My story begins in Buffalo, New York... I was born and raised in South Buffalo. That has a special distinction, of course. The skyline and waterfront. The lake and grain towers. The Irish heritage and ringing church bells. The blue collar grit of the city and its residents. Each of these is me.
Although Buffalo will always be "home" to me, for the last half of my life I've lived far from there, in the Triangle of North Carolina. In that time, I built a career and married a charming Southern boy with whom I have a beautiful daughter. We've settled down in the little town of Clayton. These days I'm told I've picked up a bit of a Southern accent and even say "y'all". Now magnolia trees and grazing horses, sweet tea and bbq, wide porches and blessed hearts are also me.
And so I seem to have become a unique blend of very different lives, experiences, and perspectives. An eclectic mix that is reflected in my art.
I've loved art for as long as I can remember. My parents saw a budding talent early on. My elementary and middle school didn't have an Art teacher, so I attended private lessons starting when I was 12. By high school, I was certain I wanted a career in art. I chose to attend Nazareth College in Rochester as a Visual Arts major with a concentration in Illustration. But after 2 years at Naz, I felt pulled in a different direction. I made the decision to transfer to the Buffalo State College, well known for its Art Education program. I would share my passion for Art with students. From there, I graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Art Education and the Dean's Award for Excellence in Art Education. After graduation I made the big move to Raleigh, North Carolina to begin the next chapter of my life and pursue my goals.
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I worked as an Art Educator in NC for over 20 years. Within that time, I also started a family and settled in Clayton, NC.
In 2014, I had the opportunity to turn my focus back toward my own artistic endeavors. I opened and operated my own gallery and studio in downtown Clayton, NC and began to exhibit and sell my art throughout the state. Shortly after, I became a resident artist of a gallery in downtown Raleigh, where I curated an exhibition space of my art for several years while continuing to teach full time. I'm proud to have exhibited in a variety of juried solo and group shows and to have earned numerous awards for my work. I now operate my business as an online shop and continue to exhibit my paintings at galleries and other venues throughout the state. I've just recently left the classroom and am excited for what the future holds! |