If your favorite festival, concert, musical, or exhibition was canceled due to COVID, you have every right to be salty. We’ve already told you how much COVID-19 could cost South Carolina’s arts industry (spoiler: potentially over $10 million). But to look on the bright side, we’ve also shown you 7 ways you can support local arts during this time (no in-person events required).
Now, we’ve worked with the local arts leaders at MAC to share 10 local artists to have on your radar during this new normal. Because we’ve been really into discovering new things to love in a time that’s not so lovable.
10 local artists to have your eye on:
1. The artists of Oye Studios
- What: Visual arts by 12 artists in one studio (different disciplines and levels of experience)
- Who: Taylor Adams, Rey Alphonso, Patricia DeLeon, Jessica Fields, Michelle Jardines, Signe + Genna Grushovenko, Jeffrey Leder, Glory Day Loflin, Shannon McGee, James McSharry, and Christopher Rico.
- Why: Established in 2019 when two artist couples looking for new studio space found the Daybreak Community Church. They bought the mid-century church – saving it from demolition – and filled it with 12 artists under one roof.
- Where: 37 East Hillcrest Dr. (by appointment only) | website | Instagram | Facebook
2. Liz Rundorff Smith
- What: Paintings and paper artwork
- Why: Liz recently discussed her work, sources of inspiration and the struggles of being a working parent during COVID-19 in a spotlight on @ArtGirlRising’s Instagram story. Her work has been featured in Southern Living and Create Magazine Issue 20 and can be found in private + corporate collections (like the Marilyn Monroe Bungalow at the Beverly Hills Hotel).
- Where: 547 Perry Artist Studios, 547 Perry Ave. | website | Instagram | Facebook
3. Vaughn Newman
- What: Performance arts
- Why: Vaughn Newman is a past MAC grant recipient and owner of Vaughn Newman Dance, a dance studio reopening this month + offering small classes for children of all ages in Pre-Ballet, Ballet, Modern/Contemporary, African, and Tap. All youth classes are currently 50% off.
- Where: 3906 Augusta Rd. | website | Instagram | Facebook
4. Cecilia Ho
- What: FELTasticFashion, a fiber arts studio.
- Why: Cecilia is a local, self-taught felting fiber artist and SmartARTS teaching artist. This summer, she had her felt creations featured at Crutchfield Gallery in Spartanburg. She also teaches virtual felting workshops and sells DIY kits on her website. Fun fact: She was born into a family of designers in Hong Kong.
- Where: 212 Alister Dr. | website | Instagram | Facebook
5. mOody bLaCk
- What: Music + poetry
- Why: A local poet, comic, and SmartARTS teaching artist, mOody bLaCk recently released an album entitled Manifest. Check it out on Bandcamp. His self-described “motivational positive Hip-Hop” is akin to Common, Outkast, Jidenna, Mos Def, and a southern-fried De La Soul.
- Where: website | Instagram | Facebook
6. Greenville Center for Creative Arts new Brandon Fellows, 2020-21
- What: The Brandon Fellowship is a 12-month program that aims to develop three emerging artists between the ages of 21-30 who represent the diversity of the Greenville community
- Who: Evan Givens, Savannah Ralph and Anna Grace Burch
- Why: Successful candidates are eager to advance their careers as working artists and demonstrate promising talent, self-motivation, and goal-orientation. Meet Evan, Savannah, and Anna Grace.
- Where: Brandon Mill, 101 Abney St. | website | Facebook
7. Sunny Mullarkey McGowan
- What: Paintings + murals
- Why: Sunny is a fine artist, muralist, and teaching artist with SmartARTS. She released her new collection on Sept. 4 (take a peek on Instagram) and recently completed a new mural on the side of Bar Margaret in the Village of West Greenville, where her studio + shop is located.
- Where: 547 Perry Ave. | website | Instagram | Facebook
8. OneGVLarts Mural Project for Social Equity artists
- What: Mural project
- Who: Adam Schrimmer of Blank Canvas Murals + Kimberly Simms of Wits End Poetry
- Why: As protests over the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis spread across the country, Adam and Kimberly banded together to put socially-minded poems on buildings across Greenville County and raise awareness about social equity issues in the Upstate.
- Where: murals across the Upstate | website | Instagram
9. Kent Ambler
- What: Sculptures, woodcuts + prints
- Why: A printmaker, painter, builder, mid-century modern fan + dog lover, Kent recently completed a hound dog sculpture carved from 40 laminated board feet of soft maple, painted with washes of acrylic paint, sanded, and then waxed. See its progress.
- Where: website | Instagram | Facebook
10. Daydrielane Osorio
- What: Photography + prints
- Why: Artist Daydrielane Osorio – owner of Daydream Lane Photography – uses old photographic processes to make new prints. Her recent Sickle Cell Disease project was on view at Greer City Hall this spring, featuring handmade Van Dyke photographs to highlight 10 individuals in the Upstate living with Sickle Cell Disease in an effort to increase community awareness of the disease + advocacy for research. See it here.
- Where: website | Instagram | Facebook
GVLtoday’s honorable mentions:
Here are a few of our team’s favorite artists right now:
Lacey Hennessey (“She has been kicking absolute 🍑 around here with all her murals and her #BeTheBridge Greenville signs, and she even did a space at Immersion in Cola!”)
-Ana, GVLtoday Editor
Allison Ford (“She’s based in Simpsonville so I hope that’s close enough to count but I’m obsessed!!”)
-Grace, GVLtoday Editor
Dorothy Shain, Laddie Neil Art, Kiah Bellows Art
-Sarah, Client Services Coordinator
-Keaton, Client Services Coordinator Ⓟ
Question:
Your favorite local artists:
We asked you for your favorite local artists, what they do, and why you love them. Here’s what you had to say.
“I am a newer local artist - j.hooverhangings (www.jhooverhangings.com). I share my passion of teaching and art by teaching both adult and children’s classes at Vino &Van Gogh. My full time job is a 4th grade teacher. Art has become my side hustle that I am super passionate about. :)” -Jennifer H.
“Laura K Aiken Studios. Does custom watercolors, unique designs, & has all available via prints, phone covers, rugs, etc.” -Chris W.
“Carey Lee Hudson mainly because her use of colors cheers me up.” -Meg C.
“Jared Emerson is a Christian painter who does his work in front of a live audience. His website is https://jaredemerson.com/.” -Stephen Y.
“Adam Maalouf (https://www.adammaalouf.com, https://www.youtube.com/c/AdamMaalouf, https://www.instagram.com/adam_maalouf, https://www.facebook.com/AdamMaaloufMusic, https://open.spotify.com/artist/4rLvNJTWiBb3ozzpB98v4T) is a Greenville native and musical performer who specializes in handpan, cello, and hand percussion. He discovered his love of music at the Fine Arts Center here in Greenville before heading to New York to study music performance in university and kickstart a career in NYC. He recently moved back to Greenville to start Handpan South - a collective of musicians, teachers, and students in the Greenville-Asheville-Atlanta-Charlotte region. His music combines his middle-eastern roots with a modern flare, and is perfect for meditation, inspiration, and connection. Check him out!” -Paige D.
“Alison Brynn Ross makes amazing wire taxidermy art. I commissioned her to make one of my dog and it’s one of my favorite art pieces. She also makes fun crochet art ornaments.” -Jess C.
“Ed Cascone. Cityscapes, landscapes - particularly at night and in the rain - are my favorites. His attention to detail is phenomenal and I love the colors he uses.” -Betsy M.
“Jackie Newell” -Mary G.
“Drew Conley. @drewconleystudio. He paints beautiful scenes that look so real.” -Jennifer M.
“Jennifer Hoover is my favorite artist. I love how she brings the lowcountry alive in her art. She uses vibrant colors. She also is a great teacher! I have learned so many techniques from her.” -Juliane L.
“Darin Gehrke, potter who specializes in original functional pottery, lives and works in the Village of West Greenville. He was well known as a potter in Manhattan before moving to Greenville. He chose Greenville after participating in Artisphere and discovering the thriving art community here.” -Pam S
“You’ve got to check out KC Christmas! Her floral collages are everything! She has some very witty/snarky work but also some gorgeous works that feed the soul. You can find her at: https://www.kcchristmas.net/ or @kc.christmas on Instagram. I also love the artist Emma Hartman. I love the modern/contemporary take on religious themes. You can find her at https://www.emmahartmanstudio.com/ or @emma_hartman on Instagram. Both artists as well as some of my other favorites have works on display here in the Ground Floor Gallery: https://www.leafinstitutegreenville.org/.” -Rebekah C.
“Diane Kilgore Condon. The birds she paints have such personality. I also love the whimsical nature of her art.”
“Elizabeth Smith - she brings joy to an abysmal time.” -Ann R.
“Alberta Pottery creates beautiful pottery that is functional for everyday use. Using my pieces adds beauty to my day.” -Ann T
“The Art of Megs (Megan Diamaduros). She’s a self taught painter and does the best pet portraits hands down! She also does beautiful abstract work, live weddings, literally anything. She started her business from scratch and is killing it right now. I’m so proud of her!!” -Elee D.
“Dorothy Shain” -Kathy J.
“CeCe Burnett (https://www.artcrossinggreenville.com/cece-burnett) is awesome artist and person” -Rey E.
“Alberta Pottery. Erin and Jason Hall are full time ceramic artists living in Greenville. Catch their pop up tent in front of Garner’s off Pleasantburg Dr. Unique functional and sculptural gas kiln fired pieces.” -Mary-Margaret J.
“Antonio Milian - his photography is very raw, and an honest depiction of life for African Americans, Latinas, and other minority populations in the Upstate.” -Michael G.
“Janina Ellis” -Mike M.
“Suzanne Vitti (@vivavitti on Instagram). She is an artist at The Artistry Gallery on Andrews St. Her work is beautiful!! I love her ceramic work & mixed media collages!” -Margaret M.
“The artists at Paper Moon Studios and Workshops are a new, inclusive and welcoming group with a variety of artistic disciplines. The photo you all used for OneGVLarts Mural Project is actually on the side of Paper Moon’s building! Their instagram is @papermoonstudiosworkshops.” -Anne H.
“Jaidra Durant. She is a dancer, artist, and beautiful person. She has a studio called NIAD. Naturally Inspired Art and Dance. Look up Niadstudio.com” -Sheila H.
“Kim Easter, multi mediums” -Cathy L.
“Taylor Miller- an amazing NEW ARTIST who the low country speaks to! She also does AMAZING pet portraits, wedding/honeymoon portraits, homes, and ANYTHING custom that speaks to an individual! Instagram @tmillerart”
“The Artists of Vino & Van Gogh: Adelle Pruitt, TM Pruitt, Jennifer Hoover, Jessica Reynolds, Marquin Campbell, Maggie Holmes, Suanne Hall, Mollye Spitler, Meg Groat, Kristin McGivern. Vino & Van Gogh is both an art studio & a gallery - displaying the unique creations of these 10 local artists, all of whom are talented, knowledgeable & fun! Your support is appreciated whether you take one of their classes or purchase art! See more about them with this link, https://www.vinoandvangogh.net/pages/meet-the-vino-van-gogh-artists.” -Suanne H.
“The Brooks Dixon Band—made up of local musicians that perform at a lot of local restaurants and bars— Most of the songs performed are written by the band leader,Brooks Dixon—and they are really good! We have been to Smileys and other places to see and hear him. Sarah, that sings with him is great—and the other members of the band are very talented!” -Nancy B.
“Suzanne Woolf, https://www.suzannewoolf.com/. Original multimedia artist utilizing vintage photographs and ephemera to create unique pieces of personalized art.” -Ad W.
“Cecelia Ho, because she was a featured artist at Artisphere, one year, who shared her work, and taught a little of how it’s done. It was beautiful and fun at the same time! I loved it! 💞” -Anna B.
“Ric Standrich. He is very imaginative and has great versatility. His pieces reflect his deep passion for his craft.” -Margaret J.
“BLAINE OWENS IS A LOCAL PHOTOGRAPHER THAT HAS PHOTOGRAPHED GREENVILLE CITY SCENES, PORTRAITS AND VARIOUS SC LANDSCAPES FOR OVER 50TY YEARS. HE IS A MASTER ARTIST!” -MARCY C.
“Art & Light gallery has my favorites! Teresa Roche, Jessica Fields, Annalisa Fink, Josh Jensen, Megan Trueblood, Bracken Sansbury, Rachel Van Dyk, and Annie Koelle to name a few.” -Logan W.
“Laurie Buck -- gorgeous, bold florals, @ laurie_buck. Jean Wilson Freeman -- soft, colorful florals, @jeanwilsonfreeman.” -Pearce B.
Didn’t submit your answer when we asked? You can still comment your fav artist in our comments section below.
