New Orleans collage artist Demond Matsuo explores the mythic heroes and symbols of many cultures in his mixed-media works. Artist: Matsuo was born in Morgan City, LA, and grew up in nearby Patterson, reading, playing video games and training in the martial arts. At Louisiana State University (LSU), Matsuo started in political science but wanted to…
Tennessee artist Jan Burleson says the making of collages plays a double role as a meditative practice and as a study for her jazzy and vibrant paintings. Artist: Burleson spent her early life in Johnson City, nestled near the hills of Upper East Tennessee. Long before completing her BFA in painting and drawing at the…
Georgia sculptor Jeff Mead turns salvaged wood into shapely textured works. Artist: The Georgia native grew up in Acworth. At age 18, Mead moved to a small town in northern Massachusetts to work in the tree care business with family. In pursuit of other passions, he packed up and headed to the north woods of Wisconsin…
As a Georgia artist and a storyteller, Kirsten Stingle hopes her expressive hand-built porcelain figures encourage viewers to be curious, understanding and open to other points of view. Artist: Born in Washington D.C., Stingle grew up primarily in Northern Virginia. She earned a BFA in theater at Ohio University and a master’s degree in public…
Dana Brown was a watercolor painter for more than 20 years before she decided to try a new medium: encaustic. In late night sessions, she experimented with wax on various surfaces, with different tools, often splattering it on the carpet, ceiling – even the cat. After a couple of fruitful years, the North Carolina artist…
A lifelong bird and nature lover, Spencer Tinkham creates meticulously detailed and expressive wildlife sculptures with contemporary colors, forms and textures. As others have said: There is nothing “wooden” about the Virginia sculptor’s work. Artist: A Virginia native, Tinkham grew up in Norfolk and graduated with a BS in economics from Baylor University in Waco,…
Alabama native Rushton Waltchack uses alcohol inks in her abstract flower paintings and butterfly collages. Artist: Waltchack was born and grew up in Birmingham. She graduated from Auburn University with a degree in mass communications and spent a year in China before returning home. Company/studio: Rushton Art is based in Birmingham. The self-taught artist, who…
Atlanta ceramic artist Stephanie Rosendorf makes richly textured porcelain sculptures inspired by the natural world. Artist: Born and grew up in New Orleans. She graduated from the University of New Orleans. In late 2006, after Hurricane Katrina, she moved to Atlanta, where she worked in print and online publishing. In 2008, Rosendorf started taking ceramics…
Using time-tested blacksmithing techniques and modern practices, Virginia-based metalsmith Marc Maiorana creates unique projects, such as ribbon-like steel benches, for clients across the country. Artist: Born in Greenfield, MA, Maiorana grew up in Montague, NJ, just down the road from the NY, NJ, PA Tri-state marker. Maiorana was introduced to metal working at a young age. His…
In her ceramic forms, Atlanta-based figurative sculptor Corran Shrimpton examines the complicated and fraught relationship that she and many women/femmes have with their body in a beauty-obsessed culture. Artist: Shrimpton is from Syracuse, NY, and received her BFA with a minor in philosophy from Alfred University. She is currently an MFA candidate and Welch Fellow…