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…
Whether it is black birds on sterling branches or dragonflies on bracelets, Baltimore designer Lisa Cimino creates unique jewelry interpretations of land, sea and sky. Artist: Born and raised in Baltimore, Cimino studied jewelry at Maryland Institute College of Art, where she experimented with a variety of jewelry making techniques. Ultimately, it was lost wax casting,…
Baltimore’s Kate Norris rips and collages wallpaper to construct intricate images ranging from animals to anatomical portraits. Artist: Norris was born in Bend, OR, and grew up Redding, CA. She graduated with a BFA from Stanford University and earned an MFA in painting from the School of Visual Arts in New York City. Studio: Kate…
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…
In her functional and sculptural ceramic designs, Maryland’s Christine Goh draws from nature, including the changing light of the seasons and the color palettes of her daily surroundings. Artist: Born and raised in Singapore, Goh received a BFA and Bachelor of Architecture from the National University of Singapore. Having lived and worked in Tokyo, Boston and Bangkok, she…
A self-taught polymer clay artist, Baltimore’s Amy Blair designs playful, patterned jewelry inspired by her travels and a curiosity about different cultures. The artist: Born in Seoul, South Korea, and adopted when she was three months old, Blair grew up in Baltimore. She studied jewelry and metals for a few years at Towson University before…
In her architecturally inspired jewelry, Maryland metalsmith Hilary Hachey uses clean lines and striking designs. The artist: Born outside of Philadelphia, Hachey became interested in jewelry making when her high school art teacher nominated her for a summer scholarship program for high schoolers at Moore College of Art in Philadelphia. She learned jewelry making and metalsmithing…
A lifelong athlete, Maryland artist Brandon Donahue collects and repurposes basketballs, footballs and other sports equipment into larger, flower-like assemblages. The artist: The Memphis native graduates with a BS from Tennessee State University (TSU) and earned an MFA from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. Donahue now lives in Baltimore, where he works as an…
Trained as a traditional metalsmith, Maryland designer Jowita Allen uses recycled plastic bottles, nylon and other ordinary materials to make her modern and often playful jewelry. The artist: Allen began making jewelry and wearable objects as a teenager while growing up in Poland. In 2005, she moved to the United States and settled in Washington,…
Baltimore’s April Wood uses intricate lace patterns that are hand-pierced in blackened and oiled mild steel. Her work is dark and densely ornamental. But also light and airy. The artist: Wood grew up in San Antonio, TX, and lived in Austin as a young adult. She earned a BFA in studio art with a concentration…