Creative Career—Meet the Woman behind Whole Foods Artwork

Tegan Bellitta proves that there are careers in the arts. The Roxborough resident combines her creative skills, honed at the Moore College of Art and Design, on a daily basis as the store artist for Whole Foods in Plymouth Meeting.

"They give me liberty to be creative with whatever I do, and they trust that I will make it good," she said.

Bellitta began chalkboard art full-time for Whole Foods in 2006 in North Wales. Her job—to creatively illustrate the boards around the store, spotlighting sales and brightening other areas with her art. 

From there, she moved on to prime time—the Plymouth Meeting Whole Foods. The gig enabled her to work with another artist, get her own office and tackle the many signs—from bakery listings to salmon sales—throughout the larger store.

In Plymouth Meeting, she must illustrate the sales of the day but has also been empowered to draw random art. 

"At that Whole Foods, I get to do more things that I like to do... If there's a blank chalkboard where's there no product to advertise, they say, "Do something creative,' and I can," she said. 

Shoppers have been treated to Toulouse Lautrec and Alice in Wonderland themes throughout the store.

After graduating from Moore in 2003, Bellitta worked at a bank before landing some freelancing gigs. That led her to Whole Foods where she succeeded in coupling her creative ability with a steady gig. 

On top of store art, she began painting portraits on the side and also teaching at Moore. She also recently stopped that after she had children. 

She one day intends to freelance again but is very happy with her current gig.

"This position is not something I think people know is a job opportunity. It's a great stepping stone job to create art in the business world," she said.