Inspired by the raw beauty of the North Carolina mountains, Asheville-based jeweler Laura Lau Klein creates bold, organic pieces that celebrate the natural world. For Klein, jewelry is more than adornment. It is a daily celebration of ourselves and the world around us. Artist: Born and raised in Wilmington, DE, Klein holds a BS in…
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…
Whether hiking a forest trail or exploring a new town or gallery, Audrey Laine Sawyer is always observing. The North Carolina metalsmith and jewelry designer draws on those experiences to create wearable and sculptural pieces that explore the intersection of nature and modern design. Artist: Sawyer grew up in Cincinnati, OH, and received her BA in…
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…
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.…
For Mary-Helen Horne, trees embody the essence of nature. Using arbitrary color and semi-abstract forms, the Florida-based printmaker explores the shifting play of shadow, light, growth, and decay found in forest environments. “I’m drawn to the feeling that lingers after time among trees – something steady, yet increasingly at risk,” said Horne. Artist: Horne grew…
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…
North Carolina metalsmith Annie Grimes Williams creates colorful enameled jewelry inspired by patterns and textures in nature as well as Mid-Century Modern designs. Artist: Born in Winston-Salem, NC, Williams grew up in Welcome, NC, a suburb. She graduated with a BFA in metal design in 2003 from East Carolina University. After graduating, she worked as…
Anna Gregory uses the inherent beauty of locally sourced woods in her functional and non-functional woodwork. “I have a desire to connect with the natural world through the lens of architectural form and structure,” said the Kentucky sculptor. Artist: Born in Georgetown, KY, Gregory went to the University of Kentucky. In 2008, she received a master’s…