Ellie Borromeo and Xaivier Ringer
d COMMUNITY
Getting to Know …
Ellie Borromeo and Xaivier Ringer
Proprietors of Rome Mural CoLab
BY JILL BECKER
Ever wondered who was responsible for the eye-catching“ Seize the Day” mural on the side of the GoGo shoe store in Rome? Or the playful art brightening up the children’ s section at the Cedartown Library? Wonder no more. These and other works across Northwest Georgia are the creation of Ellie Borromeo and Xaivier Ringer, who together make up the Rome Mural CoLab.
Both women grew up in Rome, attended the Darlington School, and went on to pursue a career in the arts. Ellie’ s story begins at 15, when she interned at a local print shop, learning screen printing and later designing T-shirts. After earning a graphic design degree from the Savannah College of Art and Design, she launched her own business, working with clients across the U. S. as an artist, designer, and creative director.
Xaivier’ s original goal was to be a lawyer, but says her curiosity led her
to shift gears and focus on something more artistic. After graduating from Georgetown University, she participated in the Mural Arts Philadelphia public arts program and has since completed dozens of murals in places as far away as Thailand and the Dominican Republic.
The pair’ s collaboration began in 2020 after they met and discovered they had a natural chemistry. They also share a passion for finding ways to use their skills to impact the greater good. During the pandemic, for example, the duo raised funds for a mural in an effort, says Xaivier, to“ engage and unify the community and provide an outdoor outlet during the height of COVID.” The result is the aforementioned“ Seize the Day” mural, which is easily visible from Martha Berry Highway. Some of their other works can be found at Berry College, ROC Physical Therapy, Appleseeds Behavioral Center, and the Kellanova food
manufacturing facility.
To begin a new project, their process involves an initial logistics meeting where they iron out details like the timeline and budget. Next, they each create design concepts and sketches based on the client’ s wants and needs. Once a concept is decided upon, they nail down the design and divide up who’ s going to do what. Then the fun part begins.“ I love that doing murals gets me out and painting, using my
18 | NW GEORGIA LIVING NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2025