New year, new class: Charlotte’s ArtPop names its 2022 billboard artists
Each year ArtPop Street Gallery selects 20 talented local artists to feature their art on billboards around the Charlotte region for residents to enjoy. At a Dec. 2 ceremony, the nonprofit revealed its class of 2022, chosen from a record number of applicants across a 13-county region.
“This year is ArtPop’s ninth of sharing local artists’ work with the community, and the incredible talent in the Great Charlotte Region amazes us every time,” said Wendy Hickey, executive director, ArtPop Street Gallery.
Travis Johnson, an art teacher from Gastonia, Celia Kulp, a high school student artist who is homeschooled, and two ArtPop alum — Veda Saravanan and Eva Crawford — are among the selected artists.
“We received almost 200 submissions from an astonishing range of artistic mediums — glass, ceramics, digital art, encaustic, watercolor, fiber, paintings, photography, mixed media and sculpture. We are so thrilled to feature 20 of these artists on giant billboards, creating an outdoor art gallery for our entire region to experience and enjoy.”
Art at 70 mph
ArtPop is a nonprofit that gives communities greater access to art by supporting the artists who create it. Each year, the organization sorts through applications from artists across disciplines and selects 19 local artists and one student artist for its program.
Since its founding in 2014, the program has promoted 148 artists through its Cities Program and 25 through its Inspiration Projects, including its Windows of Hope and Verse & Vino party box in Charlotte.
The 2022 artists will have their work displayed on $6 million in donated ad space from airport and interstate billboards to digital billboards and newsstand displays — nearly double the amount funded in last year’s program. As part of their selection, the artists also receive free classes from ArtistsU, a feature spot on Art Pop’s Google Arts & Culture page, a $500 honorarium (adults) and a $1,500 scholarship and website (student), as well as access to sell their work at quarterly pop-up shows held at Le Meridien Hotel Charlotte.
“We are so grateful to the LendingTree Foundation and all of our media partners for powering year nine of our ArtPop Charlotte Cities Program. You will begin to see the installations of all the art in January of 2022,” Hickey said.
Ad space and other donated support is thanks to partners including Adams Outdoor Advertising, Charlotte Center City Partners, Awedience Media, ArtistsU, Le Meridien Hotel Charlotte, CEN MediaGroup, Red Truck Media and Kenjoh billboards.
Class of 2022 artists
Artist: Cynthia Allison-Kaye
Medium: digital art
Instagram: @cici_artsyhippie
Website: www.theartsyhippie.com
Artist: Cary Caldwell
Medium: glass
Instagram: @caryel8
Website: www.carycaldwell.com
Artist: Maria Campagna
Medium: digital art
Instagram: @mariavcampagna
Website: www.cottonandwooddesigns.com
Artist: Eva Crawford
Medium: water color
Instagram: @evacrawfordart
Website: www.evacrawfordart.com
Artist: Melissa Crosson
Medium: acrylic on canvas
Instagram: @nomadic_artist_
Website: www.mcrossonfineart.com
Artist: Kalin Devone
Medium: acrylic and oil paint on canvas
Instagram: @kalin_renee
Website: www.kalin-devone.com
Artist: Kevin Harris
Medium: oil on canvas
Instagram: @kevharrisart
Website: www.kevharrisart.com
Artist: Bae Hart
Medium: photography
Instagram: @_thebaehive_
Website: www.thebaehive.com
Artist: Liz Haywood
Medium: latex paint, gauche and pen
Instagram: @lizhaywood
Website: https://www.lizhaywood.com
Artist: Travis Johnson
Medium: mixed media, collage and acrylic
Instagram: @travisarthurartworks
Website: https://travisarthurartworks.wixsite.com/mysite-1
Artist: Cecilia Kulp
Medium: acrylic mural
Instagram: @celiakulpartanddesign
Website: In development
Artist: Bridget Martin
Medium: mixed media
Instagram: @bridgettefineart
Website: https://bridgettemartin.art/
Artist: Jodi McNeely
Medium: ceramics
Instagram: @jodi_lynn_pottery
Website: www.Jodilynnpottery.com
Artist: Nadia Ogunfowora
Medium: acrylic
Instagram: @ogunfowar
Website: https://www.nadiapaintsstuff.com
Artist: Stuart Peterman
Medium: stainless steel sculpture
Instagram: @stuartpeterman
Website: www.stuartpeterman.com
Artist: Bethany Salisbury
Medium: acrylic
Instagram: @bethanysalisburyart
Website: www.salisburyillustration.com
Artist: Katrina Sanchez Standfield
Medium: fiber art
Instagram: @fiberess
Website: www.fiberess.com
Artist: Veda Saravanan
Medium: paper mache and mixed media
Instagram: @veda4art
Website: www.veda4art.com
Artist: Melissa Stutts
Medium: encaustic
Instagram: @melissastuttsart
Website: www.melissastuttsart.com
Artist: Edelweiss Vogel
Medium: digital art
Instagram: @edelweiss_de_guzman_art
Website: https://www.edelweissvogel.com
