With help from his custom lathe, North Carolina woodturner Anatoly Tsiris shapes whole tree trunks into large-scale sculptures and vessels. Artist: Tsiris was born into a family of schoolteachers in the small Ukrainian town of Kmelnitsky. He planned to carry on the family tradition by graduating from college with a teaching degree in math and…
Using a combination of oil paint and gold leaf in her contemporary works, Georgia artist Gwen Wong features hummingbirds in detailed and dynamic poses, capturing their delicate beauty. Artist: A fourth-generation Chinese American, Wong was born and raised in Augusta, GA. She graduated from the University of Georgia with a BFA in scientific illustration. She also…
Keith Holt spent 17 years running a gymnastics center in Maryland before he turned to art. The experience in the gym strongly influenced his wood forms and sculptures. Artist: Grew up close to where he lives now in Forest Hill, MD. In school, Holt took art classes every year and had a teacher who took an…
Kay Franz found a connection to clay in college. The Virginia artist hopes that, through her work, she can connect with you, too. Artist: Born and raised in Halifax County, VA, in a small rural community called Turbeville. She attended the University of Georgia (UGA), where she earned a BFA in ceramics. Company/studio: Clay & Green Tea,…
Georgia metalsmith Theresa St. Romain goes beyond flat, two dimensional designs in her textured and visually rich jewelry. Artist: Born in St. Louis, St. Romain grew up mostly in the Stone Mountain area of Georgia. She has a BS in science, technology, and culture from Georgia Tech and a BS in criminal justice from Georgia State…
Georgia’s Rachel K. Garceau translates her curiosity about found or mundane objects, such as petals, pebbles and the curved points of a pine cone, into striking porcelain work. Artist: Born in Waterbury, CT, raised in the storied town of Goshen, Garceau lived in small towns throughout New England. After graduating with a BA in Fine…
Florida ceramist Debra Steidel makes elegant, multi-piece wall installations, inspired by organic shapes, textures and colors of the natural world. Artist: Grew up in Alexandria, VA, near her uncles, Al and Billy Steidel, major art and antique collectors. When she visited, they would show her their collections of antique bottes and crocks. Her Uncle Al…
Georgia artist and naturalist Chris Wilson celebrates the beauty of birds and other wildlife in his lifelike sculptures. Artist: Born in Cincinnati, OH, Wilson spent his early childhood there before moving to Marietta, GA, when he was 14 years old. He dedicated himself to his art and graduated from Walton High School. In 1994, he earned…
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…
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…