julie torres

Julie Torres practiced law for seven years before turning to pursue a more creative career. Artist: Born in Boise, Idaho, the artist grew up in Tallahassee, FL, where she fell in love with making art when she was seven years old. But when it came time for college and career paths, she was too afraid to…

sarah wiley

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…

santi saucedo

Santi Saucedo, an Atlanta ceramic artist, creates contemporary spiritual figurines that draw inspiration from diverse cultural influences. Artist: Born in Mexico City, Saucedo moved to and around the United States at a young age. He spent most of his youth in northern Virginia, and later, in Pasadena, CA. Growing up in an artistic family influenced Saucedo,…

chris wilson

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…

andrea slappey

As a child, Andrea Slappey made jewelry from colored telephone wire. Paper clips too. She never planned intended to pursue jewelry making as a vocation. But years later, after taking a metalsmithing class, that changed. Now the Atlanta jewelry artist designs her own collections of modern classics. Artist: Born in Tallahassee, FL, Slappey graduated from…

richard wilson

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…

michael anderson

  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.…

beatrice

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…

cindy grisdela

Virginia’s Cindy Grisdela says her contemporary quilt designs are improvised, a little like jazz music, where each decision about color and shape influences the next. Artist: The Florida native was born and grew up in Gainesville. She went to William & Mary in Williamsburg, VA, where she graduated with a BA in fine arts (art history).…

vando davis

In his street-style paintings, Vando Davis includes his signature motif: BK2O (Be Kind to Others). The self-taught Atlanta artist says the message adds a deeper layer of meaning to his creative work. Artist: Born in Memphis, Davis grew up in Wilmington, DE, where his dad worked for DuPont. After high school, he attended the University…