Testimonials

Here at LED Baltimore, we’ve had the incredible opportunity to display hundreds of local artists on the billboard as no-cost promotion of their dedication, talent, and hard work in the arts. Here is what they have to say about what their time on the billboard means to them, their careers, and their communities.

“Since seeing the LED billboard for the first time, it has been a dream of mine to have my work
displayed on it. I didn’t think it would happen, and I would always admire others work
whenever I was in the area. When the opportunity presented itself for me to showcase my art, I
worked hard for several months to showcase my best work to date. It was a major
accomplishment not only for myself but for everyone involved and it was such a blessing to be
able to showcase on my actual birthday. Since then I have gone on to do great things and it has
shown me that all you have to do is dream and you will achieve it. Thank you LED Baltimore
Billboard for making my dreams come true.”
Dana Rhone

“I’ve been fortunate to have my work displayed twice. Both times I’ve posted images of it on my Instagram and have
received a great response including 449 likes and 46 comments for the latest time. Some
of the comments included “Orgullo Latino” meaning Latin Pride. Being an immigrant from
Colombia, having my work on LED Baltimore not only means a lot to me but to my community
as they see representation.

While it is hard to quantify the jobs and projects that have come out of it since I get a lot of my
commissions through Instagram, I am sure that for a patron to see my work in a billboard has
had an impact.

I can recall one time when I was talking to a possible client and they said that it was weird, kind
of uncanny, how they had just finished sending me an email as they were getting off the train
only to see my work displayed there, like a sign from destiny.”
Katty Huertas

“As far as the community, people who knew me
called or wrote to say congrats to me. It was amazing to see my wife on the screen very tall.
Thank you for the opportunity. I would do it again if given the chance.”
Glenn Strachan

“I think LED Baltimore has done such an amazing job promoting arts and artists in the area. For
me personally, it was such a rush to see my artwork blown up into such proportion. To see
them up high from my car from a few blocks away is simply amazing. I have received
recognition from people who saw my art works on the billboard. I even have gotten exhibition
opportunity from curators who saw my art because of the LED Baltimore Artist Program. To
have this program so accessible for local and regional artists is extremely valuable. I can’t thank
LED Baltimore Artist program enough for giving me the opportunity to display my art in a way
that I otherwise would not be able to do on my own. I am certainly looking forward for more
opportunity like this in the future!”
Nico Gozal

“I have been featured on LED Baltimore billboard several times. Each time has been so
different. I was featured as a model and one of the pictures led me to be featured on NBC’s The
Today Show. In their interview they asked if I had done anything major in my city. That feature
was just that to me, major! I was proud and thankful to LED Baltimore. And that picture also
opened many doors as a speaker. I am a fashion model who has ostomy bags as result of
childhood cancer, so my Ostomy Community is very proud which then allowed me to travel and
speak about a great awareness.  LED BALTIMORE gives artists another voice to display their
talent. It has been a blessing in disguise.”
Jearlean Taylor

“I still think of my photos of Cuba on the “big screen” with fondness and pride. The first
morning they appeared I was at Penn Station, catching an early train to NYC for a photography
conference. I saw the photos and stood in the middle of Charles Street, in the dark, snapping
pictures with my cell phone. Traveling to Havana was a lifelong dream of mine. Every photo
brought back terrific memories. I felt grateful that others felt these images were artistic and
worthwhile.

So many people saw the display — friends, families, coworkers. Their comments encouraged
me, and gave me confidence as I continued my photography career. I look for the latest artwork
every time I drive up Charles Street. Some of the artists are people I know, others are new to
me. All the work, though, is unique and soulful. Having a chance to view the art as it makes its
way across the screen is never a waste of time.

I’ve returned to Cuba four times since that first trip. My photography path has turned toward
portraits, and I now own a studio in Old Goucher. But every time I find myself at the train
station, or waiting at a nearby traffic light, I remember how excited I felt to see my photos on
the LED Baltimore display. I hope many others will have a chance to experience that feeling joy
and gratitude.”
Vickie Gray

“I loved seeing my art in that format and size. I received several commissions and I was given
the ability to curate a Fiber show at MAXgallery in Butcher’s Hill. I, as well, became
acquainted with another artist who had seen my art and we struck up a friendship and began
doing collaborations.

I feel that this has had a positive influence on my art and career. I hope the city decides to
further this endeavor as it would be amazing for the art community and for the city as a whole.”
Robert Hoffman

“My alma mater used the billboard to write an article about me in our biannual journal. When
the print publication was released, people contacted me about purchasing my work. I’m
actually shipping a piece off in a few days.

Another positive was that after seeing what my photos looked like on a digital display, a curator
suggested that I submit similar work for an invitational call that shows art in Times Square.
The exposure was great, my family and friends were/are tremendously excited and it was really
neat to see my photos as I walked to school (MICA) every day.”
Tyler Yvette Wilson

“In my short career thus far of 10 plus years, I’ve had the opportunity to have my work be seen
by a lot of eyes….in different states, different countries, whether in digital format, or in print.
Being from Baltimore, there’s certain accolades you chase after and hope to reach as a
Photographer. Have my work in The Sun? Check. Baltimore Magazine? Check. City Paper?
Check. Driving up Charles St. frequently, I always yearned and hoped to have my work
featured on LED Billboard. That was one of the things missing that I hoped would come. I loved
to watch the different art pop up and shined proudly, day and night. It was November 2019
when I received the email that my work would be featured. I was ecstatic! My work wound up
being featured during the holiday season and it was really special to me. To know that anybody
who took the train ride in, and happened to take a look outside, or while they were waiting for
their ride, and saw my work as their introduction to Baltimore, went straight to my soul. When I
shared my photos of my work on the billboard, it came with a resounding feeling of
achievement and congratulations from my colleagues and friends. That’s the beauty of the LED
Billboard. It’s our Times Square. With venues like LED
Billboard, it gives creators a benchmark to work towards, let’s them relish in the feeling of
accomplishment, and to be humbled at the same time.”
Sean Dackermann

“The LED light board has helped Rebecca Myers Collection gain brand recognition in the greater
Baltimore area. I have had several clients mention they see my images when they depart from
Penn Station. In challenging times, when retail business is compromised on many fronts, having
an opportunity to show my work to a large demographic through the light board has been
invaluable. Our gallery and showroom has been a recipient of its reach.”
Rebecca Myers

“Having four images of my paintings on LED Baltimore created quite a buzz around the art,
especially in Baltimore. I have met people in gallery exhibitions who recognized the work from
display.  Once I shared the images of the board on social media (Facebook, Instagram), the
exposure increased, even nationally. It added cache when speaking with curators about my work.”
Schroeder Cherry

“I was featured in February, and it was the validation I needed to feel like a real artist!!!! Thank you
thank you THANK YOU!!!!”
Deanna Pratt

“It was so neat to see my artwork on the billboard (you can see I was excited enough to make it
my profile picture). I was shocked to find that people actually traveled, from as far as DC even,
to go and see it. One person went twice so that he could see it during the day and at night! It
definitely made me feel good and has added some great conversation in art circles.”
Kimmary I. MacLean

“I’m a goofy guy and I make silly things. Goofy and silly aren’t always the most respected of
tones in the artistic world. Being on the LED Baltimore board was one of the most satisfying
moments in my life as a film guy. After spending roughly a decade making comedy videos and
movies in Baltimore, seeing stills of my work towering up there was a refreshing reminder why I
do what I do. Even for the most independent of us, just the act of “being seen” is the goal and
the LED board did that in the biggest way possible. I’m proud to be born and raised in
Baltimore, and having my weird work broadcast high over Baltimore was honestly emotional
for me. It bookmarked a creative moment in time for me personally, which I will always be thankful for.”
Bob Rose

“As a serious amateur artist, I’m on the alert for unusual exhibit possibilities. LED Baltimore was
an ideal canvas! To see my portraits of life in Southern India writ large was an enormous thrill,
as was the recognition I received from family and friends. It was also gratifying to know that
images of anonymous people going about their lives in a faraway land can hold a city’s
attention, even if for a few seconds. Thinking about it today, I realize it was a way to share the
chaos, beauty, humor and despair of a country that most Baltimoreans will never get to see in person.”
Stephanie Shapiro

“I was featured on the billboard when I was just starting in portrait photography. I was proud of
the work I put up, but I didn’t have enough to be ready for a gallery. Showing on the LED
Baltimore billboard gave me a chance to present my art in a way that wasn’t really possible
elsewhere. My models were all volunteers, and they got a chance to see their work in a new
way. It would have just been sitting in my portfolio and marketing materials otherwise, and I
loved being able to give them that experience.

I’ve grown my business since, and promotion is everything to a small business owner. Having
your work professionally presented to a massive downtown audience is such a gift, and the LED
Baltimore billboard offers that to artists who really need it.
However, I think my favorite aspect of the billboard is that it’s a source of pride. It is very public,
and right in the center of the city. In a world of conflicting corporate interests, it’s committed to
propping up Baltimore artists, and really does follow through on that promise.”
Greg Bowen

“I was thrilled to discover LED Baltimore and delighted when Laura accepted my flower
photographs to display on that gigantic screen!  I was a beginner photographer, taking photos
at flower farms and farmers markets.  This was a fabulous opportunity to have my photographs
seen.  I remember standing on the bridge with my husband waiting for my photos to come up
on the display.  Pure happiness.  I wanted to tell everyone on the bridge that they were my
photos.  I captured my images on the screen and shared them on social media.  It was one of
my most liked posts!  The flower farmer was so excited to have one of his flowers on the LED screen.
LED allowed me a great opportunity to display my photos, giving me the confidence to move
forward with my photography business.  I researched other opportunities in Baltimore, leading
to one of my photographs being displayed at the new Ronald McDonald House in Baltimore as
part of the All You Need is Love collection.  I have applied to have my photographs of the Pride
of Baltimore displayed at the Hotel Indigo.  One of my garden photos was featured on the
breakfast menu at the Hotel Indigo.  One of my flowers will become a mural on a historic
building in downtown Frederick supporting locally grown flowers and farmers.
Each opportunity leads to better things for the artist and for the community.  Art work on
vacant buildings and at playgrounds is a great way to make a neighborhood look great and
maybe give the residents pride in where they live leading to neighborhood clean-ups and planting new gardens.”
Kathy Lynn

“First off, I want to express how grateful I am to have had my work featured on the LED
billboard multiple times. It has had such an impact on me and how confident I am in my work.
When I was first featured my work was nowhere near the quality that it is today. I wasn’t as
confident in it, but I thought, “Hey why not share my work with the rest of the city?”  When my
work went up and I shared it on social media, there was an influx of support from my peers and
every time my work had been up there I have experienced the same reaction. I have gained
clientele, met new creatives, and have had inquiries about showcasing my work in other places.
I believe this is a great initiative to let artists be seen and given their flowers from people
around the city. Even the area it is placed in is important because it is a known hub for creatives.”
Shae McCoy

“Being on the Billboard was great! My work had never been on a Billboard before. It felt great
to know that my artwork was seen by so many people in Baltimore. People who may have
never seen my artwork in person were coming up to me telling me they saw my artwork. My
friends and family who live out of town also sent well wishes after seeing my work was on a
billboard, so that felt great. This is great for the community. Families, Kids and the general
public got to experience my artwork for a few while walking and experiencing Baltimore. This
led to people seeing my skill level and led to more commission opportunities.”
Jasmin Manning

“Being able to have my artwork displayed on the LED billboard in Baltimore was an extremely
positive experience. Not only was it a dream come true to see my work at that scale, but it was
also a stepping stone to be connected with a much broader audience. After the display went up
I received so many positive messages, email inquiries for commissions as well as requests for
prints of the displayed work. Based on the display I was able to connect with new people and
do more collaborative work with other artists in the DMV area. This art program allows artists
to turn their dream into a reality. The exposure allowed me to better visualize my goals as an
artist, to actually be attainable. The Prince piece and the afro book cut out piece is what I
received the most feedback on, from fellow Prince fans and book lovers that felt seen through
my work. I received an email from a teacher who saw my pieces on the billboard and wanted
prints for her classroom right in a school in Baltimore. I think the art program is very
beneficial to the community, it makes art of all different styles accessible to all different types
of people. It was truly rewarding, and I felt so proud of the work I created positively impact
others as well. I am so grateful for the opportunity and experience that the LED Baltimore Artist
brought me and really hope other artists in more cities can have the same type of opportunity to shine.”
Brianna Pippens

“For me, it felt amazing to see my work displayed, and I think it had a positive impact on my
career and my art’s visibility. It inspired new fans to engage with my work, and it also generated
tons more shares and engagement on my social media pages. I’m really thankful to have been
included in LED Baltimore’s program.”
Sumner Crenshaw