North Carolina’s Valerie Berlage likes to think that her colorful and playful art is like quilting with wood. Artist: Born and raised in the Asheville area, Berlage graduated with a BFA with a concentration in mixed media printmaking from University of North Carolina Asheville. After graduating in 2003, she returned to UNC-Asheville two years later…
Atlanta designer Cat Goolsby creates metal jewelry that looks like soft, free-flowing ribbon and fabric. Artist: Born in Ohio, Goolsby grew up in Lilburn, GA. She earned a BS in psychology with a minor in biology at Georgia State University, where she also took some metalsmithing classes. Though Goolsby pursued what she thought was a more…
Texas-based artist William Hall utilizes sand, grout, mortar and acid stains to produce his abstract cast wall reliefs. Artist: Born in Bartlesville, OK, Hall moved to Dallas in 1963. After graduating with a BA of fine arts from the University of Texas at Arlington, he became one of the founding members of 500 Exposition Gallery…
South Carolina sculptor Kevin Kao often draws on ancient statuary in his figure-ish clay work. Artist: Born and raised in Yorba Linda, CA, Kao has a BS in Biology from the University of California, San Diego, and a MFA in Studio Art, with a ceramics focus, from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. The sculptor, who now…
In Alabama, chase and repousse’ artist Norman Morgan captures the natural beauty found in the outdoors in his detailed jewelry designs. Artist: Morgan grew up in Tarboro, NC. His art career started as a teenager when classmates discovered that he could draw reasonably good rock stars, and they were willing to pay for them. After…
Georgia-based artist Crystian Hopper uses colored pencils in his photorealistic drawings. Company/studio: Crystian Hopper Art, which started in 2018, is based in Atlanta. The artist has an in-home studio. Artist: Born in Auburn, AL, Hopper grew up in Niceville, FL, where he enjoyed drawing, particularly portraits and superhero sketches, throughout his school years. At the…
New Orleans artist Brett Henderson uses depth in his colorful and layered abstract paintings. Artist: The Oklahoma City native grew up drawing and painting. In 2002, he moved to New Orleans, to study film at the University of New Orleans. It took a few years to realize he wasn’t happy working on the other people’s…
In Allan Teger’s eye-catching black and white photos, a viewer might wonder if the image is a unique landscape, a body. Or both. And that’s fine with the Florida-based photographer who believes it is possible to see the world in more ways than one. Artist: Teger was born and grew up in Easton, PA. On…
Maryland’s Shirley Gromen says her porcelain work is a portal into the ever-changing natural world of the Chesapeake Bay. Artist: Gromen grew up in Maryland. She earned her BFA from MICA (Maryland Institute College of Art) and her MFA in ceramics from The Ohio State University. She worked many years as a graphic designer before…
Ancient folklore, festivals and customs inspire the masks, outfits and sculptures of Georgia artist Jym Davis. Artist: Grew up in Radford, VA. At Carson-Newman University in Tennessee, Davis studied drawing and painting. In 2003, he earned an MFA in video art from the University of North Carolina Greensboro. He later taught part time at UNC Greensboro…