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…
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…
Asheville metalsmith Elizabeth Walton is drawn to the intimacy of jewelry and its ability to facilitate interactions between the maker, wearer and viewer. Artist: Born and raised in Asheville, NC, Walton moved to Boone, NC to earn her BFA in metalsmithing and jewelry design from Appalachian State University. After graduating, she returned to Asheville to…
An artist who works across a variety of mediums, Tina G. Vincent is best known for her “Women of Color” paper mâché sculptures. The North Carolina-based artist stresses that her artwork embodies the beauty of everyday women, celebrating their shapes, skin tones — and unique differences. Artist: Born in Zimbabwe, Vincent lived there until age eight when…
In her North Carolina studio, Dori Settles draws on a French casting technique to craft glass shoes that range from baby shoes and boots to stilettos and sneakers – each one often accompanied by a personal back story. Artist: Born in Milwaukee, Settles grew up in southeast Wisconsin. She moved to Nebraska to attend the University…
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…
For North Carolina metalsmith Erica Stankwytch Bailey, it’s the smallest details that count, whether in nature or in her architectural jewelry deigns. Artist: Born and grew up in Fayetteville, NC, where she knew early on that she wanted to become a maker. Bailey graduated from North Carolina School of the Arts for high school and…
In her latest installation works, Miami fiber sculptor Patricia L. Cooke uses material with saturated “girly” colors and layers of detail to imitate wood carving in antique furniture and interior architecture. Artist: Born and raised in Greensboro, NC, Cooke earned her BFA in studio art in 2011 from Appalachian State University. In 2018 she received an…
In her abstract, color-interactive work, Mary Zio occasionally suggests a subject. But more frequently, the North Carolina artist wants her paintings to be open to the viewer’s interpretation. Artist: Born and raised in Syracuse, NY, Zio said there was never a time that she wasn’t exploring or making art. She graduated from SUNY Purchase in…