Wren Denny leaves her mark in the classroom, on streets of Athens

Lauren “Wren” Denny

Lauren “Wren” Denny, a standout graduate of ��ý Lancaster’s College Credit Plus (CCP) program and current OHIO student, continues to make waves both academically and through public art.

On Friday, July 4, Denny will be celebrated at a ribbon-cutting ceremony in Athens, unveiling her newly completed street mural titled "The Migration." The vibrant mural, which incorporates a colorful crosswalk design, is located directly across the street from Village Bakery and Cafe at 270 East State Street.

Commissioned by the City of Athens through a community-voted mural contest, the project drew attention from local artists and residents alike. City officials invited public input to select the mural for the curb extension site, ultimately choosing Denny’s “The Migration” from a pool of strong submissions.

'The Migration'

In her , Denny explained the meaning behind the design.

“My mural is called ‘The Migration’ because it depicts the salmon run. Like many others, I find the dedication of the salmon on their journeys to be an inspiring and somewhat relatable thing. The words, ‘Wherever you go, there you are,’ is a quote originally said by Confucius. He was saying that no matter where you go in life, you will always be the same person as you were before. You will carry your same struggles but also your same joys so that no matter where you go, you will remain yourself,” said Denny. “I feel a parallel between that quote and the migration of salmon, as well as the college culture in Athens. I believe that no matter who you are, salmon or human, you will find yourself in all the places you are journeying to.”

“When I first arrived in Athens, I saw all the murals and how important art is to the city,” she added. “It inspired me a lot and it’s really cool to know that now I get to be a part of that artistic culture. I’m proud to have made my mark on Athens just like my mentor, Troy Sayers, who completed the mural on the back of Hangover Easy.”

Sayers reflected on the mural connection as well.

“I painted a mural at Hangover Easy restaurant on Court Street in 2019 depicting the historic Berry Hotel that once stood on the site," Sayers said. "To now see Wren doing the same in Athens, leaving her mark through art, it’s incredibly meaningful.”

Denny received a micro grant from the City of Athens to help cover the cost of materials. The mural project is part of a broader initiative aimed at enhancing public spaces, promoting pedestrian safety, and building neighborhood pride through art.

Getting ahead in her studies and now taking on two majors

Denny’s College Credit Plus path began in her junior year at Fairfield Union High School, where she was able to complete general education coursework early.

“Taking CCP classes literally put me a year ahead in my studies and is a big reason I am able to double major,” she shared. “I have really enjoyed being able to focus the majority of my time and energy on art. I’m the type of artist that likes to take my time to fully polish my final projects. I appreciate that I don’t have the added time commitment of general education courses.”

By her senior year of high school, Denny was studying drawing, art history, graphic design and visual art history. She ultimately earned only the second-ever Honors Art Diploma in Fairfield Union’s school history.

After graduating in 2023, she entered ��ý in Athens as a sophomore and is now pursuing a double major in Studio Art (digital art concentration) in the Chaddock+Morrow College of Fine Arts and Animation in the Scripps College of Communication.

“Wren’s College Credit Plus journey at ��ý perfectly illustrates the power of the program,” said Sarah Bogdewiecz, director of student services at ��ý Lancaster. “It gave her the opportunity to dive deep into a subject she’s passionate about and gain hands-on experience in her future field — all before finishing high school.”

An image created by Wren Denny — Wren Denny created this image for a class with Dr. Basil Masri Zada

Working with dedicated faculty experts

This summer, Denny is working under the mentorship of Dr. Basil Masri Zada, assistant professor of instruction in digital art and technology. A Fulbright alumnus and transdisciplinary artist, Masri Zada’s work spans sculpture, performance, and interactive media, exploring themes of identity, activism, and the Syrian experience. He has been a guiding force in her development as a digital artist.

“Basil Masri Zada has given me the opportunity to learn highly technological forms of art,” Denny said. “He’s on the cutting edge of technology. He is always looking toward the next new medium and encourages his students to include them in our artwork.”

“Wren is one of the most naturally talented students in Digital Art + Technology,” said Dr. Masri Zada. “She has excellent skills in illustration, digital drawing, and painting that precede the expected level of a student in her year. Her creative work and art practice are always outside of the box—deep, creative, and complex in their concepts.”

Denny also credits Professor Thomas Suter, one of her College Credit Plus professors, with sharpening her artistic discipline.

“Thomas Suter helped me to really look at my artwork critically,” she said. “He encouraged me to think about my art more conceptually and taught me to push my work beyond the first draft.”

“From my perspective, Lauren had incredible drawing and rendering skills. I felt she was ahead of the rest of the class,” Suter said. “In fine art, it should be about telling a story through metaphor or incorporating deeper meaning. Lauren had the technical and rendering abilities, but early on, her work wasn’t yet saying anything. Developing those conceptual ideas is essential in contemporary art today.”

Her creative foundation was further nurtured by Sayers, who began mentoring Denny at age 10 through the Center for Accessible Art (CFAA), a nonprofit he founded in 2014.

Wren Denny and Troy Sayers work together on an art project in a photo from several years ago — Wren Denny has been working with artist and mentor Troy Sayers since 2014.

“As far as Wren’s journey and how it's aligned with CFAA,” said Sayers, “I would say she is the exact reason and result that the nonprofit was created. It couldn't align any better.”

He remembers her early passion vividly.

“Lauren attended all of the workshops we conducted there for five years,” Sayers said. “She was different than any of the other kids. She reminded me of myself in that she loved painting so much. She showed me her sketchbook and I saw an energy in her characters that was off the hook. They had life and personalities that jumped off the page. Her art rivals any work done by Marvel creators.”

“She would come to the workshops totally prepared with sketches she wanted to paint for a storyline she had written. (They were) complete with a script, storyboards, and fully developed characters. Yes, this is when she was 10 and 11 years old,” Sayers explained.

Sayers added, “Her artistic voice is stronger and more defined, as would be expected as she cultivates her talent. It's not just about how her art looks in today’s crowded landscape. There are so many talented artists, but attitude is everything. I don’t care if you can draw like Da Vinci, if you’re difficult to work with, you won’t succeed. Wren’s attitude is perfect and poised for success. She is fun to work with and she can draw like Da Vinci.”

“When I was 10, we lived in Seaside, Oregon,” Sayers recalled. “My mother recognized my love for drawing and enrolled me in oil painting classes at the local community college. That experience changed everything for me, and I wanted to recreate that environment through CFAA. That’s the same foundation I hoped to offer students like Wren.”

Making an impact now, while working toward future goals

Denny’s talents have been recognized in the Fairfield Union spotlight article “Lauren Denny Hopes to Make an Impact in Art” and through numerous top awards at the Fairfield County Fair.

“When I was in elementary school, I carried a sketchbook with me everywhere I went,” Denny reflected. “When people asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up, I would answer that I wanted to be a vet. They were surprised that I didn’t say an artist. They helped me to realize that being an artist wasn’t just a viable option for me, but also my passion. They saw my passion before I did.”

Wren Denny and Troy Sayers hold up the caricatures they created — Wren Denny and Troy Sayers stand with some of their caricatures.

Now, with “The Migration” as her latest public achievement, Denny continues to reflect the strength, movement, and connectivity symbolized in her mural. Her story exemplifies how early college access, creative mentorship, and community involvement can shape future leaders in the arts.

“Being a part of the Chaddock + Morrow College of Fine Arts at OHIO has given me so many opportunities to study many different artistic styles and mediums,” she said. “I use various forms of technology for my emphasis but have really taken to oil painting again and mosaic work. The consistent factor among my work is that I like to incorporate movement and realistically rendered figures.”

Much of Denny’s work reflects personal themes rooted in identity and memory.

“I often explore themes of girlhood in my artwork,” she said. “When I hit a creative block, I think about how far I’ve come. I think about that little girl in rural Ohio and how she would love to be making the art that I make today. To this day she inspires me.”

Ultimately, her dream is to bring her visual storytelling into the world of entertainment.

“I have always been passionate about the film and animation industry. I really would like to be a part of a team of people who tell stories. I would like to see myself working on a movie someday — whether that be through doing concept art, storyboarding, or animation.”

One day, Denny hopes to become a more permanent fixture in the art studios at The Ridges, where her next chapter as an artist will unfold.

To learn more about how the College Credit Plus program at OHIO Lancaster can offer students a head start on their college and career journeys, visit ohio.edu/dualenrollment/collegecreditplus/resources/lancaster or contact Dr. Sarah Bogdewiecz at sbogdewiecz@ohio.edu.

To learn more about the street mural project, see the .

Tags: