Aja Moon’s exhibition “The Aja Moon Collxn” and her public art project, in collaboration with the Pepco Edison Place Gallery, celebrate the transformative power of art and community. Running from August to September 2024, this exhibition highlights Moon’s ability to blend personal history, community narratives, and cultural diversity into a cohesive and inspiring body of work. A D.C. native, Moon discovered her artistic talent during the pandemic, transitioning from a Reiki business to painting. This unexpected shift reflects her work’s raw emotional energy and meticulous detail.
The partnership with Pepco, part of the Capital Grid Project, emerged through a community-driven process, emphasizing Moon’s deep connections to the D.C. area. Her selection was significantly influenced by members of her home church, Mount Carmel Baptist Church, underscoring her intrinsic link to the community. The mural, “Illuminated Legacy,” destined for the Mount Vernon substation, features 32 individuals whose contributions span various facets of D.C.’s cultural landscape. The mural’s title symbolizes the substation’s function and the idea of illuminating the histories and remarkable work of the featured individuals.
Moon’s creative process involved extensive research into D.C.’s history and its diverse figures, ensuring her mural was culturally and ethnically diverse. She believes that public art should resonate with the public it serves. The Pepco Edison Place Gallery exhibition complements the mural, offering visitors an intimate glimpse into Moon’s artistic vision and process. It includes select portraits from her CreateHER series and other works, fostering an interactive environment for public engagements, classes, and panel discussions.
The exhibition, which opens on August 2nd and runs through September, coincides with the mural’s completion. It celebrates D.C.’s vibrant spirit and invites the community to see their surroundings through a new lens.
Aja is an amazing artist not only for her insightful and inspiring works of art but because of the research and meticulous effort she puts into each detail including how she chooses and mixes the colors to highlight and illuminate the figures she paints. Her talent and passion makes her an artist to behold.