Strand, the Story of an Artist

Kevin Kirkwood visited Berlin-based artist Caroline Kryzecki. Known for her intricate ballpoint pen drawings, she exclusively uses the four most commonly available colors: blue, black, red and green. To a certain degree Kryzecki’s drawings, or rather paintings on paper (up to 270 x 190 cm), are remnants of analog writing; calligraphy exercises with a ruler that express both the sensuality of an or...

Episode 60: Henning Strassburger Kevin Kirkwood chops it up with Henning at KÖNIG GALERIE in Berlin, Germany. They talked about his current exhibition on view at the gallery until February 23. Henning Strassburger (b. 1983 in Meissen, Germany) explores the intersection of identity, mass media, and self-representation in the digital age. Known primarily for his colorful paintings, he has recently a...

Kevin Kirkwood sits down with Trish at Bululu Studios in Savannah, Georgia. Their conversation highlights a few of the key moments in her creative career. She also talks about her latest exhibition at Laney Contemporary which was titled, Wild Frontier. This gathering of new work was a collaborative effort between Trish and her husband, Michael Porten. As an interdisciplinary artist born and raised...

Kevin Kirkwood sat down with Antonia at the Savannah Cultural Arts Center in Savannah, Georgia to talk about "Adrift X Collision", the current exhibition on view at the SCAC until February 8. And they also discuss her art practice and exhibition at the Averitt Center of the Arts.  Antonia B. Larkin (B. Germany 1990) is an interdisciplinary artist based in Savannah, GA. She works primarily in video...

Kevin Kirkwood sits down with Ezra J. Ali-Dow, an actor, arts educator, and poet currently teaching at the Savannah Cultural Arts Center. He was born and raised in Philadelphia, PA, where the influence of his freedom to explore the city and its pockets of nature grew into a determination to explore the unknown. He attributes much of his artistry to his family and communities. Ezra aims to match di...

Kevin Kirkwood sits down with William Ruller, an artist currently living and working in Apt, France. William was born in Gloversville NY, 1981 received a B.A. in painting and ceramics from the State University of New York at Plattsburgh in 2007. Following his undergraduate degree, Ruller moved to Oregon where he worked as a production potter and ceramics instructor. In 2014 he received his MFA fro...

Kevin Kirkwood sits down with Keeana Heredia, an architectural designer based in Orlando, Florida. She thrives on exploring new ideas and techniques, always seeking fresh perspectives to bring her visions to life. An avid traveler, Keeana enjoys soaking up the architectural typologies of the places she visits, drawing inspiration from diverse styles and cultures. With strong leadership skills, she...

Kevin Kirkwood sits down with Horatio Hung-Yan Law, a Portland, Oregon-based artist known for his community-centered approach to artmaking. His work is deeply place-based, reflecting his commitment to engaging with diverse communities to create collaborative installations and public artworks that explore the evolving concept of community in a globalized world. Law’s art is deeply influenced by his...

Micah Kassell, born and raised in Silverton, Oregon, eventually made his way to Portland to pursue a life of multifaceted creativity in music, design, and, more recently, painting and drawing. Raised by a creative father, Kassell has always sought to infuse his work with a sense of whimsy, sarcasm, and a touch of wry cynicism—often with a wink—challenging the rigid systems that rely on formula. So...

Marjorie Dial is a multi-disciplinary artist whose practice includes sculpture, printmaking, and writing. She graduated from Yale where she studied history and earned an MFA from Oregon College of Art and Craft later in life. Dial’s ceramics incorporate her knowledge of history and reflect her practices of writing and research, often possessing a philosophical, narrative nature. In 2018, Dial foun...

Jeremy Okai Davis (b. Charlotte, NC) received a BFA in painting from the University of North Carolina in Charlotte, NC. Davis relocated to Portland, OR in 2007 where he has continued his studio practice in addition to working as a graphic designer and illustrator. His work has been shown nationally at the Studio Museum of Harlem (New York, NY), THIS Los Angeles (Los Angeles, CA), Wa Na Wari (Seatt...

Alex Hirsch has made architectural art glass since 2004 and painting since college. She specializes in site-specific, painterly glass and works on paper for exhibition. Her glass commissions are owned by the City of Portland; schools such as Auburn High School and Sunrise Elementary; medical centers including Valley Children’s Hospital and Good Samaritan Hospital; and universities like Oregon Stat...

Sara Sjol (b. Omaha, NE) takes her love of line and color and weaves them together in a vibrant and visual manner that carries through her paper and mixed-media works. In her early years, Sjol’s creativity focused mainly on graphic design and photography. It wasn’t until 2010, when she developed a chronic illness that her visual art began pouring out. Since then, Sjol has created an engaging serie...

Tatnall, renowned for his striking portraits and dynamic boxing paintings, is an artist who currently lives and works in Savannah, GA. He trained in painting and illustration at the University of Delaware, further honing his craft at the prestigious Art Students League in New York City, and earned his MFA in Painting from the University of Miami. Tatnall’s career as an educator spans many years; h...

Kip Bradley is a talented landscape oil painter based in Savannah, Georgia. His work beautifully captures the unique charm and serene landscapes of the Lowcountry, drawing inspiration from the region’s rich history, natural beauty, and the interplay of light and atmosphere. In this conversation, we dive into Kip’s artistic journey, his creative process, and what makes the landscapes of Savannah so...

Zach Waller is a self-taught photographer based in Savannah, Georgia, who recently relocated from Minnesota in March 2023. Although he works in logistics by day, photography has always been a central passion in his life, one that has experienced a resurgence after a long hiatus since his high school and college years. Exploring the world through his lens, Zach is drawn to the raw, beauty of everyd...

Carrie Christian is an artist living and working in Savannah. Carrie describes her work as narrative collages that investigate her fears, hopes, dreams, motherhood, love, heartbreak, and every other thing we go through as humans. Carrie is currently getting a masters in art therapy from Syracuse University. She loves to karaoke. Listen to this, and all episodes of The Strand by clicking the link i...

Valerio D’Ospina is an Italian born contemporary artist based in Philadelphia since 2014. He obtained both BA and MFA at the Accademia di Belle Arti in Florence, Italy, graduating cum laude. Only 7 days after his graduation in 2009, he was invited to teach at the Indiana University of Pennsylvania where he taught for 5 years until he moved to Philadelphia and decided to solely focus his career as...

Maxx Feist is a self-taught artist based in Savannah, GA, originally from Asheville, NC. Their friends and family were deeply affected by Hurricane Helene. The galleries that showcased Maxx's work are currently closed until further notice. If you have the resources to help support Maxx’s Ashville community, please consider connecting with the entities below. I recorded this episode during the firs...

José Pablo Barreda, an artist who was born and raised in Juárez, Mexico, later pursued his passion for illustration at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Over the past few years, he has transformed repurposed wooden chairs into intricate sculptures. His captivating work is currently on display at the Haen Gallery on Biltmore Avenue in Asheville, North Carolina. @chairismatico_         www...

As a designer, artist, and educator, Ben Copperwheat produces wearable art clothing, fine art, interior pieces, and provides creative print textile design and direction to some of the top brands worldwide. Copperwheat has created textile collections and brand direction for Gucci, Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger, Peter Som, Edun, Pret A Surf, Victorinox Swiss Army, Stephen Burrows, 3.1 Phillip Lim, DK...

Mary Hartman is a native of Charleston, WV. She is an artist who currently lives and works in Savannah, GA. Outside of group and solo exhibitions, she works as a commissioned portrait artist. @maryhartmanstudio                    maryhartman.net @pwshortgeneralstore Listen to this, and all episodes of The Strand by clicking the link in the @strandpodcast bio. Or, at  kevinwillpaint.com/strand  . E...

Stephanie Forbes is and artist who lives and works in Savannah, GA. She has participated in numerous exhibitions throughout California and also the South’s Low-Country. Most recently, Forbes has partnered with Child Enrichment, a child advocacy center in Augusta, Georgia where she has initiated a Survivors Gallery concept in the building’s corporate wing. This gallery will feature artists who have...

James Seward is an artist who lives and works in New York. During our conversation, we talked about his most recent solo exhibition at the Hudson River Museum titled “Embrace, Cinematic Moments”. Which wrapped up a couple of weeks before the interview. We also talked about some of his notable accomplishments. Including his experience working for several years as an assistant painter for the intern...

Seiji Anderson is an Art Director, Designer and Animator who aims to bring together a rich sense of spatial design with cinematic visuals. Leveraging a keen eye for lighting, cinematography and environments, Seiji relishes the opportunities where CGI can meet narrative ideas to elevate a project’s emotional impact. He continues to push the boundaries of his craft by exploring emerging technologies...