Artists & Galleries

The Atlanta artist talks about working with fiber, her upcoming Invisible:VisAble exhibit at the Abernathy Arts Center, and the children's book she wrote and illustrated.

An autographed poster by painter Varnette Honeywood from the 1990 National Black Arts Festival hangs in muralist Ashley Dopson’s living room. Family visits to the festival inspired her own interest in art. “That era was a time when people were very aware of the legacy of Black art,” Dopson, 37, says. “For a little girl like me, I felt like I could do this and make a living at it.”

Expect smoke and mirrors at Made Goods’s new showroom—that is, smoky hues and the brand’s hallmark statement mirrors. Open now in a 5,000-square-foot space at ADAC, the Los Angeles-based shop features home collections that put a perfect twist on classic pieces using rare materials, unusual proportions, and artsy details.

Serenbe hosts open houses at new artist cottage, with interiors designed by Steve McKenzie and Kerry Howard.

Artist Sally King Benedict has earned a national reputation—becoming a favorite of regional publications like Garden & Gun and Southern Living. Online sales of her famous faces series sell out in minutes. She’s also presented solo shows at prestigious galleries. We met at her studio to discuss her inspiration, her work, and how she’s handling all of this success.

In a 1957 Time magazine article, the iconic German architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe famously said of furniture made by architects: “A chair is a very difficult object. A skyscraper is almost easier. That is why Chippendale is famous.” That’s why, when Atlanta architect Jonathon Quinn decided to become a furniture maker, he started with a chair.

“Who knows?” says Charles Gandy with a laugh, when asked what inspires his ideas for fantastical knitted socks. With witty names like Dancing with the Stars, DreadSox, and Eyes of March, his creations are meant to inspire wonder, not to warm feet.

For art collectors, the ACC that matters in March is the annual artisan show at the Cobb Galleria—where makers from all over the country come to stage Atlanta's best annual market.

Many cite Atlanta’s Jon Eric Riis as the nation’s leading contemporary tapestry artist, known for weaving richly embellished textiles so masterfully executed that their loveliness nearly obscures their powerful satire.

Forget paintbrushes. Artist Erica Doggett-Alphin, who goes by Erica Elle, wields a blowtorch to create her kaleidoscopic paintings. “I’m a scientist in a lab,” says the Memphis native. “I started playing around with resin and alcohol-based paints, and when I mixed in fire, it made a flame. When the flames went down, I noticed that it created really cool textures.”