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,…

andrea slappey

As a child, Andrea Slappey made jewelry from colored telephone wire. Paper clips too. She never planned 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 University…

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…

bold standard

As a graphic designer, Kathleen Grebe once created logos and ad campaigns. Now the North Carolina artist transforms flat sheets of material into modern and often meaningful jewelry. Artist: The North Carolina native grew up in Chapel Hill, NC. After earning a BFA in graphic design from the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), she…

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…

steve heine

Although Steve Heine never practiced traditional architecture, the Kentucky native thinks of his modern, multi-layered artwork as architecture on a small scale. Artist: One of nine kids and the second-born of identical twins, Heine grew up in a loud, raucous house in Louisville. He later graduated from the University of Kentucky’s College of Architecture in…

allan rosenbaum

Virginia’s Allan Rosenbaum uses a number of traditional craft processes in his textured mixed-media sculptures. But in unconventional ways. Artist: Rosenbaum was born and grew up in St. Louis, MO. He graduated with a BS from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and earned an MFA in ceramics from Virginia Commonwealth University. From 1986 to 2012, he…

davis choun

In his North Carolina studio, Davis Choun uses painted and deconstructed wooden clothespins to create his highly patterned and textured works. Artist: The North Carolina native was born and grew up in Rutherfordton, NC. He went to North Carolina State University, where he earned a bachelor’s of art and design. Company/studio: Davis Choun, based in…

casey engel

North Carolina’s Casey Engel works in ceramics, textiles and printmaking. She is proof an artist doesn’t have to choose one medium to express herself. Artist: Born and raised in Pensacola, FL, Engel earned a BFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in 2015. After college, she worked in a commercial frame shop in…

ben strear

In North Carolina, Ben Strear sculpts and carves wood sculptures that feature detailed patterns inspired by ancient artifacts and structures. Artist: Colorado native who was born and grew up in Longmont. He graduated with a BFA in furniture design from the Rhode Island School of Design. “The furniture design program was great for me because…