The art of feeling: How OFS, Liz Flores, and Alkemis brought a showroom to life

What happens when art, wellness, and design come together? In this special Design Days Chicago episode, Maria VanDeman sits down with artist Liz Flores and Alkemis co-founder Price Latimer to explore the partnerships shaping the OFS showroom experience. Liz shares the stories woven into her vibrant artwork, from the symbolism of an acorn growing into a tree to her celebration of imagination, community, and the female perspective. Price reflects on Alkemis' journey to create the world's first wellness paint and why the materials surrounding us matter as much as the spaces themselves.

Join us for an inspiring look at the creative vision behind the OFS Design Days experience and the collaborators making it possible. Together, they invite listeners into a showroom designed not just to be seen, but to be felt.
 

Key Insights

1. Authenticity is what makes art resonate, and staying connected to the original passion for creating is essential even as artistic work becomes a business.
2. Personal experiences shape meaningful creative work, with Liz drawing on her Latina heritage and the strong women who raised her to tell stories through a distinctly female perspective. 
3. Thoughtful storytelling gives artwork lasting impact, using symbolism, color, and natural elements to communicate ideas like imagination, balance, wellness, and care within a space.
4. Great art invites interpretation rather than prescribing meaning, encouraging viewers to spend time discovering details and forming their own emotional connections.
5. Long-term creative success is defined by continuing to make meaningful work, focusing on what can be controlled instead of external achievements or recognition.

6. Investing in relationships can transform a creative career, as networking with artists eventually led to Liz's first mural commission and opened new opportunities in public art.

    

   

Learn more about Liz Flores
Liz Flores is a Chicago-based painter and muralist whose work explores storytelling, community, and the human experience through expressive figures, bold color, and abstract forms. Influenced by her Mexican and Cuban heritage, her work often centers on womanhood, Latinidad, and the emotional connections that shape our lives, inviting viewers to find their own stories within each piece. After transitioning from a career in the corporate world to becoming a full-time artist, Liz has collaborated with leading brands and organizations including Google, United Airlines, Target, Lululemon, and the Chicago Bulls, while exhibiting her work in galleries across the United States and internationally. Through every mural and painting, she seeks to create moments of reflection, imagination, and connection. Connect with Liz on LinkedIn.

Learn more about Price Latimer
Price Latimer is an interdisciplinary artist, designer, curator, and the co-founder and Chief Creative Officer of Alkemis, the company behind the world's first wellness paint. With more than 25 years of experience spanning fine art, interiors, branding, hospitality, and creative direction, she helps clients create spaces that are as healthy as they are beautiful. Guided by a belief that the materials surrounding us profoundly influence our well-being, Price combines artistic vision with material innovation to advance healthier, more sustainable interior environments. Through Alkemis, she is redefining how paint can contribute to human health while inspiring designers to think more intentionally about the role of materials in the built environment. Connect with Price on LinkedIn.

Learn more about Maria VanDeman
Maria VanDeman is the Director of Design Strategy at OFS, where she brings together design, strategy, and storytelling to create spaces that support people and inspire connection. With more than 17 years of experience in the commercial design industry, Maria has built a career spanning interior design, strategic sales, thought leadership, and advocacy for equity in the workplace. As the host of the Imagine a Place Podcast and the author of Design Your World, she is passionate about elevating the design profession and inspiring the next generation of creatives. Recognized with the 2022 HiP Leadership Award from Interior Design magazine, Maria is known for her thoughtful leadership, commitment to mentorship, and belief in the power of design to positively shape the human experience. Connect with Maria on LinkedIn.

Click here to get your copy of Maria's children's book—Design Your World.

Read More about Maria in the Imagine a Place Journal

Learn more about Imagine a Place
Imagine a Place gathers industry-leading voices that can inspire the design community through storytelling and broaden our creative horizons. The goal of Imagine a Place is to further elevate the belief that the places we make and the ways we design them matter in our lives. Follow Imagine a Place on LinkedIn.

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