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…
In her multi-media art and installations, Elyse Defoor explores a variety of contemporary themes. In one popular series, the Atlanta artist uses women’s swimsuits as a symbol for our culture’s obsession with outward appearances. In another, Defoor photographs knives and bullet shells to reflect our fascination with objects that can both protect and destroy. No…
Adrina Richard has been a longtime collector of pottery. She still is. But now the Atlanta ceramic artist hand builds her own, incorporating textures that reflect her Armenian heritage. Artist: Born in New York to parents who were immigrants and survivors of the Armenian genocide in Turkey. As a first-generation American, Richard grew up in…
Santi Saucedo, an Atlanta ceramic artist, creates contemporary spiritual figurines that draw inspiration from diverse cultural influences. Artist: Born in Mexico City, Saucedo moved to and around the United States at a young age. He spent most of his youth in northern Virginia, and later, in Pasadena, CA. Growing up in an artistic family influenced Saucedo,…
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…
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…
As a graphic designer, Kathleen Grebe once created logos and ad campaigns. Now the North Carolina artist transforms flat sheets of material into modern and often meaningful jewelry. Artist: The North Carolina native grew up in Chapel Hill, NC. After earning a BFA in graphic design from the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), she…
Lisa Schnellinger, a former journalist turned artist, specializes in kilnformed glass. The Atlanta glass designer finds it is the right material for her — and her sculptures and hanging panels. Artist: Born and raised in northeast Ohio, Schnellinger earned a bachelor’s in journalism from Kent State University. After college, she worked as a newspaper reporter…
Virginia’s Allan Rosenbaum uses a number of traditional craft processes in his textured mixed-media sculptures. But in unconventional ways. Artist: Rosenbaum was born and grew up in St. Louis, MO. He graduated with a BS from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and earned an MFA in ceramics from Virginia Commonwealth University. From 1986 to 2012, he…
In his North Carolina studio, Davis Choun uses painted and deconstructed wooden clothespins to create his highly patterned and textured works. Artist: The North Carolina native was born and grew up in Rutherfordton, NC. He went to North Carolina State University, where he earned a bachelor’s of art and design. Company/studio: Davis Choun, based in…