Michael Geddings, a Lexington-based artist, has painted multiple murals in Lexington County, including two along the Cayce River Arts district.

His work includes the “Cayce Chameleon,” a prominent painting located on State Street in the River Arts district. Geddings has also completed between 40-50 murals for Richland County School District 2.

“I see my ability more as a gift than a talent,” he said. “It’s a gift that God blessed me with and that alone encourages me daily.”

Geddings told the Chronicle that he has been creating murals and portraits for 35 years and got started by doing murals for several restaurants in the early-’90s with his first public mural being for former Irmo restaurant Bodacious Cafe, which he completed when he was a freshman at the University of South Carolina.

According to Geddings, one of his big breaks was when he was awarded a large mural project for State Street in 2019. He said the job helped him get his name out there and opened many doors.

While he has become a prominent muralist, he has always considered his portrait work his primary focus.

“My motivation for my art comes from the many people that I meet on a daily basis,” Geddings said. “Most of these folks have lost someone close to them and have come to me for a portrait, to honor them.”

“It’s such a blessing for me to use my gifts during their time of healing,” he added

According to Geddings, public art is a necessity as the communities need more creativity and color lining the streets. He said it is a great way to spark the mind of a child.

Geddings said he has wanted to be an artist since he was 2, telling the Chronicle that it’s all he ever did as a child and he won his first art award in the first grade. He said that’s when his parents and teachers noticed his skills and encouraged him to continue.

The artist said that as he progressed into high school, he became very influenced by Chuck Close and Winsor McCay. Close was a hyper-realist portrait artist, while McCay was a cartoonist/illustrator who was a pioneer of modern-day animation.

Geddings said his next upcoming projects include a large mural for the EdVenture Museum in Columbia.

“For me, art is the only way that I can truly express myself,” he said. “It is a release for me and it feeds my hunger to create.”

This article is part of an occasional ongoing series taking a look at public art in Lexington County and talking to the artists who made it.