2025 Meet the Artists
In December 2024, we launched the call for artists for the 2025 Art Seen Festival, and the time has finally come to reveal our incredible artist team!
This year, we have a very special mural location at our beloved Grace A. Dow Memorial Library. As a true community hub, the library is a place where people come together to access information, learn, and grow. For this reason, we’ve decided to make this year’s mural all about celebrating local talent.
This year’s mural will span an impressive 960 square feet—our largest community mural to date! We’ve invited five regional artists to create individual vignettes that will come together around the theme Color Your World, inspired by the library’s summer reading program.
We’re thrilled to announce the five selected artists who will soon begin collaborating with the team at Parker Lane Art & Design Studios, lead by Dacia Parker and Jazz Benitez, to develop the full mural concept. Stay tuned for more updates as the mural takes shape!
Meet the Artists
Meet Kayla Peake-Trautner
Kayla Peake is a muralist and sign painter based in Saginaw, Michigan. She earned her BA in design from Saginaw Valley State University and then went on to work in the corporate world for a few years. After the inevitable burnout that comes from staring at a computer screen 50+ hours a week, Kayla made the leap and transitioned into running her own mural/sign painting business, KP Originals. Over the past four years she has had the pleasure of working with local businesses who have commissioned her for various murals, signs, and design work.
Kayla believes that the best part of being an artist is getting to know your community through creating. When she is working on a public mural, one of her favorite aspects of it is when people stop to ask questions about the theme, application, etc, and she gets the chance to share her love for public art with them.
Meet Mark Piotrowski
Mark Piotrowski, a Bay City native, recently retired from Bay City Public Schools, where during his 32 year career, he started in maintenance, was the district mural painter for several years, and spent the majority of his career at Western High School. In addition, he taught Art at every grade level including an adjunct drawing instructor at Delta College. Piotrowski earned his Bachelor Degree in Art Education at Eastern Michigan University and his Masters of Fine Arts at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design. Since the early 90’s, his work has been on display in numerous solo and group shows as well as the many murals and public Art installations throughout our region with his mural and design business, MARKed ARTs, now called MARKX. Mark is adjusting to this chapter of life, while working on new a new body of work for upcoming exhibits and planning future public projects.
MEET Selena Ashley
Big bold florals, bright colors, playful lettering, and a spirit of wanderlust define the work of Selena Ashley Designs. Based in the Great Lakes Bay Region, Selena is an experienced graphic designer and hand lettering artist, creating vibrant pieces that spark joy, foster confidence, and inspire a sense of belonging. With each piece, she aims to make her design style feel inviting— creating a composition that feels like a visual hug for the viewer.
Selena has many murals around the Great Lakes Bay Region, but her absolute favorite can be found in Downtown Midland at Townsend and Main, titled The World Is Better With You In It.
You can follow Selena on all social media channels or visit her website at SelenaAshley.com to learn more about her creative journey.
Meet Amy Mudd
Amy Lynn Mudd is a talented photographer, artist, and muralist born and raised in Midland, Michigan. Now residing in the woods, she draws inspiration from her love of nature, animals, and the world around her. With a passion for travel and exploration, Amy brings a unique perspective to her art. A dedicated mother of three and wife, she balances her creative pursuits with family life, often capturing the beauty of everyday moments in her work.
Amy’s mural work includes notable pieces at Molasses Restaurant, Lucky Bunny, A&B City Dairy, and Robinson’s Pools and Hot Tubs. She also created the Greystone Arabian Memorial Mural and has contributed to the Midland Fairgrounds with her vibrant artwork. Along with these larger projects, she has painted numerous residential murals, bringing her creative vision into the homes of many. Her art reflects a deep connection to the natural world and her adventurous spirit.
Meet Alexis Bearinger
I’m Alexis Mray Bearinger, a Midland-based artist and the sole proprietor of Cudabeara Fine Art & Photo. Through Cudabeara, I offer a variety of artistic services, including custom watercolor house portraits, pet portraits, wedding and engagement photography, creative portraiture, and photo restoration. I’ve built my business creating meaningful, personalized pieces that bring joy and connection to my clients—whether that’s through capturing memories or crafting artwork that tells a story.
In addition to commissioned projects, I love diving into my own artistic practice, which most often revolves around acrylic painting and creative portraiture. My most well known body of work, a pop art collection titled Drippy Dreams, was completed in 2023 and features my signature vibrant color palette and playful themes of personification. Currently, I’m working on a new series of palette knife paintings inspired by dreamlike spaces, blending loose, expressionist textures with my signature vibrant color palette to invoke a sense of familiarity & nostalgia.
When it comes to photography, I specialize in wedding & engagement shoots, creative portraiture, product photography and event coverage. My creative portraits often incorporate surrealist concepts, bold colors and dramatic styling, while my lifestyle and event photography highlight the beauty of authentic, everyday moments. I’m always excited to take on new challenges and explore fresh perspectives, ensuring that every project reflects both artistic vision and personal meaning.
I feel I’ve followed a trail of “cosmic bread crumbs” to find the path I’m on today and I believe life truly falls into place when you invoke your passions and intuitions as your guide. The world would be a brighter, kinder place if we all moved through life with love at the forefront—and that’s something I strive to embody in my work every day. I plan to continue exploring these concepts in my artistic pursuits, whatever they may be and wherever they may take me.
To view my full portfolio & view my online shop, visit cudabeara.com. To purchase my pop art merchandise & prints visit Uplift Creative Center in Midland, Mi.
MEET The Parker Lane Team
Parker Lane Art & Design Studios has facilitated our community murals since year one! Dacia and Jazz designed our first community murals, collaborated with Selena Ashley Designs in 2023, and are now looking forward to collaborating with this amazing group of regional artists to bring our largest community mural yet to Midland at Grace A. Dow Memorial Library!
Parker Lane Art & Design Studio is a vibrant hub for artists and entrepreneurs to grow, connect, and thrive. Focused on empowering artpreneurs, the studio provides a platform to refine their craft, build their business, and showcase their unique creations-all within a community designed to nourish the artisan's soul.
From handmade fine art and custom designs to services like workshops, murals, and bespoke artworks, Parker Lane offers something for creators and clients alike. Our studio and the Ashman Plaza serve as a welcoming space where multiple artists collaborate, display, and sell their work, both in person and online.
At Parker Lane, we believe in the transformative power of art. By fostering creativity, collaboration, and growth, we help artists turn their passion into a sustainable, thriving practice.
Dacia Parker, Founder + Artist
Photo credit: Renee’ Deckrow of Captured Studios
Meet Dacia
Dacia Livingston Parker has been passionate about art since receiving her first oil paint set at age seven. Based in Midland, MI, she is a key advocate for the arts in the Great Lakes Bay Region, blending creativity, leadership, and community building.
After earning her BFA from the University of Michigan, Dacia spent 13 years in Seattle, where the natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest shaped her artistic voice and led her to launch a portrait photography studio. Returning to Michigan in 2006, she immersed herself in the local arts scene, eventually founding Parker Lane Art & Design Studio in 2018 to nurture emerging artists and connect others with the joy of art.
In 2024, Dacia expanded her creative leadership by purchasing Next Door Photos in the Great Lakes Bay Region, a real estate media company where she leads a team of photographers, serving real estate agents and homeowners.
As co-chair of Public Arts Midland, Dacia helps coordinate projects like the Art Seen Festival and juried exhibitions. She believes "ART is for Everyone" and works tirelessly to make accessible through public installations and mentorship. Her recent work with painting and cyanotypes reflects her love for water, mountains, and the rhythms of nature.
Dacia is dedicated to fostering a vibrant arts community and empowering artists in the Great Lakes Bay Region, bringing creativity and connection to every project she undertakes.
Jazz Benitez
Photo credit: Renee’ Deckrow of Captured Studios
Meet JAzz
Rooted in the laid-back spirit of Southern California and grounded by the grit of Michigan, Jazz Benitez’s journey blends creativity, connection, and community. An artist in every sense, Jazz uses brushstrokes, words, and the spaces they create to foster dialogue, build stronger communities, and express the richness of life. Driven by a desire for purpose and belonging, they rediscovered their passion for art in 2017 and found a deep sense of home. Through leadership roles at Live Oak Coffeehouse, as a lead artist at Parker Lane Art & Design Studio, and as part of the team at The Breaking Bread Village (2022), Jazz cultivates connections, uniting people through shared experiences and an intentional way of enjoying life.
As a public art activist, Jazz collaborates with Parker Lane and Public Arts Midland, emphasizing the power of public art to strengthen communities through murals and collaborative projects. Bringing the Blue Light Venue alongside the Art Seen Festival gives local musicians another platform to share their talents and further foster community. Jazz’s journey is one of continual evolution, focused on making art accessible,meaningful, and inspiring others to live purposeful,creative lives. Jazz’s goal is to encourage curiosity,foster connections, bring people together through their experience of art, and inspire others to find purpose and simply enjoy life.
