Bringing Filoli’s Stories to Life Through Chalk Art
Over the past year, chalk art installations at Filoli have played a key role in enhancing visitor experience across retail, seasonal programming, and wayfinding. These hand-drawn works were designed to support Filoli’s storytelling, reflect the estate’s evolving exhibitions, and add a sense of warmth and creativity to public-facing spaces.
Projects
Projects include a festive Santa’s Workshop sign, a large-scale retail shop mural created for the Thomas Dambo Trolls exhibition, and a holiday-themed mural that complemented Filoli’s seasonal décor. Additional work includes a newly designed Trailhead Store sign, as well as a variety of custom retail and nursery signage used throughout the property.
For the retail shop murals, Vanessa Greene worked closely with Mandy Torres, Director of Retail at Filoli, to translate conceptual ideas into fully realized visuals. Each piece was thoughtfully developed to align with the shop’s themes, goals, and visitor flow. This collaborative process ensured the artwork reinforced merchandising objectives while maintaining a cohesive visual language consistent with Filoli’s brand and interpretive mission.
Together, these chalk artworks demonstrate how temporary, hand-crafted design can elevate retail environments, guide visitors, and contribute to a memorable and immersive experience at Filoli.
Designer, Artist: Vanessa Greene