Hannah Eddy, an artist and muralist, based in Reno, NV, specializes in creating imaginative and intentional pop-surrealist artwork.

Her art reflects a deep connection to nature and community, eliciting a sense of gratitude for the world around us. Influenced by the bold, expressive style of skateboard/snowboard/surf culture, Hannah's work embodies a free-thinking approach.

How has your community in Reno influenced your work?

Because of Reno’s close proximity to the Sierra Nevada Mountains and Lake Tahoe, it is very much an outdoor community here. I grew up snowboarding, skating, surfing, and riding bikes in Maine, and have always had a great love of outdoor activities.

Being out in nature has a huge influence on my art, and it’s where I find much of my inspiration. I love being in a city where I can be working in my studio in the morning and then deep in the mountains in the afternoon, it’s a perfect balance for me.

Can you share the story behind one of your favorite characters or imagery and how it came to be a recurring motif in your work?

*One of my favorite recurring characters is the “Mindful Mountain.” I find so much peace in the mountains that I wanted to create a character to represent this feeling.*

By anthropomorphizing the mountain I am showing that we are not separate from nature, we are connected with it. If I can help breakdown this false barrier between humans and nature, my hope is that maybe we will take better care of the planet. The blissful face of the mountain evokes the feeling of pure contentment in the moment. “Mindful Mountain” is the ultimate reminder to be mindful and present.

As a contrast, I also love to include my skull or skull-snail character to remind us of the balance that death and fear play on our lives. I find it super important to acknowledging the darker side of things and embrace the unknown as well as the fun and positive aspects of life.

Your murals can be found all over the country in a variety of public spaces - how do you approach the challenge of creating art that is both visually captivating and meaningful to the community it serves?

Like all of my work, my murals are bright and approachable. This helps lure the audience in and gives an initial sense of happiness. There’s enough doom and gloom in the world so I love to bring some lightness to a space. Beyond that initial look, I always like to include a sense of balance and weirdness to keep it interesting.

Each mural takes into account the location and community because I want the locals to feel a connection with the work. My ultimate goal is to make people smile, so knowing what is important to people in certain areas is essential. I love to include local flora and fauna in addition to my usual cast of characters.

*“My ultimate goal is to make people smile, so knowing what is important to people in certain areas is essential.”*

How do you adapt your creative process when transitioning between studio work and large-scale murals?

I honestly approach studio work and large-scale murals the same way. They both begin with sketches and contain my visual language of characters to build a narrative. I feel a bit more free to experiment with my studio work and I can get a little more wild and weird than I can with the public art. Many clients want a more toned down mural, but I constantly push them to be open because I think it’s super important for public art to also make people think and not just be “pretty.”

Looking ahead, what are some upcoming projects or goals you’re excited about?

I’m excited to spend some good time in the studio this summer continuing to paint this new body of work. I have been creating symmetrical paintings and am finding it to be an interesting and fun way to get my concepts of balance and reflection across.