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…
Richard Wilson’s art takes you back to cherished childhood moments, filled with warmth and connection. The North Carolina artist’s work also tells inspiring stories of African-American figures, often untold, through the use of symbolism in his paintings. These portraits reach out to everyone, especially children, encouraging them to dream big. Artist: The North Carolina native…
South Carolina designer Kate Furman describes her “perfectly imperfect” jewelry as rustic with a refined feel. Artist: Born and raised in Greenville, SC, Furman graduated with a BFA from the University of Georgia in Jewelry and Metalworking. She went on to earn an MFA from Rhode Island School of Design in Jewelry and Metalsmithing. Between…
A self-described landscape sculptor, Kentucky’s James Wade is inspired by a sense of place. Company/studio: Hammermark Studio, which started in 2002, is located near Lexington on the artist’s family farm. Artist: Born in Columbus, IN, Wade moved as a teenager to Lexington, KY. He studied art at the University of Kentucky, where he earned a…
Georgia native Evan Blackwell Helgeson creates layered abstract paintings that reflect a love of nature, travel and color. Artist: The Georgia native grew up in Roswell and earned a BFA from the Lamar Dodd School of Art at the University of Georgia. She also holds an MFA from School of the Museum of Fine Arts…