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A once-plain wall in Old Town Fairfax has become a colorful downtown landmark, with city leaders hoping the transformation will attract visitors, support nearby businesses and encourage more public art.

Artist Bailey Sullivan painted “Fox in the Flowers” above Senberry Bowls and Marlowe Ink Tattoo at 10407 Main St. The nature-inspired mural surrounds Sneakers the Fox, the Fairfax City Parks and Recreation Department mascot, with local flora including crepe myrtles and dogwoods.

City leaders gathered inside Senberry on July 10, moving the celebration indoors because of impending rain, to mark the mural’s completion.

Mayor Catherine Read said murals were discussed in Fairfax years ago but initially met resistance. As attitudes and the community changed, she said, residents increasingly embraced public art and the value it can add to a city.

The mural resulted from cooperation among Fairfax City Economic Development, City of Fairfax Cultural Arts, the Commission on the Arts and the property owners. Read also thanked the artists who submitted proposed designs.

Sullivan, an award-winning Richmond artist, has created work appearing on book covers, U.S. postage stamps and Dolly Parton’s autobiography. Although she could not attend the ribbon cutting, she previously said European decorative folk art influences her work.

Sullivan said she enjoys incorporating flowers, animals and other elements of nature into her pieces. For the Fairfax mural, she drew inspiration from the fable of the fox and the crow. She said she hoped the finished work would bring some joy to people passing through Old Town.

Read said Richmond and other communities embraced murals well before Fairfax, but the city now intends to add art, color and energy in more locations. Because the new mural is prominently positioned on Main Street, pedestrians can easily experience it as part of downtown.

Economic Development Director Chris Bruno described the project as an important step for Fairfax City’s new Tourism Division. Public art, he said, can help create places people want to visit, engage with and return to.

Fairfax had relatively few murals a decade ago, Bruno noted, but several now appear around the city, including two behind Draper’s restaurant. He said the visibility of Sullivan’s mural could benefit the Old Town Fairfax Business Association and the broader business community.

Stephanie Gerson, Fairfax’s tourism and placemaking specialist, said public art can transform ordinary locations into memorable spaces that encourage conversation and connection. Murals can prompt visitors to stop, take photographs, share their experiences and spend more time in the city, she said.

The project fits a larger effort to market Fairfax as a vibrant destination for shopping, dining and exploring. Gerson said public art can also increase foot traffic and visibility for nearby small businesses. Residents and passersby frequently complimented and thanked Sullivan as she carefully painted the building’s brick surface.

Brian Howell of the Commission on the Arts said murals and sculptures help distinguish communities and transform shared spaces. With the fox now serving as a recognizable Main Street landmark, he said, people could begin using it as a meeting point.

Howell also expressed hope that other property owners would see the completed project and consider offering their buildings as canvases for future artwork.

FCED’s Tara Borwey credited the property owners for making the mural possible. They include James Marlowe, whose Marlowe Ink Tattoo has operated at the location for 20 years.

Speaking for the business, Ben Krist said the building’s exterior had previously looked plain, while the mural now brightens the street and draws attention to the shop. He also praised Sullivan for continuing her work despite a storm.

Old Town Fairfax Business Association Executive Director Tina Disch connected the mural to the city’s Small Area Plan, which envisions downtown as a place where people linger to shop, eat, attend events and spend their evenings.

Sullivan painted the mural during a week in late June when daily temperatures reached about 100 degrees. Disch said the project received strong community support and added another layer to Old Town’s appeal.

Jennifer Rose, executive director of the Central Fairfax Chamber of Commerce, said attractive public spaces encourage people to visit and explore a community. Before the ribbon cutting, she congratulated those involved and said she looked forward to photographing the finished mural.