Alex Mauss is a graphic designer who loves rock climbing and the outdoors and celebrates those things in her work. What's wonderful about art is the artist's unique expression of common items and feelings we all know as rock climbers. As we study each piece, we get to connect to our passions again - but in a different side of the brain. It feels like a full brain-and-heart celebration!
We hope you enjoy these colorful, playful, and celebratory images of climbing and the amazing outdoors and get to know the artist who created them!
We hope you enjoy these colorful, playful, and celebratory images of climbing and the amazing outdoors and get to know the artist who created them!
Let's begin with the basics - Where do you live and what brings you to that place?
I currently live in Maryland, my husband and I move frequently for his work. In the last few years we’ve moved from Vermont (where I’m from) to Hawai’i and now Maryland.
I currently live in Maryland, my husband and I move frequently for his work. In the last few years we’ve moved from Vermont (where I’m from) to Hawai’i and now Maryland.
Maryland birds and forest (Artist Credit: Alex Mauss, IG: @alexmaussdesign)
You make art and illustrations, tell us more!
I’ve been making art for as long as I can remember. As a child, I brought a sketchbook or coloring book everywhere I went. I always knew I would do something creative professionally but didn’t know how that would manifest. I went to art college originally for painting. During college, I transitioned my focus into what at the time felt like a safer path: graphic design. I like the collaborative nature of design, you’re often working with a client or marketing team, and at the time I was very afraid of the “starving artist” stereotype so the more structured life of a designer felt less intimidating.
I’ve been making art for as long as I can remember. As a child, I brought a sketchbook or coloring book everywhere I went. I always knew I would do something creative professionally but didn’t know how that would manifest. I went to art college originally for painting. During college, I transitioned my focus into what at the time felt like a safer path: graphic design. I like the collaborative nature of design, you’re often working with a client or marketing team, and at the time I was very afraid of the “starving artist” stereotype so the more structured life of a designer felt less intimidating.
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After college, I worked as an in-house graphic designer for about seven years. I was still making art on the side and wanted to be doing it full-time, but I didn’t know how. The only art-related career path I was aware of at that time was to be a gallery artist. But that world never felt like the right fit for me.
I started studying other artists I admire, and looking into the projects they were involved with (PunkyAloha and Kate Wadsworth are two examples) and a plethora of creative business alternatives came to my attention, these artists were creating murals, illustrating children’s books, licensing art, selling art prints, the list goes on. Inspired by these artists and some courses I took (Leverage Your Art by Stacie Bloomfield was an important one for me) I decided to start illustrating something I felt passionate about, climbing, and just see where it would take me! I now run my creative business full-time! I do custom illustration, art licensing (which is essentially renting out your artwork for commercial use), murals, logo design, and I sell my art on my own products online and at climbing festivals. I would love to illustrate children’s books and book covers in the future as well. |
Alex Mauss captures the joy in climbing with a playful color palette, along with an immersion and appreciation of the nature that surrounds us when on the rock.
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You are a climber and make art about climbing. Tell us about your climbing journey.
My entry into climbing was a bit unusual! I was working at a performing arts center with an annual fundraiser called Over The Edge. I signed up to participate, which meant I would raise 1K for the arts center, and if I did so I would get to rappel down our city’s tallest building (the city was Burlington, Vermont, so shorten that skyscraper you may be imagining). There was a rappel practice session at the local climbing gym. Climbing had never been on my radar, but walking around the gym that day I instantly knew I was about to spend a lot of time here. My friend and I started going to a women’s bouldering meetup at that gym, and then we took our first top-roping class and were immediately addicted to the ropes wall. Later I got my husband (boyfriend at the time) into climbing as well. He is my favorite person to project a climb with, we have different strengths but climb at a similar level (actually, he’s probably a better climber than me now, but let the record show that I taught him to climb!). So working through a climb together is our version of working on a puzzle together (we do that too). |
Alex Mauss bouldering in Flagstaff, Arizona (Photo credit: Morgan Wonderly)
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When my husband and I moved to Hawai’i I desperately missed my community in Vermont. It was early pandemic with strict stay-at-home rules and I was very lonely and depressed, not to mention I felt insane for being depressed after moving to paradise! I realized what I really needed was to build community again. This prompted me to start a women’s climbing group on the island.
Once it was safe to meet in person, we started having our first meetups. At the time, all my climbing experience was in the gym, these women taught me so much about climbing outdoors, and every meetup was truly magic: we swapped stories, belays, screams of encouragement, and so many snacks. The group members were of all ages and experience levels and although we live all over the globe now, I still consider many of them my lifelong friends. There’s something about being at a crag with a crew of female climbers that truly feels like home and I feel so lucky to be connected to this community.
Once it was safe to meet in person, we started having our first meetups. At the time, all my climbing experience was in the gym, these women taught me so much about climbing outdoors, and every meetup was truly magic: we swapped stories, belays, screams of encouragement, and so many snacks. The group members were of all ages and experience levels and although we live all over the globe now, I still consider many of them my lifelong friends. There’s something about being at a crag with a crew of female climbers that truly feels like home and I feel so lucky to be connected to this community.
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Tell us about your intersection of climbing and art.
My art is a reflection of what I love, and climbing is a world I know well, so making art about climbing came about naturally. Plus the climbing community is a passionate one! For so many of us (myself included!) climbing seems to turn more into a personality trait than a hobby. So there was a lot of enthusiastic support from climbers when I started making art in that genre. My early climbing art experiences were selling my art in my etsy shop and at my home gym’s store, both did well and that was the encouragement I needed to make bigger and bigger goals. Last summer I also sold my art and merchandise at climbing festivals and I absolutely loved the face-to-face interaction during those events. I left feeling so inspired. I’m looking forward to doing more of that this year. It's also been really exciting to collaborate with some of my favorite climbing-related businesses. I have illustrated crash pads with Flashed and am working on a series of illustrated chalk bags with Static Climbing (coming soon). How did your climbing murals come about?
I really love public art and the interaction it promotes. The process of making art is often one experienced alone at the studio. I love that murals bring an artist out into the world, and provide the opportunity to meet unexpected folks. There can also be a lack of inclusivity, where one must have access to a museum or gallery to experience art. I love that murals bring art to the public, beautifying often overlooked spaces and communities. This is what made me want to be a muralist. |
"Lead Climber Pattern Cropped Tank" available at Alex Mauss' Etsy shop.
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One of my favorite public art experiences was a mobile mural I made to bring on the road with me to climbing festivals. I was signed up to be a vendor at Flash Foxy and I wanted to have an interactive moment at the festival. Something beautiful about these festivals is how by the end you’re friends with the whole community. I wanted to create a moment where participants could capture that feeling. I encouraged festival participants to pose in front of the mural and snap a cute picture with their friends and it made for a really fun memorable addition to vendor area of the festival. I’m looking forward to taking this mobile mural on the road again this year and customizing it per festival.
Similarly, I have plans to create an equally interactive experience at climbing gyms. One of my favorite things about climbing in the gym is how easy it is to find your community. I love how public art can facilitate additional pride in your community’s space and there’s a specific buzz of excitement I feel in a community whenever a mural is in progress. I’d love to help more climbing gyms provide that feeling for their community and am currently in discussion with some to make it happen.
Similarly, I have plans to create an equally interactive experience at climbing gyms. One of my favorite things about climbing in the gym is how easy it is to find your community. I love how public art can facilitate additional pride in your community’s space and there’s a specific buzz of excitement I feel in a community whenever a mural is in progress. I’d love to help more climbing gyms provide that feeling for their community and am currently in discussion with some to make it happen.
Artist Alex Mauss putting the finishing touches on a mural for a rock climbing festival. (Photo Credit: Tina Mauss)
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Is there a message, feeling, or energy you want to convey with your art in general and climbing art specifically?
Joy, fun, acceptance, but also responsibility. I don’t take myself too seriously, and when I climb I don’t worry much about grades or accolades, I’m just there to move my body, enjoy nature (if you ask me for beta I might say “Trust your toes! Also, listen to that red-bellied woodpecker!"), and get some time in with my loved ones. I think my art has a similar fun-loving and in-the-moment attitude. Additionally, it’s a privilege to spend time in these spaces, not a right. I deeply believe in our responsibility to care for the places we recreate. There’s no better cool down from a climb than a little litter-pickup time, try it out! And I’ve honestly only ever had a blast at crag cleanups. I think my love for the outdoors is very apparent in my person and I hope it's an energy that shines through my art as well. Recently, I’ve enjoyed connecting with the places I live by learning about the native species that also call the area home. In addition to my climbing art, I’ve been making work that celebrates the flora, fauna, creatures, and critters that also call this area home. It’s one of the ways I hope to show my respect and care to the local biodiversity and I hope it encourages others to act in a similar energy. |
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What are your hopes or visions for your future in climbing and with art/graphic design?
My climbing goals are simple: keep going, having fun, feeling strong, and meeting cool people.
As for my creative business, there’s a lot I want to accomplish! Here’s the list:
Just to name a few, ha!
My climbing goals are simple: keep going, having fun, feeling strong, and meeting cool people.
As for my creative business, there’s a lot I want to accomplish! Here’s the list:
- I’d love to illustrate a children’s book;
- design a book cover for a climbing or nature book;
- I’d like to create educational illustrations about nature (I’m picturing illustrated infographics in a nature magazine or at a nature exhibit but this is open to interpretation)
- I’d like to see my art on products produced by companies who care about the environment and actively give back
- I’d like to paint murals all over country celebrating the unique biodiversity of each place.
- Also, I’d really like to see my art on a puzzle, I just think that would be cool!
Just to name a few, ha!
Any last words for our readers?
I love trying new things so I’m open to all kinds of collaborations. Something I love about running my own creative business is that it gives me the flexibility to walk down many paths and see where they lead. I can’t wait to see what’s in store. If you’re reading and are interested in working together, reach out! And of course, have fun out there! |
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Contact
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Instagram: www.instagram.com/alexmaussdesign/ LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/alex-mauss/ Website: www.alexmaussdesign.com Etsy Shop: www.etsy.com/shop/alexmauss Other: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61550657262069 |
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