwhelming response from local artists. The gallery has issued over fifty albums to be adorned by local and regional artists. This community art show has proven to be a great addition to the gallery’s exhibition schedule, involving artists of all backgrounds and also boasting affordable artworks for the home and office ranging from $45-$150. “Remixed 7” is curated by gallery owners Scarlett and Gabriel Pons.

Remixed 7 includes work by following artists:

Cara Abella
Michael Broadway
Ayesha Raja
Jamie Roberson
Kristopher Patterson
Van Anderson
Christie Labbe
Dante Jenkins
Jennifer Galvin
Courtney Phillips
Jadyn Gilhousen
Jen Poteet
Katie Charwetski
Andrew Ruddle
Shannon Wang
Jennifer Stone
Dolly Whitley
Kelvin Rama
Lecsi Pillar
Taylor Palacino
Lennon Gerogosian
Hannah Burbidge
Kathy Paz-Craddock
Liliana Paz
Kathleen Wilkinson
Leslie Brier
Jessy Vickers
Amy Taylor
Maddie Huddle
Amena Kay Thornton
James Walker
Mykal Lee
Megan Walton

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June is Pride Month at PONSHOP

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PONSHOP Studio and Gallery is celebrating Pride Month in support our LGBTQ community here in Fredericksburg. We're hosting a mini art show featuring a limited edition print titled "Show Your Colors" by Margeaux Ducoing (above), as well as rainbow-themed postcards by Elliot and Evelyn. Join Us for the Opening Reception, Friday June 7 (6-9pm)

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Call For Artists: Remixed 7 Vinyl Album Art Show

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Submission Delivery Dates: Saturday, July 20 through Friday, July 26. *NOTE: PONSHOP will have abbreviated hours from Tuesday July 23-Thursday July 25 (10am-2pm) and Closed Saturday July 27.

Pick Up of Unaccepted Work: Wednesday, July 31

Opening Receptions: Friday, August 2 (6-9pm) & Friday, September 6 (6-9pm)

Exhibition Dates: August 2- September 28, 2019

Artwork Retrieval: Sunday, September 29 (11am-5pm) through Tuesday October 1

PONSHOP Studio is excited to announce our annual “Remixed” exhibition for August and September of 2019. 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 7” is the seventh 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 two-month show.

Submission Requirements: All artists must use the pre-mounted vinyl albums that we provide and all work must be for sale. Submit your best work! 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. Artwork cannot have a retail price exceeding $150. PONSHOP retains 50% of all sales on works exhibited throughout the duration of the exhibit. Artists will be reimbursed within 30 days of the exhibition closing. 

 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 after Friday, July 26 will NOT be accepted. Artwork delivered that is not dry, of poor assembly, is incomplete, or exceeds the boundaries of the vinyl record (see diagram below) will NOT be accepted. 

 Artwork picked up after Tuesday, October 1 will incur a storage fee of $10 per day. This will be enforced. Artwork not retrieved by October 15 will become property of PONSHOP.

Entry Procedure: There’s an entry fee of $18 per vinyl album, with a limit of two submissions per artist. Artists may register online or pay the entry fee at our storefront to receive their ready-to-hang record. The gallery will not ship records to prospective artists. 

Delivery: Artists are to complete the Entry Form and return it with finished artwork by Friday July 26. Artwork must have entry tags securely taped to the back of the corresponding record. Artists are responsible for transporting their work to and from the gallery.

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Second Annual Art for Park Exhibit Announced

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PONSHOP Studio is excited to announce the second annual “Art for Park” exhibit – a skateboard art show to benefit the Fredericksburg Skate Park Project. Up to fifty local and national artists have transformed the standard street skateboard deck into a work of art for the walls (or for wheels).

 “Art for Park” is a celebration of skateboard art and culture. What better way to rally our community than by having artists give their voice on what has, over the past sixty years, become an iconic symbol of youth culture, recreation and rebellion. The annual “Art for Park” exhibition series is a sustained effort to raise awareness of the importance of skateboarding as both an art form and recreation and to promote the Fredericksburg Skate Park Project. Initiated in 2013, this organization is dedicated to improving the existing skate spot at Brooks Park and promoting a safe and friendly public park for the entire community. Recently, the Fredericksburg Skate Park Project launched a community survey for the public to help in this process: http://bit.ly/fxBGprk

Five Dollars of every Artist Registration and 20% of all deck sales will benefit the park initiative.  Since 2018, the “Art for Park” art exhibition series has raised over $1,000 for the park initiative.

First Friday Opening Reception: Friday, April 5 (6pm-9pm) 

Exhibition Dates: April 5-28