cameron wilson ritcher

In his abstract “constructed paintings,” Richmond’s Cameron Wilson Ritcher often uses weathered and reclaimed materials. The artist: Born in Carbondale, IL, Ritcher grew up in Harrisonburg, VA. He credits his grade-school art education as integral to his development and success as an artist. Before he decided to focus on art, Ritcher explored many interests, including paleontology,…

christine kosiba

In North Carolina, Christine Kosiba creates expressive and textured wildlife sculptures that show a curiosity about how we connect with the natural world around us. The artist: Born at Fort Rucker, AL, Kosiba grew up in many places since her father was an Army officer. She earned a master’s degree in special education at University of…

alex lockwood

Alex Lockwood makes colorful, abstract sculptures using repurposed or recycled material. For the Nashville artist, the materials come first – well before what he plans to create. The artist: Born in Seattle in 1974, Lockwood graduated from the University of Washington with degrees in English and History with the intention of becoming a journalist. After…

jenifer thoem

With her hand-built ceramic sculptures, Georgia’s Jenifer Thoem can take a wall from wanting to wow. The artist: The Georgia native grew up on a farm in Rome, GA, where her desire to create and build things began and was encouraged by her parents. At Georgia Southern University, she discovered clay and earned a BFA…

rebecca myers design

Nearly 20 years ago, Baltimore jewelry designer Rebecca Myers traveled to Costa Rica. The beauty she saw there changed the direction of her work. The artist: Born in Philadelphia, Myers grew up on the West end of Allentown and Philadelphia PA. She attended the Baum School of Art at an early age and later graduated…

sara farrington

Using heavyweight drawing paper and cardboard, South Carolina’s Sara E. Farrington creates everything from furniture to light switches in her “Model Home” installation. The artist: Born in Greenwood, SC, in 1987, Farrington grew up mostly in Myrtle Beach. Her mother was an art teacher, and making art was something Farrington always did. At Coastal Carolina…

morgan gilbreath

Virginia’s Morgan Gilbreath uses reclaimed and often unconventional materials in her glass and mixed media art to bring the past and present together in exciting ways. The artist: Born and raised in Pittsburgh, Gilbreath earned a BFA in glass, a BA in art history and a certification in community arts from Temple University’s Tyler School of…

marco bogazzi

Georgia-based Marco Bogazzi designs and fabricates solid hardwood furniture with clean, modern lines. The artist: Born and raised in New Jersey by Italian immigrants, Bogazzi earned an undergraduate and graduate degrees in industrial design from the Pratt Institute School of Art and Design (NY). After college, he worked in the corporate world, designing products for…

cheryl smith

On walks, Cheryl Mackey Smith takes time to notice the seemingly endless patterns and random occurrences in nature. The North Carolina ceramics artist then transforms them into elegantly textured wall art. The artist: Born in Schenectady, Smith grew up in Scotia, NY, with parents who encouraged her interest in art. At age 17, she moved with…

kay vinson

As a former flight attendant, Birmingham’s Kay Vinson frequently flew to Japan and other parts of Asia. Her years of travel, and interest in Eastern culture, influence her abstract paintings. The artist: Though her family moved frequently when she was a child, Vinson considers Birmingham home. After high school, she attended University of Alabama, but…