Becoming a Full-Time Artist… By Accident

Wilmington muralist Alexia Campbell painted nearly 40 murals in about three years—and she scales her designs onto massive walls without using a projector. In this episode, Alexia reveals the freehand process behind her murals, the Instagram momentum that helped turn art into a business, and how she balances large commercial projects, architectural drafting, motherhood, surfing, and faith.

Tyler Yaw and Chris Kellum sit down with Alexia Campbell of Board Meeting to trace the journey from her first mural at Fu’s barber shop to major Wilmington-area projects at Lakeside Fitness, Hidden Grounds, and beyond. Alexia explains how she moves a design from her iPad to a wall, what she learned from painting brick and floors, which projects challenged her most, and why success means more than getting bigger jobs.

If you have seen one of Alexia’s murals around Wilmington, tell us which one is your favorite in the comments.

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CHAPTERS

00:00 Meet Wilmington Muralist Alexia Campbell 01:36 From Architecture to Art 02:30 Her First Mural and Early Breaks 03:35 Turning Instagram Into a Mural Business 04:41 How She Paints Massive Murals Freehand 06:45 Her Biggest Walls at Lakeside Fitness 09:16 Developing a Signature Style 10:21 Coffee Shops and Recognizable Wilmington Walls 12:04 Favorite Murals and Hard-Won Paint Lessons 16:24 Balancing Motherhood, Art, and Surfing 18:09 Coffee Favorites and Food Talk 19:46 Architectural Drafting and Mural Work 21:40 Recent Projects 22:14 What to Know Before Painting Floors 22:55 The Kids Crash Story 24:09 Her Roots and Move South 25:19 Jewelry and Work Gear 26:35 Gloves, Paint, and Cleanup 27:52 How Faith Influences Her Art 29:50 Alexia’s Definition of Success 30:45 Her Daughter’s Mini Business 31:46 What She Listens to While Painting 36:15 Advice to Her Younger Self 37:20 The Hidden Grounds Murals 40:04 Where to Find Alexia 40:56 Final Thoughts

#WilmingtonNC #MuralArtist #WilmingtonArt

Transcript