What looks like feathers is actually recycled plastic. For North Carolina environmental artist Deborah Kruger, the transformation is intentional. Kruger uses one of the most ecologically destructive materials to create intricate feathered artworks honoring endangered birds, languages and cultures. Her art reflects the losses caused by climate change, habitat fragmentation and human consumption. Artist: Born…
Language is at the heart of Esteban Patino’s creative practice – even when the words themselves don’t exist. Using an invented alphabet of shapes and symbols, the Atlanta-based artist creates collages, paintings, and sculptures that explore how we communicate, interpret meaning and make connections. “I have always been captivated by how humans create and play with language,”…
For Landis Carey, color is more than an artistic choice. It’s an experience. The South Florida ceramic artist began seeing vivid colors during meditation while recovering from a rare pancreatic cancer diagnosis in 2018. Those powerful visions now inspire the richly layered surfaces of her functional pottery and large-scale ceramic installations. Artist: Carey was born…
Home has always been defined by more than one place for Sayma Ali. Raised between Bangladesh and the American South, the Atlanta-based multidisciplinary artist turns recycled materials, discarded plastics and found objects into captivating works of art – as well as expressions of identity and connection. Artist: Ali (also known as Sayma Hossain) was born…
As a child growing up in the Mississippi countryside, Stephen Phillips never imagined that playing in the mud could become a lifelong artistic pursuit. Today, the ceramic artist is known for his refined shapes and thoughtful surface designs, a far cry from the muddy creations of his childhood. Artist: Stephen Phillips was raised in the…
In her South Carolina studio, Mary Robinson layers colors and shapes on repurposed fabric, old artwork and handmade paper. The imagery in her mixed-media works reflects the cycles and patterns in nature. “I create new objects and compositions from used material as practices both of hope and understanding life in this strange world,” said Robinson.…
If you saw from afar what Shae Bishop creates – cowboy hats and other garments – they might not stop you in your tracks at first. But look closer and you’re sure to be surprised. They’re all made of ceramics – both carefully formed shapes and interlaced ceramic tiles. “I’m interested in the stories told…
Amy Massey says her contemporary ethereal watercolor paintings are like portals, welcoming the viewer to draw inward and rest within their vibrant, meditative essence. Her works also serve as an anchor for intimate reflection, grounding and growth, said the North Carolina painter. Artist: Born and raised in Pittsburgh, PA, Massey received a BFA from Columbus…
Lee Ko’s earliest artistic influence came from her grandfather, a war veteran who collected traditional Korean ceramics. Sitting beside him as he cleaned and cared for the pieces, Ko listened to stories from his life – moments that left a lasting impression. Today, the North Carolina artist draws inspiration from the quiet beauty and balance…
The Georgia husband and wife art-making team, known as Yvonne and Stefan, take found vintage materials, such as maps, photos and sheet music, and turn them into fresh new compositions and layered collages. Artists: Yvonne Miller: Born and raised in Atlanta, Miller studied drawing and painting at Georgia State University. In 2003, she started sharing…