TINA G. VINCENT
Website | @tinagvincent

My name is Tinashe (Tina) Gwata Vincent. I am a Mixed Media Artist and High School Art Educator, originally from Zimbabwe in Africa. I love mixed media because there are no rules, and it allows me to experience the possibilities of the materials. Through the joy of learning, exploration of materials and integration of techniques, I am able to create unique processes and products. Some of my favorite media include acrylic painting, quilting and sewing, collage, ceramics, paper mache, and batik. I often weave these applications throughout my work. One highlight of my art practice is my evolving creation of paintings and sculptures featuring black people with a variety of skin tones and body types. I aim to shine a light on this beauty that is often overlooked or underestimated.

My work is a celebration of African hair in its natural form and faces of people whom society chooses not to see. When society creates these superficial roadblocks, they have in essence, ‘judged a book by its cover.’ In my opinion, it’s one thing when this marginalization comes from strangers; but it’s a more bitter pill to swallow when your own people plant seeds of insecurity. I create extra-large portraits of brown people to make the bold statement to everyone that this unique beauty deserves to be seen.

DORIS BARAHONA
Website | @dorisbarahonafineart

I was born in Santiago, Chile and have led a life open to change – new countries, cities, careers, and interests have opened my life to new experiences. I found that I love the process of learning –discovering, exploring, failing, succeeding, and taking important lessons from each step.

I came to art late. I devoted a good part of my life to teaching children to be creative, analytical thinkers. I loved seeing the lightbulb go off as they learned to express their creativity. When I discovered painting, I began a fast and furious journey that I never imagined would bring me such pleasure and fascination.

The opportunity for self-discovery has been tremendous. The juxtaposition between intellect and creativity, the process of thinking and letting go, a loop where one feeds the other, is part of the never-ending process of being an artist. All artists endure periods of frustration. It’s the discovery that follows that I find intoxicating. This is what drives me as an artist. I have learned to savor the process and rejoice in every small step forward.

My medium is oil, although many of my abstracts are multi-media in nature: Cold wax, inks, charcoal, and shellac have all become part of the tools I use in my daily work. My painting process involves moving between the intellectual and artistic - the end goal is to find the balance between the two. The idea is to paint treeness and not tree, earthiness but not earth. The viewer ultimately decides what they see. In all of this, one of the most valuable parts of the process has been learning to see with an artist’s eye and, ultimately, learning to trust that I know what works.

HYUN LEE
Website | @workbylee

While taking a long break from work, I was a full-time mom to 4 kids. The mom’s role opened my eyes to a better world for my kids. It was my beginning to work with recycled materials.

It was not fun to make trashed materials to be useful or to suit my aesthetic perspective. However, their transforming progress kept letting me focus on the overwhelming materials we created on the earth.

I started with using electric wires. With my background as a metal artist, I knew the copper wires would be a suitable property in my work. I enjoyed the process, and I am still in love with it. The second project was using glass bottles. I learned that glass jars and bottles were not recyclable in my neighborhood. It surprised me, and I tried to find a way to use them in my work. “A Way Coming Back” was my first project with empty wine bottles and pasta sauce jars from my kitchen. It was disappointing to know my effort was so small compared to the amount of trashed glass. Because I only needed a few bottles to finish my project.

However, I expect my work would be a good chance to think about materials we use daily and to see how the unwanted material is returning to us. There’s nothing that’s not precious, and everything has its own use.

SALLY LABRENZ-FANJOY
Website | @FanjoyLabrenz

Sarah (Sally) Fanjoy is a visual artist working primarily in photography, videography and light - how it falls, reflects, transmits and connects. Slowing down to capture the beauty and elegance of close-up details, she creates large format still or moving images and sculptural pieces on metal and glass. Fanjoy studied at the International Center for Photography in New York and settled back in Hickory with her husband and partner, James Labrenz.

Together they have exhibited in galleries from Atlanta to New York and received numerous grants from the United Arts Council, including the recently awarded 2023 Artist Support Grant. Fanjoy-Labrenz led an artist collaboration for Corning Optical Solutions and the Hickory Museum of Art titled Seeing Light, How? Creativity Happens included a final installation as well as an individual project using glass in late 2019 and early 2020. Currently, their work ‘Light in Space’ is on display at Lenoir-Rhyne University in PE Monroe Auditorium.

NICOLE DRISCOLL
Website | @nicoledfilms

Nicole Driscoll is a filmmaker and photographer based in Charlotte, North Carolina. Her projects have been included in galleries and festivals such as Goodyear Arts, The Light Factory, Brooklyn Underground Festival, and The Curated Fridge. In 2014, Driscoll developed Films on Tap, a film festival that pairs local short films and locally brewed beer together. Driscoll currently works as a teaching artist at Studio 345, an afterschool program for at-risk youth, and a freelancer in the greater Charlotte community.

BRYANT PORTWOOD
Website | @bryantportwoodart

My work combines visual elements from my childhood with kitsch elements of pop culture to influence the viewer’s perception of the past and address escapism through false, idealized memories. Following the start of the pandemic, I began to stray away from depicting the figure as the focus of my work and started to lean on trinkets as my subject of choice. We place value in ordinary, mundane objects. Personal objects can hold significant meaning where they serve as a reminder and are nostalgic, or they serve as an enabler for our imagination to take over and urge escapist desires. I’ll admit it, I paint a lot of toys. Not only do they serve as an extension of my personality, but they are objects that I have found a nostalgic comfort in. However, there is a certain blurriness to all the fond memories I have, and I try to echo that surreal quality in my paintings as if everything I have experienced thus far has had an impact on shaping these selective memories. My saturated color palette mimics the vibrancy of commercial advertisements, comics, memes, films, and other saturated images that I have been bombarded with. The fact that I am regurgitating all of these as influences create an ambiguous feeling where my work can be dreamlike, funny, or even dark. With my classical training, I aim to pay homage to the past through the physical process and techniques of painting, while adding my own contribution to the conversation through my use of color and my tendency to paint unorthodox subjects.

ADDISON WAHLER
Website | @addisonwahlerart

Addison hails from a family of artists and creative thinkers. He credits his grandmother Beverly as his greatest inspiration. While she painted as a young woman and through school for fashion design, her desire for a career in the arts became
a dream delayed when she married and started a family. Although she used painting as an outlet while her children ruled
the roost, she was only able to fully dedicate herself to her craft when they went off to college. Beverly’s style was abstract expressionism; she was greatly influenced by the stylings of Morris Louis and Paul Jenkins. She passed away at the age of
93 in 2018.

Addison’s father Robin, who has also painted as a creative outlet throughout his career in landscape architecture, has influenced Addison’s style as well. Robin’s friends, family and clients credit him with creating “Rothko-esque” pieces. Addison’s mother Deb, followed her creative path as an urban designer, landscape architect and professor at UNCC. Her work inspired Addison to pursue urban design, earning him a masters degree in 2020 from the University of North Carolina Charlotte. Addison attributes his talent and work ethic from the unconditional love of his parents.

When Addison was old enough to appreciate and learn from his grandmother’s and parent’s work, he incorporated many of their techniques and practices into his own creations. Although his work is very similar to that of his family members, he has his own voice. His paintings are intended to be glorified Rorschach tests. The viewer is intended to make their own conclusions and interpretations.

Addison's most recent work focuses on his personal struggles since moving back to Charlotte, NC from Baltimore, MD. These paintings illustrate, depression, loneliness, solitude and the journey he went on to overcome those factors. The recent work is also communicative of the women in his life that have saved him from self-destruction. This new series was started with the painting entitled '' Blondzai " and is continued into " Re-Ignition." These paintings share a theme of unconditional love and support when Addison was struggling the most.

REBECCA LIPPS
Website | @rebeccalippsart

Rebecca Lipps is a multifaceted artist and educator cultivating immersive experiences by combining sculpture and video.
She enjoys pushing the boundaries of technology and art making to create a new form of expression. The inspiration for her ArtPop billboard artwork titled, Color Tangles, comes from her studies of invisible energies. The painted sculpture depicts the energy emerging from the performance of eye movement in the video. Her painting background developed from her studies at Xavier University where she received her Bachelor of Arts. She also received a Master of Fine Arts from Winthrop University, where she concentrated on video installation. She believes video is a tool that is currently impacting human society and sees the importance of highlighting it in combination with fine art. It is also important to her to impact her community by making public art and involving herself in arts organizations around Charlotte.

EMILY BATSON
Website | @emilybatsonart

Emily Batson is an artist and art educator based out of Waxhaw, NC. She got her start with her parents, sewing in the dining room or building in the woodshop. Emily won an award in high school that took her on a week-long trip to NYC to visit artists, craftsmen, and fashion designers in their studios. That week would set her trajectory to pursue art as a career.

In college, she studied Art Education and mastered a wide range of mediums before settling on oil paint as her preferred medium. Emily chose to become a teacher to create the same nurturing environment for students that she thrived in.

She returned home to Charlotte to teach in public schools. Her time teaching was a deep growth experience. She taught large refugee populations and students from all different backgrounds. The art classroom refreshed and unified her students with restful creativity and satisfying craftsmanship. Now married with three kids to love and enjoy, she is afforded time to explore her own artistic endeavors and teach private lessons as well as online classes.

“My artwork reflects the beauty of life around me. I especially love how the raw elements of our world interact to produce stunning beauty. Trees have captured my attention for years- the giant reaching branches, the light breaking through the canopy, and the record of growth through adversity. Bright pops of color and intuitive lines are characteristic of my work.”

HALEY HORNER, STUDENT ARTIST
Website | @haley.ayana.art

Haley Ayana Horner is a senior at Fort Mill High School in South Carolina focusing on visual art studies. She has had her art included in local competitions including the Congressional Art Competition for her district in 2022, and currently has a piece displayed in the U.S. Capitol. Art began as a hobby and a creative outlet in middle school but has grown to become one of her favorite ways to communicate ideas and emotions. She is interested in the concept of bringing the world in one’s head to life to be experienced by others and show how people can all relate to each other. Her ArtPop submission is titled Immersion and illustrates how people use music as a therapeutic escape.

ANNA DEAN
Website | @annadeanart

Anna G. Dean is an interdisciplinary artist, working in sculpture, installation, video and mixed media. She began her career in Art Education, with a focus on Contemporary Art and Arts Integration. She was selected for the Art21 Educators program in NYC, and helped create the SmartArts program in Greenville, SC. She recently completed her MFA at Winthrop University, where she currently teaches and coordinates the CreatorSpace technology lab. Anna also works as a production designer with ACSM, a design/build firm in Charlotte, NC. Anna’s work has been exhibited at the Mint Museum, the McColl Center, the Brooklyn Collective, Redux Gallery and at Miami Art Week. Anna has public art installations at Atrium Health in Charlotte NC, and at Miracle Park in Rock Hill, SC. She has been an artist-in-residence at the McColl Center, and has been awarded a project space at Goodyear Arts. Anna currently lives and works in Fort Mill, with her husband and son.

CHAD CARTWRIGHT
Website | @chdwckart

CHD:WCK!, is a non-traditionally trained (self-taught) Visual Artist, whose aesthetic tastes were shaped in and around East Orange, New Jersey.

Whether working with paper, paint, inanimate objects, or human figures, his work is fueled by a fascination with raw texture, strong lines, soft curves, and a desire to celebrate the overlooked beauty in the ordinary. This leads to a unique approach to creating artwork that is equally challenging, enticing, and refreshing. CHD:WCK!’s recently contributed to the Black Lives Matter mural on S. Tryon St. in Uptown Charlotte. His work has also been on display at museums and galleries here in Charlotte and other cities along the East Coast.

ANDREA BRINKLEY
Website | @oandystudio

Andrea Brinkley, aka Andy, creates in her home studio in Matthews, NC. Her wool embroidery art is inspired by her love of flowers and colors. She grew up on a sheep farm in South Africa. She learned to knit and sew while young and later added crochet and embroidery to her cadre of skills.

Today, Andy builds crocheted surfaces directly onto embroidery hoops and applies her unique approach to crewel embroidery. She stitches freehand, using her mastery of techniques to create textural effects with hand-spun and dyed yarn. She loves to experiment on unexpected surfaces such as crocheted wire or old tennis rackets. She also makes jewelry with yarn and wire.

MATT MYERS
Website | @myerspaints

My first career took me to Portland, Seattle, and New York, where I worked with copywriters to create award-winning television spots, outdoor boards, and print ads for many clients, including Jansport, IKEA and Snapple. As a fine artist, I have exhibited my paintings in Brooklyn, Manhattan, Los Angeles, and Charlotte, been a guest exhibitor at the Mint Museum, and displayed artwork in Manhattan. Individual clients frequently commission my work.

I’ve illustrated over twenty books for other authors and four of my own. My books have received several starred reviews from reviewers such as Kirkus and Publishers Weekly. My illustrations have been shown several times in the Society of Illustrators Original Art Show in New York. I have received a Theodor Suess Geisel Honor award, and my most recent book was featured in the Wall Street Journal. Publishers include Holiday House, Random House, Macmillan, Simon & Schuster, HarperCollins, and Candlewick Press.

LEIGH B. WILLIAMS
Website | @lbwilliamsart

A blank surface. A loosely formed idea. A finished work. The challenge. Sketches in a visual journal. Drawings and studies of color and composition. Brush to canvas. Pushing and pulling. The image emerges. Pleasing to the eye. Speaking to the soul. The satisfaction of creating. Leigh as an artist.

Leigh B. Williams, backed by a BA in Fine Art from the College of William and Mary, when asked how long it took her to create a particular piece she likes to smile and say, “A lifetime.” A lifetime of experimenting with color and form, various materials, studying the Masters, engaging with the medium, and a lifetime of observing and participating in life itself.

Leigh specializes in acrylic and alcohol ink paintings and collaborative work. She currently exhibits and sells her work primarily in the Southeast. Her work can be seen at her studio, on display in the Charlotte Visual and Performing Arts Center (VAPA), and in several North Carolina galleries.

Leigh delights in passing on her passion for the arts to others. She is an active member of the arts community in Charlotte and participates in and supports the work of community groups and other artists in the community. As a former full-time art instructor, she still likes to teach workshops and conduct demonstrations for both adults and children.

ESTHER MOOREHEAD
Website | @esthermooreheadart

Esther Moorehead was born in Toronto, Canada. She has lived in Canada, Ireland, and the USA. She’s an avid traveller, soaking up inspiration from each new place. From a child, Esther loved creating. Her whole life has been immersed in creative outlets, from drawing and painting to stage design and small theatre production, piano performance and accompaniment, to event planning.

After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in Fine Art in South Carolina, she returned to her hometown of Toronto to teach high school visual art and geography for 10 years. During that time, she was married and had two daughters. She decided not to return to teaching but instead build a career as an independent studio artist. Esther faced a cancer diagnosis just a month after her first baby was born. The journey through treatment and recovery reshaped her perspective of life and the purpose for her work. She realized that every moment of life is God-given and valuable. Even in the darkest places, where there’s life, there’s hope—hope to love and learn; to work together; to build and create; to forgive and change. Now cancer-free, Esther’s desire is to create artwork that embodies those ideas.

In 2018, when her family relocated to Charlotte, North Carolina, she used the opportunity to develop new relationships with galleries and arts organizations and build a network of inspiring and influential artists and creatives. She has been represented by and exhibited with multiple galleries in Canada and the USA won awards, and has painted murals in public spaces. Her paintings reside in private collections worldwide.

WILL WHITE
Website | @ThatWillWhite

Will White lives to create art. From his time at Howard University, majoring in Fashion Merchandising,
to his employment Illustrating for Tyson's Galleria in Washington, D.C., he's always been drawn to the visual aspect
of creation. Although his major in school was centered more around the business aspect of the fashion industry,
Will was drawn to take Sewing I, Il, and Ill while in undergrad after purchasing a sewing machine on a whim.
Since then, Will has taught himself through trial, error, and experience. 17 years later, he has designed womenswear, menswear, dog outfits, dance costumes, his wife's wedding gown, and his own tux for their special day, and was even chosen as a semifinalist for Project Runway Season 17. In the Charlotte community, Will's word-of-mouth clientele has truly kept him busy. As one of the queen city's fresh faces in the fashion and visual art scenes, Will is intent on pushing Charlotte's style to limits some could only dream of while always making sure to keep it "cool.”

TROY BARNETT ART AND FORGE
Website | @barnett_art_and_forge

My name is Garland Troy Barnett, but everyone calls me Troy. I am a self-taught bladesmith living in Hickory, North Carolina. I have always been someone who gravitated toward artistic outlets. I’ve explored many avenues of art over the years, from wood sculpture to oil painting. However, my fascination with blacksmithing started at nine years old when a neighbor showed me my first forge. As I grew older, I met and married an amazing woman, had two beautiful daughters, and life went on as normal. I could not find the time or tools to pursue a blacksmithing career, but it was never far from my mind.

One day, I decided I had time to start my own forge, and I began teaching myself the craft. It became my preferred art form, and I surrounded myself with experienced individuals to learn more and grow my business. My family has supported my passion by helping me sell my products and build my brand Barnett Art and Forge!

Now with over ten years of forging under my belt, I create one-of-a-kind blades in my spare time and sell them online or in person at local craft shows. I am inspired by the history of the bladesmith trade and the materials I use. My favorite part of making collectible knives are the stories they can tell. Many of my items are made using scrap metal found locally or even your grandfather’s old farm equipment. I find that creating in this way is sustainable by reusing metal that would otherwise be trash and gives so much more meaning and history to the finished piece.

Thank you so much for supporting my passion and for keeping the bladesmith trade alive!

AUTUMN PAYNE
Website | @autumnpayne.art

“My name is Autumn Payne, and I am forever growing artist located in the rolling hills of Charlotte, North Carolina.
I have a sweet puppy named Max, and I love dreaming, building, and giving life to beautiful things. I primarily work in sculpting but often explore painting and printmaking throughout my practice.

As an artist, I believe that art is an expression, an extension of oneself into the reality that we live and breathe every day. In every piece I create, I give myself over to exploring the human experience and my medium and watch it take on a life of its own. I invite you to come along for the journey with me as I document my connections and this incredible world around me.”

ARTHUR ROGERS, JR.
Website | @arthurrogersjr

A native of North Carolina with parental roots from Sint Eustatius and Trinidad, Arthur is a US Army Veteran and a graduate of East Carolina University with a degree in Communications Arts with a concentration in Illustration. Arthur’s career path has provided him with a wealth of experience while holding positions in several design firms and advertising agencies and serving as a College Instructor and Department Chair. His artistic skill sets include illustration, graphic and web design, videography, photography, and painting.

Arthur is the Executive Director of the Visual and Performing Arts Center - VAPA Center, located in Uptown Charlotte, North Carolina. He is also a resident artist, a member of the Palette Table Collective, and is represented by Nine Eighteen Nine Studio Gallery.

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