stephanie firestone

At a young age, Stephanie Firestone enjoyed flipping through her father’s college textbook on human anatomy.

Today, the Virginia-based artist creates intriguing, semi-abstract sculptures of human figures.

Artist: Born in Detroit, MI, Firestone grew up in Chevy Chase, MD, where her father worked in advertising in the DC metro area and had a small painting studio in the family’s home basement.

Firestone often hung out there, dabbling in paint and trying out clay using flower and water.

She earned a BFA from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and took classes at the Art League School, Alexandria, VA.

For more than 30 years, Firestone ran a one-person graphic design studio, working with clients such as the Smithsonian Libraries, GEICO and the National American Red Cross.

She turned to clay and fine art when website development took over the graphic design field.

Company/studio: Stephanie Firestone Design started in 1993 in a home studio that she shared with her then-husband in Annandale, VA.

In late 2020, she relocated to Roanoke, with its vibrant art scene, and was invited to join The Market Gallery. She maintains a home studio.

Art & materials:

Clay figures and mixed-media wall sculptures ($300 to $1,200). Also large, hand-built platters, serving bowls and animals ($85 to $350).
“I use Riverside Grit for abstract wall pieces that I fire using the Raku method,” said Firestone. “I like low-fire white clay – burnished at leather hard – for my cubist figures.” It gives the appearance of stone.”
Abstract acrylic paintings ($300 to $2,000).

Favorite tools: “Nothing fancy, but there are some choice wood sculpture tools that do just what I need,” she said. These “texture tools” can be from anywhere.

Inspirations/influences: Many, including:

Fabric or unusual textiles.
Rock formations in Southwest U.S.
Architecture, in general. In Paris, the Notre Dame Cathedral.
Artists: Henry Moore, Isamu Noguchi, Ruth Duckworth and Alexander Calder.
Her late father, Peter Haikalis, a painter with oils and acrylics, whose subject matter was the human figure.

Fun, special or unusual commission: An engagement gift for a 30-something California couple: Four soft slab-formed abstract porcelain kitties with coat colors based on their cats.

Recent awards/honors:

First place for a body of work – three ceramic pieces – at Bower Center for the Arts, Bedford, VA.
Honorable mention for a female torso at Bath County (VA) Art Show.
First place for sculpture at Blue Ridge Potters Guild Show. Roanoke.

Recent project: Finishing up two figure sculptures for The Market Gallery’s front desk display.

What’s next: Larger figures using paper pulp and clay mixed together.

Where to buy: