To explore color and pattern, North Carolina’s Shane Fero takes a painterly approach to his sculptural glass birds and vessels. Artist: Born in Chicago, Fero’s family moved to Winter Haven, FL, in 1967. About a half-mile from his home, was the flameworking shop of Bob and Marie Howell, part of a well-known itinerant family of…
Inspired by historic maps and architectural details, New Orleans native Brandi Couvillion tells stories in her historically inspired jewelry. Artist: A New Orleans native, Couvillion graduated from Tulane University. To explore her creative side, she took workshops at Penland School of Craft (NC) and Haystack Mountain School of Crafts. A few serendipitous classes at New…
North Carolina native Tara Locklear designs geometric and playful jewelry using broken and discarded skateboards. Artist: A North Carolina native, Locklear was born and raised in Fayetteville. After high school, she headed to East Carolina University (ECU), but left to go to work. Locklear spent 11 years in the corporate world of event planning and…
North Carolina jewelry designer Emily Rogstad translates architectural details and everyday objects into wearable pieces. Artist: Born and raised in East Calais, VT, Rogstad got her start working with metal in the eighth grade at her public high school, which had a metals and jewelry studio. From there, she was hooked. Rogstad went to Maine College…
Using time-tested blacksmithing techniques and modern practices, Virginia-based metalsmith Marc Maiorana creates unique projects, such as ribbon-like steel benches, for clients across the country. Artist: Born in Greenfield, MA, Maiorana grew up in Montague, NJ, just down the road from the NY, NJ, PA Tri-state marker. Maiorana was introduced to metal working at a young age. His…
In college, Joe Grant was seduced by the power of glass. Today the North Carolina glass blower is known for his high-end, thoughtfully designed, hand-crafted glass objects. Artist: The Illinois native grew up in Champaign and studied glass at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Grant earned an MFA at the Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond. He…
In her wood designs, North Carolina-based artist Morgan Hill grapples with the dark – and celebrates the lighter side — of life and her evolving identity. Artist: Born and raised in Arkansas, Hill studied fine art and interior design at two different colleges before earning a BFA in Woodworking and Furniture Design from the University…
Texas native Sarita Westurp is a contemporary basket weaver whose sculptural works are inspired by where she was born and grew up. Artist: Westrup grew up in the Rio Grande Valley of South Texas and earned an MFA in fibers at the University of North Texas. Over the years, she has taken classes and served as studio assistant at several…
In her portrait work, Georgia photographer Tokie Rome-Taylor focuses on African American children, staged in regal dress and refined settings, to explore layered themes of culture, identity and history. Artist: The Atlanta native received a BA in art education from Morris Brown College in Atlanta. She also earned EdS and MAEd degrees from Lesley University…
Vicki Essig is known for her detailed and Zen-like handwoven mixed-media art. But in a recent, atypical work, the North Carolina artist used her own home-grown silkworms to make a dress, which sold to a collector. The artist: Born in Denver, the artist grew up in Colorado. She lived in Europe for four years before…