An Artist Takes Flight
Zoe Rye is the 2026 Spring/Summer Opportunity Fellow for Reflection Riding, in partnership with ArtsBuild. During her time with us, Zoe created beautiful nature-inspired artwork that connects our visitors to the world around them with support from Facilities and Grounds Steward Syd Conklin. Explore the mural project and artist’s journey below.
If you’ve visited our campus recently, you’ve likely noticed all the exciting changes happening around our Welcome Center—new walkways, new gardens, and an all-new wrap-around mural! New beginnings are happening everyday, and for local artist Zoe Rye, this opportunity may be her biggest break yet into the art world.
Zoe Rye is a Chattanooga-based artist and our Spring 2026 Opportunity Fellow from ArtsBuild. During the spring and summer months, Zoe has worked tirelessly on re-envisioning our Welcome Center’s Reflection Flyway mural and creating digital designs for branded merchandise (more details on that to come soon!). Her artistic vision, which highlights the amazing species that call this region home, embodies our organization’s mission while also reigniting her spark for artistic expression.
Photo by Zoe Jeffords of The Angle Chattanooga
“This fellowship not only rejuvenated my creativity but proved that I can actually have a career in the art world. It has significantly helped me grow as an artist. This is the first time I’ve ever designed and created a mural, let alone one that wraps around an entire building! It has been an exciting challenge to bring the organization’s goals and branding to life, in a way that’s both educational and aesthetically appealing,” she emphasizes.
Zoe’s artistic journey began many years ago in childhood. Even as a four year-old, her dad knew art would be in her future when he found an anatomically-correct butterfly drawn on her pre-K graduation program. From there, it took time to fully accept the role of artist as she entered young adulthood. “I didn’t declare a major for the entire first year of college because of it! When I went through the Painting and Drawing program at UTC, it fully solidified my identity, passion, and technique as an artist,” Zoe explains.
After graduation, Zoe entered the food service industry. “Before finding this fellowship, I was working the same restaurant job I had since my graduation in 2024. Not only did I become extremely burnt out on the service industry, I hadn’t painted in almost two years. I was the furthest from my art and studio process than I had ever been, which made me apathetic in many ways,” Zoe explains. Then, with no back-up plan other than to get back into art, Zoe quit her job! She applied for the fellowship and was thrilled to embark on an adventure of bridging nature and art.
Her on-site mural, the Reflection Flyway, highlights the MOTUS Wildlife Tracking Station and several native species. Zoe explains her intentions with the large-scale project: “My main goal with this mural was to engage visitors with science education and storytelling through art, while also representing the vast ecosystem at Reflection Riding. The main mural wall highlights the Motus Wildlife Tracking System, an international scientific tool used to track migratory bird activity. The mural particularly highlights the Yellow-billed Cuckoo species and helps represent Chattanooga’s place within the Mississippi Flyway, a major migratory bird corridor. I also wanted to expand the mural to represent the full ecosystem of Reflection Riding. I aimed to highlight native plants, insects, and animals found right here on campus. Specifically, I want to educate visitors about exciting conservation efforts being made on our campus—like our Monarch Butterfly Waystations and our participation in the AZA SAFE (Saving Animals From Extinction) American Turtle program.”
“This fellowship not only reignited my passion for art, but gave me the opportunity to engage with the community through my art. It’s so important to make art, education, and nature accessible to everyone—and I hope this mural does just that. ”
Zoe’s return to Reflection Riding is nothing short of a full-circle moment. Years ago, she used to visit here on field trips in elementary school, and they were always some of her favorite trips. The calm, scenic environment called to her once again as she sought to escape the fast-paced stress of the service industry. “There really is nothing more healing than taking a walk in nature. If I ever had moments of frustration, I would take a walk around campus to clear my head. Surrounding yourself in a beautiful, natural environment is grounding in ways I can’t emphasize enough,” she explains. This deep solace has radiated into her artistic expression. While Zoe’s personal studio work often follows heavy subject matter, she’s been inspired to incorporate natural elements, such as flowers and insects, into her future studio work—specifically through a series about finding the joy in painting again.
A lifelong lover of art, this fellowship has been a springboard into the career she’s always dreamed of: “This fellowship has honestly been one of the biggest blessings of my life because it reignited my passion for community-engaging art. I would love to continue working with nonprofit organizations and businesses to bring their creative goals to life. It’s so fulfilling to bring my creative expertise and ideas to a beautiful place like Reflection Riding. I would also love to do more murals!”
To learn more about Zoe Rye or inquire about an art project, visit her website.
For emerging artists looking to pursue their passion, Zoe would like to offer some advice: “Take the leap! Quit the job that’s holding you back. Apply for the opportunity, even if you don’t think you will get it. Most importantly, never stop creating. Stepping outside of your comfort zone can be scary, but the possibilities on the other side can be even more beautiful than you imagined. Also, it is possible to make money through art!!”
We’re excited to have Zoe with us through July to complete the final touches on her projects. We invite you to stop by to see the hard-earned work in person! We’re also planning to announce more details soon about the mural’s official unveiling and RR-branded merchandise that’s in the works. Stay tuned!
Thank you, Zoe Rye and Syd Conklin, for interpreting the natural world through your creative eyes!
To learn more about the Reflection Flyway and previous mural erected in 2022, check out this blog. The new mural builds upon the original design to encompass an ecosystem-focused approach and stay on track with Welcome Center renovations.
