Jonathan Murrill, a professional muralist and portrait artist, is changing the look of the Roanoke Valley in a big way. His numerous community murals celebrate both the natural beauty of this region and the strength of the human spirit.

On Thursday, April 11 at 7 pm at the Salem Museum, Murrill will give a talk describing his life and work as an artist and an educator. His in-person talk is free and open to the public.

Murrill received his BA in Art from Roanoke College in 2009 and his MFA in Painting and Drawing from Radford University in 2012. Since that time, he has contributed a diverse body of art in southwest Virginia and beyond through portraiture and mural pieces. He has exhibited in juried exhibitions, solo exhibits, and group shows across the United States and has been awarded multiple times for his artwork.

Murrill has also taught a variety of courses at a collegiate level including Watercolor I, II, and III, Drawing I and II, Design, Art History and Art Appreciation. His roots in education have led him to explore community engagement projects in his public work.

“I am passionate about bringing joy to people’s lives through both my public art and my teaching,” says Murrill. “I believe that the role of the artist is to be an advocate for those individuals or stories in society that need to be given a voice. I strive in my own work to spread not only a positive message, but also shed light and attention in my portraits on those I find truly deserve to be recognized.”