robert farrell

From rural barns to water towers, Florida’s Robert Farrell creates sculptural and tabletop objects that elicit an emotional response from the viewer: A memory. A longing. A subtle sadness, or a sense of comfort. The artist: Born in Fort Atkinson, WI, Farrell grew up in Venice, FL, where his mother taught school. He earned undergraduate degrees…

kipley meyer

For more than 30 years, Georgia’s Kipley A. Meyer has worked in wood. Originally, the self-taught artist made furniture. But 10 years ago, Meyer turned to wood wall sculpture in a style he calls organic contemporary. The artist: Meyer grew up in Decatur, GA, and attended DeKalb Community College. He first studied music, then business.…

katie walker

In her abstract paintings, South Carolina’s Katie Walker draws on memories of places and people she has encountered. The artist: Born in Pensacola, Walker grew up in Greenville, SC. She earned an art degree from Furman University and an MFA degree in painting/drawing from the University of Georgia. She also studied and taught in Cortona,…

julie madden

Clay artist Julie Schnell Madden likes the idea that something you wipe off your shoes can be turned into something exquisite. In her ceramic work, the Virginia artist does just that. The artist: The Toledo native earned an undergraduate degree in ceramics from Ohio University and two masters’ degrees in ceramic and sculpture from Bowling…

kiki slaughter

Virginia’s Kiki Slaughter pours, scrapes and layers paint on canvas to create her bold, richly textured abstract works. The artist: The Virginia native grew up in Charlottesville with a love of art. She earned art degrees from the University of Virginia (UVA) and Sotheby’s Institute in London. In 2005, after college, she started painting professionally.…

elizabeth b. ceramics

Elegant design and details that make a difference are hallmarks of the porcelain pieces made by Elizabeth Borowsky in South Carolina. The artist: Borowsky grew up in Acton, MA, and graduated from Clemson University in 2000 with a fine arts degree and an emphasis on sculpture. In 2012, when her youngest of five children turned…

sheri schumacher

With their muted color palettes and modern and minimal style, the textile works of Alabama’s Sheri Schumacher are sought after by collectors and designers. The artist: Schumacher was born in Munich, Germany and grew up in Europe, where her father served as a military attaché, and later the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area. She earned a…

paper-cut-project

  Thousands of hand-cut papers go into constructing the stunning and highly structured wigs and masks by Paper-Cut-Project. Talk about wow factor! The company: Paper-Cut-Project, founded in 2009, is based in Atlanta and Chicago. The creators: Nikki Nye and Amy Flurry. Born in Rhode Island, Nye grew up in the Chicago suburbs and earned a degree…

kimberly winkle

Tennessee woodturner Kimberly Winkle hand draws dots, lines and other patterns on her quirky-cool painted furniture and wood objects. The artist: An Oklahoma native, Winkle earned degrees from University of Oklahoma (ceramics) and San Diego State University (SDSU) in furniture design. She has also completed woodworking workshops at: Penland School of Arts and Crafts, Haystack Mountain…

kathy king

North Carolina’s Kathy King hand sews thousands of tiny glass beads to construct her intricate and innovative jewelry. The artist: King grew up on Long Island, NY, and earned her industrial engineering degree from Lehigh University in 1991. She served as an officer in the U.S. Air Force after school and moved to Cary, NC, in…