Meet The Artists Adding Color To Dublin
Dublin’s art scene is full of people making beautiful, thoughtful, surprising work, and no two stories look the same. From stained glass and surrealism to murals, portraits, and public art, these artists are helping shape the city in ways big and small.
Kelly Canady didn’t begin working in stained glass until 2018, but the interest had been there for years. Inspired by the church windows he grew up admiring in Dublin, he taught himself the craft with secondhand tools, a few lessons, and plenty of curiosity. His work captures everything that makes stained glass so compelling: color, texture, and the way light changes it hour by hour.
Born in Romania and now based in Dublin, Alexander Iliuta brings a deep love of beauty, landscape, and tradition to his work. A Certified Bob Ross Instructor since 1995, he works in oil and acrylic, creating everything from florals and scenery to portraits and religious pieces. His work feels both classic and personal, shaped by the places he’s called home.
Juan Lleras’s work is hard to miss. Born in Bogotá, Colombia, and based in Dublin since 2002, he blends fine arts training with a strong architectural eye for color and composition. His impact can be seen in galleries, murals, sculptures, and commissioned pieces that have become part of Dublin’s visual identity, including the iconic sculpture outside of First African Baptist Church.
Frenasee Daughety has spent years capturing people and places. Known especially for portrait painting, she has also created landscapes and architecture that feel deeply rooted in place. Dublin has been a major part of her artistic story, and her work can be found throughout the area, including the McGrath Keen Center.
Ryan Merkle is a self-taught artist with a love for surrealism and a longtime fascination with Salvador Dalí. His work leans imaginative and unexpected, and his contribution to Dublin goes beyond the canvas. Through Studio 124, he’s also helping create more space for art to be seen, shared, and celebrated downtown.
Suzanne Dukes had always loved art, but oil painting changed everything. What started as an interest became a daily practice, and for more than two decades she has continued to build a body of work inspired by beauty, discipline, and faith. She’s especially known for her custom wedding bouquet paintings, which turn meaningful moments into keepsakes.
Different mediums. Different stories. One creative community that keeps Dublin colorful.
Explore more of Dublin’s creative side at VisitDublinGA.org.
