Willow Rea Temple’s Art Journey Comes Full Circle

Shared & edited with permission from Dare Arts

By Tatum Clements 

Willow Rea Temple is no stranger to the art world. She grew up in Manteo surrounded by the performing, literary, and visual arts.

“Growing up in the Rea family was quintessential ‘von Trapp’ – we were always entertaining,” said Temple. “It was awesome to be in a household that encouraged the arts. It was always about creativity and imagination.”

While her childhood was filled with art, Temple says that her parents also emphasized the importance of “if you want something, you have to work for it”. 

And that is exactly what she has done, but on her own terms.

In 2016, Temple graduated from Manteo High School with multiple scholarships from the Outer Banks Community Foundation (OBCF), including the Charles and Dorothy S. Ludemann Arts Scholarship, Duck Woods Ladies Tennis Association Scholarship, Kiwanis Leo Sheetz Scholarship, and the North Banks Rotary Scholarship, to support her college education at University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW). 

“Apart from the obvious financial help, having members of my community like the Community Foundation supporting my choice to pursue art was pretty crucial,” said Temple. “Choosing a creative career can be out of the ordinary for most, and therefore I came across many naysayers along the way. So having an organization like OBCF nudging me towards my dream helped to set a precedent through college and beyond that the arts are highly valued, and I too could be a successful artist with enough practice and perseverance.”

After graduating from UNCW in 2020 with a Bachelor’s degree in Studio Art, she moved to Puerto Rico to make art, surf, and experience life in the tropics. 

Temple moved back to the Outer Banks in 2024 and started her own home art studio. Shortly after returning home from Puerto Rico, she contacted Dare Arts about creating a mural in downtown Manteo.

“Ever since I was a kid, I have wanted to paint a mural in Manteo,” said Temple. “When planning the mural, I knew that I wanted to showcase a couple of time periods from Manteo’s past, and I wanted the mural to display community, leisure, and the arts. I originally had about 30 images from the Outer Banks History Center and I did four different mockups to share with the team at Dare Arts. And, of course, we all liked the first one that I did best.”

Dare Arts worked with Temple to formulate a thoughtful plan for the mural that would educate viewers about Manteo’s rich history and support the artist’s unique style.

“Public art, specifically murals, enhances the visual appeal of public places while creating an inviting atmosphere,” said Dare Arts Gallery Director Tiffany Lindsey. “Murals foster community pride and this one in particular celebrates the arts, history, and culture of Manteo.”

In the summer of 2025, Temple painted the mural in downtown Manteo.

“It was hot out there,” she said with a laugh. “I had lots of visitors, and I enjoyed sharing my process and the mural’s story with viewers. I wanted the mural to tell a story, so I collaged images together, which allowed me to portray movement to keep the viewer’s eye flowing with the mural.” 

Located on the back wall of Dare Arts’ Courtyard, in the area affectionately referred to as “the alley-way”, the mural is now on display for public viewing. 

Temple said finishing the mural in Manteo was a circle moment for her as an artist.

“There have definitely been years where I have been living on pennies, but now I feel like I am entering this chapter where I can be a working artist,” she added. 

After creating the mural, Willow hosted a successful solo exhibition, titled Little Worlds and Ephemeral Life, at Dare Arts last October. 

“The exhibit was a nod to the bittersweet notes of nostalgia,” said Temple. “This series of paintings were inspired by vintage photos of local life with many photo references being sourced from the Outer Banks History Center and others found in friends’ and family photo albums. I wanted to explore the temporality of life and youth, especially through the lens of my hometown. Decades pass, so much changes, yet our need to play and commune with one another is innate and timeless.” 

Temple is currently working on a new collection for an upcoming solo exhibition at The Duck Gallery, which will open in June of this year. 

“I want to play and I want to create, and ultimately, I just want to fill my days with as much joy as possible,” said Temple.

Her artwork is for sale at Dare Arts in Manteo, The Duck Gallery in Duck, The KDH Cooperative in Kill Devil Hills, and New Elements Gallery in Wilmington. 

To learn more about Temple and her artwork, visit wilowarestudio.com. 

The Outer Banks Community Foundation manages over 80 scholarships for Dare, Currituck, and Ocracoke students. The deadline for all applications is 11:59 pm on Monday, March 2, 2026.

To learn more about the Community Foundation’s scholarships, visit OBCF.org/scholarships.

About the Outer Banks Community Foundation: The Outer Banks Community Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization committed to fostering philanthropy and supporting local causes. Through its charitable funds and grant programs, the Foundation strives to enrich the quality of life for residents of the Outer Banks.