Meet the 2025 Rail Trail Lights Artist Team
For Rail Trail Lights 2025, the Charlotte Center City Partners team commissioned local, public artist Meredith Connelly to concept and create the installations for Golden Threads. Meredith subcontracted 11 local artists to support the fabrication and installation of each art piece. Each artist received hands-on opportunities, training, and mentorship throughout the process to help support their professional development.
Get to know the Rail Trail Lights 2025 artist team below!
All photos are courtesy of Robb Webb Photography.
Team Lead
Meredith Connelly
Meredith Connelly is an award-winning multidisciplinary artist, best known for her grand-scale installations that emphasize the interplay of light, science, and technology. Connelly’s illuminated, site-specific displays connect and submerge viewers into glowing, other worldly environments. Accoladed for its ingenuity, Connelly’s artwork has been exhibited in prestigious museums across the southeast— acquired into both private and corporate collections — and has received awards both regionally and nationally.
Born in Ohio and raised in Wilmington, North Carolina, Connelly’s affinity for art blossomed in childhood. Now a professional artist, Connelly is committed to expanding community and culture through the arts, is an advocate for gender equality in the arts, and places emphasis on supporting emerging and underrepresented femme, BIPOC, and LQBTQIA+ artists at all levels.
Connelly is based in Charlotte, NC, where she lives with her husband and daughters, and is active in her home studio. Learn more about Meredith and her work here.
Team Project Managers
Nadia Meadows
Nadia Meadows is an accomplished sculptor and visual storyteller, hailing from the vibrant city of Charlotte, North Carolina. In 2020, she earned her Bachelor's degree in Fine Arts from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, where she distinguished herself as the recipient of the prestigious Sculpture Area Award and the Junior of the Year accolade.
Since her graduation, Nadia has rapidly ascended in the art world, with her works being prominently featured in numerous galleries and exhibitions. Her creations have consistently garnered critical acclaim, fostering dialogue and discourse that catalyze societal development and transformation.
In recognition of her outstanding contributions to the world of visual arts, Nadia Meadows has been honored as a 2023 State Fellow for Visual Arts representing North Carolina. This esteemed accolade is bestowed upon only a select group of nine individuals. Her work as an artist-in-residence at @goodyeararts further attests to her talent and commitment to her craft.
Nadia's impressive portfolio can currently be appreciated in the group exhibition Generations at the Projective Eye Gallery, located in The Dubois Center at UNC Charlotte Center City, and at The South Arts Southern Prize and State Fellowships for Visual Arts exhibition at the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts. Check out Nadia's portfolio site here.
Autumn Payne
Autumn Payne is a multidisciplinary artist, arts professional, and proud dog mom based in Charlotte, North Carolina. Her creative practice spans sculpting, ceramics, painting, and printmaking, with a focus on themes of self-reflection and the human experience. She is currently pursuing an Associate of Fine Arts degree with a concentration in ceramics and printmaking, expected to graduate in Fall 2024.
In addition to her artistic work, Autumn has built an extensive career in arts management. She is a Digital Marketing Specialist at the Cain Center for the Arts and the founder of Art By Autumn Payne LLC, providing creative services and consultation. For the past five years, she has worked as a Project Manager for Art by Meredith Connelly, contributing to large-scale public art installations. She has also held leadership roles at Hot Glass Alley and worked with ArtPop Street Gallery.
Autumn’s artwork has been featured in exhibitions such as Director’s Choice at the Cain Center for the Arts, CLAY at Cabarrus Arts Council, and the ArtPop Class of 2023, including a display in Times Square. Her work reflects a dedication to creativity, community engagement, and collaboration, all supported by her constant companion, her dog, Max. You can see Autumn's website here.
Victoria Singleton
Victoria Singleton is a multidisciplinary artist and costume designer based in North Carolina, with a rich background in Theatre Arts from Greensboro College. Starting her career as an actor, she quickly discovered her passion for costuming, which has since shaped her diverse and accomplished career. Victoria has honed her craft through roles in amusement parks, haunted attractions, regional theater, touring productions, and children’s theater, gaining extensive experience creating immersive visual narratives.
Now specializing in one-of-a-kind costume pieces and handmade clothing, Victoria's work has found its place in music videos, film, photography, and live events. Her designs are celebrated for their originality, craftsmanship, and ability to elevate creative projects across various mediums.
Beyond her own artistic practice, Victoria provides expert support in installation, fabrication, and administrative services to fellow artists, helping them bring their visions to life. Known for her meticulous attention to detail and innovative approach, Victoria continues to push creative boundaries while fostering connections in the arts.
With a blend of theatrical expertise and a passion for craftsmanship, Victoria Singleton remains an inspiring force in costume design and the broader creative industry. Check out Victoria's site here.
Fabrication and Installation Team
Trish Boyles
Trish Boyles is an emerging mixed-media artist in Charlotte, NC. Her work explores how we solidify the collection of salient moments in our lives into constructs of identity, beliefs, and narratives about ourselves, others, and the world. She works to create her own visual syntax, rendering a disorganized unity that appears as a gestalt sense of a particular moment or concept. Incorporating a variety of media, including acrylic paint, collage, and charcoal, she develops layers that mirror the repetition and depth involved in processing fragments of experience into a greater understanding of self, purpose, and meaning.
Her work has been exhibited at Hart-Witzen Gallery, The Charlotte Art League, The Gallery at Morning Star, Mooresville Arts Center, and York County Council of the Arts.
Trish holds an M.B.A. and a Ph.D. in Strategic Management. She was formerly a professor of entrepreneurship and business management, as well as the co-owner and CFO of a construction fastener company in Charlotte. You can view Trish's work here.
Hirmani Brown
Hirmani Brown is a senior art student at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, specializing in printmaking while exploring a variety of artistic mediums. Her practice includes mixed-media mural art, spray painting, markers, and colored pencils, reflecting her dynamic and experimental approach to visual storytelling.
In 2024, Brown participated in two notable exhibitions, Doomsday and Night and The Hunnid Dolla Art Fair, marking significant milestones in her artistic journey. These experiences have been pivotal in advancing her aspirations of creating impactful public art and establishing herself in the art market.
With a passion for innovation and an eye toward community engagement, Hirmani Brown is committed to expanding her creative practice and continuing to make her mark in the world of contemporary art. Stay up-to-date with Hirmani's work by following along on her Instagram.
Nada Esmaeel
Nada Esmaeel is a multidisciplinary artist raised in Charlotte, North Carolina. She is primarily a digital illustrator but also loves working with watercolor, oil, and ink mediums. Her artwork reflects her attraction to bold colors, intricate cultural textiles, and extravagant, ornate architecture, drawing heavy inspiration from the aesthetics of the SWANA region.
Nada began working as a full-time artist at the end of 2021 when she launched her online business selling prints of her artwork. Over the course of her career, she has created illustrative work for various purposes, including books, film festivals, product design, merchandise, and nonprofit organizations. Notable clients include Penguin Random House and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency. Check out Nada's portfolio here.
Chloe Kaylor
Chloe Kaylor is an interdisciplinary visual artist and art educator based in Mount Holly, North Carolina. Working primarily in sculpture and installation, her practice is rooted in handcraft, experimentation, and the use of conceptually driven materials. Her latest body of work reflects on cultural constructs of the American South, exploring themes of identity, tradition, and place.
A native of Charlotte, Kaylor holds a BFA in Studio Art from Western Carolina University (2021) and an MFA in Sculpture from the Rhode Island School of Design (2023). Her work has been exhibited at prominent venues, including the Mint Museum in Charlotte, the RISD Museum in Providence, and the Bascom Center for the Visual Arts in Highlands, NC.
Through her art and teaching, Kaylor continues to push creative boundaries, inviting audiences to engage with the intricate narratives embedded in her work. Her thoughtful approach combines technical skill with a deep curiosity about the cultural and social frameworks that shape our experiences. Check out Chloe's website here.
Junior Gomez
Junior Gomez is a Charlotte-based artist whose work spans paintings, murals, and prints, characterized by a dynamic graffiti-inspired style. Using vibrant colors and bold, gestural brushstrokes, he explores the cycles of life and nature, creating a vibrant interplay of color, light, and form. Influenced by meditation, Roman philosophy, and personal experiences, Gomez aims to capture life’s rhythms and connections, inviting viewers to reflect on the beauty of the world.
Originally from New York City, Gomez’s passion for art began in childhood, leading him to earn a Bachelor’s in Visual Arts from Wells College. After a career in the corporate sector, he fully committed to his artistic practice upon moving to Charlotte, where he honed his skills and began receiving commissions.
Since becoming a full-time artist in 2021, Gomez has exhibited his work at prominent North Carolina venues, including The Harvey B. Gantt Center, John Foster Gallery, and Gallery 811. With aspirations to expand internationally and engage in large-scale public art projects, he continues to push creative boundaries. Gomez’s practice reflects gratitude and presence, aiming to inspire hope and curiosity through his art. You can view his portfolio site here.
Erin Peacock
Erin is a contemporary rug hooking artist based in North Carolina. A lifelong artist, she has always found a deep sense of home in the peacefulness of the creative process. After earning her Bachelor’s degree in Geography and Studio Art in 2010, Erin embarked on a personal creative journey, exploring various mediums and discovering her affinity for tactile, dimensional art.
In addition to her artistic pursuits, Erin formally began practicing mindfulness and meditation, enriching her creative practice. She immersed herself in mindfulness through stays at Plum Village Monasteries and other practice centers in France, New Zealand, and Australia. This passion for mindfulness and art led her to establish Meditate to Inspire in 2018, integrating these practices into her teaching.
In 2023, Erin became an Oxford Certified Punch Needle Instructor and later a Certified Mindful Crafts Teacher. She created several bodies of work using punch needle techniques before incorporating traditional rug hooking into her practice in 2024. Today, Erin creates fine art wool rugs as wall art and shares her expertise by teaching rug hooking and mindful crafts. Her work inspires others to explore their creativity while fostering a connection between art and mindfulness. View Erin's work here.
Denise Sanchez
Denise Sanchez is a multidisciplinary artist currently based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They received a B.A. in Art + Design from North Carolina State University in 2021, where they studied animation and environmental game design. Sanchez currently operates as a freelance artist and illustrator.
Best known for small-scale paintings and illustrations, Sanchez favors analog mediums such as gouache, colored pencil, and ink. With a background in animation and video game development, their personal works are heavily influenced by the world-building systems found in their favorite games and visual media. Sanchez’s illustrative works incorporate techniques and textures used by comic book artists and printmaking methods from the German Renaissance.
Sanchez’s work was featured in NCAAT’s 2024 Get Out the Vote campaign for the slogan “We Vote Together.” They have also led animation and comic workshops at The Fletcher School in Charlotte, North Carolina. In 2020, their digital 3D environments received the “Best in Show” award in the 3D Student Category. Check out Denise's portfolio here.
Marquia Humphries
Marquia Humphries is a mixed-media artist based in her home state of North Carolina. A graduate of Davidson College with a Bachelor of Arts in Studio Art, her work is deeply rooted in the Black experience, drawing inspiration from the photos, stories, and memories of those around her.
Beyond her studio practice, Humphries is a skilled graphic recorder who transforms information into engaging visual narratives. Using a combination of imagery and typography, she enhances communication and accessibility, underscoring her dedication to making education and information available to all.
As an artist, educator, and entrepreneur, Humphries continually fosters dialogue, amplifies marginalized voices, and enriches the cultural landscape of her community. Her multifaceted approach to creativity and advocacy ensures her work leaves a lasting impact. You can see Marquia's website here.
Architect
McKenzie Canaday
McKenzie Lynne Canaday is a multifaceted artist blending art and architecture to inspire and captivate. A Master’s graduate in Architecture from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, her journey began with exploring how the built environment shapes human experience. McKenzie’s passion evolved into creating spaces that are functional, artistic, and alive with nature.
As an architectural designer at Alter Architects, she contributed to innovative projects, excelling in restoration architecture. Her hallmark is breathing new life into historic structures while preserving their integrity.
McKenzie’s true passion lies in teaching. A fellowship sparked her close relationship with UNCC, where she joined as an adjunct professor in 2014. For over a decade, she has guided creative minds, cherishing the opportunity to share her love for design and storytelling.
Rooted in creation, perception, and light, McKenzie’s artistic vision reflects her belief in art as a living force that transforms the world. Through detail and visual storytelling, her work invites others to see beauty and possibility. You can check out McKenzie's work here.
Soundscape Artist
Emily Sage
Emily Sage is a sound artist and poet celebrated for her romantic, lullaby-like style, influenced by her upbringing in Portugal. Her work explores themes of softness, nature, and authenticity, with a focus on creating reflective, engaging spaces that embrace slowness as a mindful practice.
A graduate of Belmont University in Nashville, TN, where she studied Songwriting and Music Business, Emily moved to Charlotte, NC, to cultivate her artistic vision. In 2018, she founded CLT Loft Sessions, an intimate concert series showcasing immersive performances by herself and local artists, all of which have sold out since inception.
Beyond live performances, Emily is a composer and soundscape artist, contributing to award-winning films, immersive art installations, and media projects. Her single Lumiére reached #17 on Spotify Jazz Charts in 2022, and her work has been featured on NPR and WFAE. Emily also teaches internationally, inspiring others to overcome creative blocks. Learn more about Emily's work here.
Intern
Kennedy Barrett
Kennedy Barrett is a student at William A. Hough High School. As an artist specializing in ceramics and sculpture, she has consistently pushed herself since starting high school to leverage new experiences for growth. She has created murals for local companies and currently interns for Art By Meredith Connelly. In 2023, Kennedy won The Inkkas Shoe Art Competition and earned spots in local galleries, art studios, and other art displays around the Charlotte and Cornelius areas. Looking toward the future, she aims to continue working on large-scale projects, develop deeper meaning within her work, and create impactful pieces that help others express emotions. Check out Kennedy's website here.