Virginia’s Jomo Tariku designs modern African-inspired furniture that some have called Afrofuturist. The company: Jomo Furniture, based in Springfield, VA, started in 2017. The artist/maker: Born in Nairobi, Kenya, to Ethiopian parents, Tariku grew up in Ethiopia. As a young boy, he was drawn to art, souvenirs and furniture pieces his father collected while traveling. During…
In North Carolina, Nate Cotterman uses traditional Venetian glass blowing techniques to craft his contemporary collections of barware, lighting and home accessories. The artist: Born in Coshocton, Ohio, he majored in glass blowing at the Cleveland Institute of Art. After graduating in 2007, Cotterman worked for a local artist in Cleveland, while maintaining his own studio practice.…
Canoeing the swamps and wetlands in the Gulf Coast, Louisiana native Pippin Frisbie-Calder developed a deep appreciation for the raw beauty, fragility and diversity of the various ecosystems. The New Orleans printmaker hopes to document what these threatened areas have – and what they may still lose – in her art. The artist: Born in…
Georgia’s Eileen Braun made a name for herself as an award-winning ceramic artist. Then four years ago, she abruptly turned her talents in a completely different direction. The artist: Born in Boston, Braun grew up in the nearby suburb of Newton Center. She earned a degree in sculpture and art education from Indiana University. After…
Tennessee-based wood artist Alan Daigre hand-builds heirloom-quality chairs that are sought after for their smart design and handsome woods. The artist: Born and raised in historic Natchez, MS, Daigre received his undergraduate degree in business from Georgia State University in Atlanta. He then earned a master’s in social work and a good part of his career as…
In her color-rich abstract paintings, Kit Porter takes cues from palettes, patterns and shapes in a changing environment. The artist: Porter grew up in Wilmington, NC, and graduated with a degree in fine art from the University of the South (TN) in 2005. After graduation, she worked in art-related jobs in Columbia and Charleston, SC,…
Sean Donlon glittering art looks familiar. Yet there is something odd — or — off about it. And that’s fine with the Virginia glass blower, who uses flame working to make his modern and misshapen teapot creations. The artist: Born in Springfield, VA, Donlon grew up with a mother who was a fiber artist and…
Using silhouetted forms of leaves, flowers and other plants, Mississippi artist Carlyle Wolfe Lee marks time and seasonal changes in her abstract and representational paintings. The artist: Born in Gainesville, FL, she grew up in Canton, MS. She earned a BFA in painting from the University of Mississippi and a master’s degree in painting and…
From her popular ceramic wall pods to her sculptural tree totems, Alice Ballard’s work is always about nature. The artist: Born in Florence, SC, Ballard grew up in an Air Force family and lived all over the world. She earned degrees in painting at the University of Michigan, working as a scientific illustrator to put…
Self-taught artist Jennifer Zurick uses the flexible inner bark of black willow trees to create her elegant woven vessels. The artist: Zurick was born in Lexington and grew up in the rural Bluegrass area of Kentucky. Based in Berea, she has been professionally producing willow bark baskets since 1980. The goods: Finely woven, textile-like vessels…