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…
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…
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…
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…
Laritza Garcia is mad about metal. And it shows in her colorful contemporary jewelry. The artist: Originally from the border area of Reynosa, Mexico and McAllen, TX, Garcia earned a BFA from Texas State University (TSU) in 2008. She is also a graduate of East Carolina University, where she received her MFA degree in 2012.…
Mississippi’s Deana Goldsmith is known for her playful pastel drawings. Her colorful still-life works reflect a love of books, thrift-store finds and nature. The artist: Born and raised on the Oklahoma side of the Red River (aka Texhoma) Goldsmith discovered at an early age she had a knack for doodling. After raising four children and…
Lin Babb doesn’t use a pattern for his heirloom-quality cutting boards. The self-taught Louisiana craftsman lets the wood dictate the size and shape of each stand-apart piece. The artist: Born in Lecompte, Babb grew up in Alexandria and graduated from LSU. He received a master’s degree at Northwestern State University. Afterward, he taught physical education…
In her contemporary jewelry designs, Maryland’s Tracey Beale adds meaning and tells a story. The artist: A Baltimore native, Beale graduated from the Maryland Institute College of Art, where she studied fine arts and literature. A few years after graduating, she took a metalsmithing class at MICA and worked for a time with Stephen Page,…
For the past 35 years North Carolina sculptor and painter Mary-Ann Prack has captured the essence of what it is to be human in her figurative clay works. On the surface her sculptures are colorful, sensuous and precise. She believes experiencing them reveals the spirit, energy and joy in which they were created. The artist:…
Atlanta artist Jeffrey Wilcox Paclipan transforms recycled puzzle pieces and paper into abstract sculpture and wall art — works that draw you in for a closer look. The artist: Born in Balibago, Philippines, Paclipan grew up in an Air Force family who relocated extensively throughout his young adult life. He earned an AA degree in commercial…