Atlanta multimedia artist Grace Kisa uses familiar and unconventional materials inspired by the Kenyan tradition of creating art with found objects. Artist: Born in Nairobi, Kenya, Kisa spent her early childhood there before moving with her family by virtue of her father’s job as a senior economist to Addis Ababa Ethiopia and later McLean, VA.…
North Carolina’s Tonya Thornton says there is always a fantastical nature to her puzzle-like collages and playful sculptures. Artist: Born in Niagara Falls, NY, her family moved to South Florida when she was five. After high school, she headed to Florida State University (FSU), where she graduated with a BFA in 1998. She left Florida…
From small works on nubby paper to ladder sculptures made with organic materials, Virginia’s Holland Williams draws on her quiet fascination with patterns and colors found in nature. Artist: Born in Charlottesville, VA, Williams spent her early years in Brussels and England before returning to Virginia. Her family preferred living in old homes, including a restored log…
Florida ceramist Debra Steidel makes elegant, multi-piece wall installations, inspired by organic shapes, textures and colors of the natural world. Artist: Grew up in Alexandria, VA, near her uncles, Al and Billy Steidel, major art and antique collectors. When she visited, they would show her their collections of antique bottes and crocks. Her Uncle Al…
Adrina Richard has been a longtime collector of pottery. She still is. But now the Atlanta ceramic artist hand builds her own, incorporating textures that reflect her Armenian heritage. Artist: Born in New York to parents who were immigrants and survivors of the Armenian genocide in Turkey. As a first-generation American, Richard grew up in…
Sarah Wiley, a Virginia-based interior designer turned textile artist, uses fabric to make unique creations, from custom pillows to framed art that reimagine special rooms and cherished memories. Wiley’s “rooms in miniature” bring spaces to life with intricate detail, blending artistry and storytelling through textiles. Artist: The Virginia native was born in Ivy and grew up…
Georgia artist and naturalist Chris Wilson celebrates the beauty of birds and other wildlife in his lifelike sculptures. Artist: Born in Cincinnati, OH, Wilson spent his early childhood there before moving to Marietta, GA, when he was 14 years old. He dedicated himself to his art and graduated from Walton High School. In 1994, he earned…
Richard Wilson’s art takes you back to cherished childhood moments, filled with warmth and connection. The North Carolina artist’s work also tells inspiring stories of African-American figures, often untold, through the use of symbolism in his paintings. These portraits reach out to everyone, especially children, encouraging them to dream big. Artist: The North Carolina native…
For Michael Anderson, wood is the ideal medium for his bowls and sculptural work. As a sustainable and renewable resource, wood compels the Tennessee artist to approach its use with respect and thoughtful design. Artist: Born on Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri, Anderson moved frequently since his father was in the Air Force.…
The artist known as Beatrice believes there is a lot of beauty in imperfection. So the South Carolina ceramic artist purposely highlights it in her sculptural work. Artist: Born in France, Beatrice grew up in Grenoble in the Alps but migrated to the United States in 1987 for graduate studies in environmental and urban design at…