Molly McGuire (aka Magwire) has happy memories of the traveling carnival that came to her hometown as a child. Now, the Louisiana painter documents those special times and people in her art: circus-style banners. Artist: Born and grew up in Ontario, Canada. Her parents exposed her to art, but the only formal training they would…
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…
North Carolina’s Summer Merritt blends geometric shapes and organic forms in her modern wood jewelry, blurring the line between art and fashion. Artist: Born in La Mirada, CA, Merritt moved to Olympia, WA when she was 10. After high school, she moved back to Los Angeles area to attend college. She graduated with a BFA in…
Over her 30-plus years as a mixed media artist in Virginia, Frankie Slaughter has challenged herself to create art in various mediums. From intensely colorful paintings and porcelain panels to oversized sculptures and hand-sewn textiles. Artist: Born in Lynchburg, VA, Slaughter grew up with artistic parents. Her mom practiced modern dance and later taught art…
Brittan Blasdel uses natural and repurposed man-made materials to make something new. The South Carolina mixed media artist calls her work “elemental excavation.” Artist: Born in Kansas City, MO, Blasdel grew up there and in Rochester, NY. She earned a BFA in photography from the University of Michigan in 1992. Since graduating, she has exhibited…
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…
In her intricate and layered digital collages, Florida photo artist Maggie Taylor creates surreal and dream-like worlds that invite each viewer’s interpretation and imagination. Artist: Born in Cleveland, OH, Taylor moved to Florida at the age of 11. At Yale, she studied photography, philosophy and art history and received a BA in philosophy. After earning an…
Julie Torres practiced law for seven years before turning to pursue a more creative career. Artist: Born in Boise, Idaho, the artist grew up in Tallahassee, FL, where she fell in love with making art when she was seven years old. But when it came time for college and career paths, she was too afraid to…
Sarah Wiley, a Virginia-based interior designer turned textile artist, uses fabric to make unique creations, from custom pillows to framed art that reimagine special rooms and cherished memories. Wiley’s “rooms in miniature” bring spaces to life with intricate detail, blending artistry and storytelling through textiles. Artist: The Virginia native was born in Ivy and grew up…