Meet Alexandria Artists – Collaborators at Hotel Heron

Stephanie Mercedes

Mclain Weisland

Swing’s Coffee

Streetsense

Austen Morris

Monkey In The Metal

Woman writing on a paper outside of Hotel Heron in Alexandria, VA

Old Town Illustrated

Stephanie Mercedes

Stephanie Mercedes is an uncategorized Queer Latinx artist who works in sculpture, opera, techno, choreography and sound. Their work revolves around creating rituals of mourning and rituals of liberation. Her most recent work focuses on melting down weapons and turning them into instruments and sculptures of peace. Stephanie is Heron Hotel’s first artist in residency, her show “Metal and I, Want the Same Thing” debuted with the opening of the hotel in the summer of 2024.

Mclain Weisland

Based out of Baltimore, Mclain Weisland compares their work to that of the many great artisans and ateliers found in the 18th and 19th centuries. An explorative period in history where a select group of patrons relied on a small community of artisans for the finest and most unique objects found across the globe. With an eye for detail, McLain Wiesand also undertakes architectural projects which include custom interiors, built-in cabinetry, and decorative paneling. He and his daughter, Lex built a custom piece that can be found in the hotel lobby.

Swing’s Coffee

Swing’s Coffee Roasters has been part of the Washington, DC coffee culture for over 100 years. Founded in 1916 as a father and son operation, the brand quickly became a household favorite for residents of Alexandria and beyond. By roasting ethically–sourced coffee found through generational relationships with independent growers, Swing’s cares about the journey coffee takes and the people it comes in contact with along the way. We’re proud to serve coffee from Swings – a company that continues to reinvest in quality and community.

Streetsense

Streetsense is a creative collective and interior design firm based in Washington, D.C. driven by a passion for capturing the voice of a neighborhood and the belief that every project deserves a distinct personality; Streetsense builds social spaces designed to foster a sense of belonging. They’re responsible for making our spaces beautiful.

Austen Morris

Austen Morris is a custom furniture studio that is known for its high-quality craftsmanship and timeless design. After spending nearly 15 years working in the advertising business, Dennis Turbeville, founder of Austen Morris, applies his experience in brand by incorporating classical and contemporary elements to create pieces that reflect on the environment in which they live. Come see their work in our signature restaurant KILN, where each table top was brought to life by Dennis and his team.

Monkey In The Metal

Monkey in the Metal is a custom fabrication studio that provides artistic solutions through marrying a love of design with a passion for construction. Monkey In The Metal creates pieces that tell an important story with a belief to produce work that’s meaningful and pushes the envelope of what can be made possible with everyday building materials. Nick and his team built the bookshelves you can find in our library space.

Old Town Illustrated

Vanessa Colina, founder of Old Town Illustrated is a master at showcasing the historical and architectural charm of Old Town Alexandria through her illustrations. With her goal to illustrate the 687 historic properties found across Old Town, Vanessa has quickly become a local hero amongst the community. We’ve commissioned Vanessa to illustrate the 102 year old building that houses Heron Hotel. You can find her work on the tote bags in our guest rooms.