Meet the ArtPop Street Gallery Class of 2024
20 New Creatives for 2024 Revealed Tonight
It’s become a Charlotte holiday tradition. Before Santa slides down the chimney, Wendy Hickey, founder of ArtPop Street Gallery, and her team deliver a batch of 20 works created by local artists that will grace high-profile billboards, digital signs and more throughout the coming year.
And, tonight, they’ve done it again.
For eleven years, Hickey has poured her time and energy into filling the world with art through unique partnerships with the LendingTree Foundation, Adams Outdoor Advertising, Lamar Advertising, Awedience Media and other media partners.
The 20 artists selected for the 2024 ArtPop class will be featured on $8 million worth of outdoor advertising space in Charlotte and the nation. Members of the class will also be invited to participate in the educational course, Artist U, and receive a $500 stipend thanks to independent donations. Each year, ArtPop selects a high school senior. In 2024, that artist is Elsie Ebrahimi, from Fort Mill High School. She will receive a $2000 scholarship.
Without further ado, let’s meet the 20 artists, selected from over 280 applicants, and their work:
ABA HUTCHINSON
“Metallic Flail”
Web | IG
Aba Hutchinson’s artistic pursuits are rooted in traditional visual arts, but her current fascination has shifted to ceramics and pottery.
ANN J TRAVIS
“Spring Tulips”
Web | IG
Finance professional turned artist, Ann Travis’ botanical paintings explore the colors and patterns found in nature.
BARBARA CURRY
“Peach Gratitude Attitude”
Web | IG
Barbara Curry’s creative journey has taken her throughout the United States where she’s discovered something from each area’s culture to admire. Today, she’s painting in oils, highlighting local/regional subject matter.
BRETT BEASLEY
“Inward Corrosion”
Web | IG
Brett Beasley is a ceramic artist and sculptor who creates pottery for everyday use that is as artistic as it is functional.
CHLOE COMPTON
“Slipcast Birds”
Web | IG
Chloe Compton incorporates ceramics, sculpture, printmaking and digital processes to study the landscapes that surround her.
CLAIRE KIESTER
“Luminous Loops”
Web | IG
Claire Kiester is a fiber artist employing eco-friendly production methods. She seeks to reduce waste by utilizing recycled materials in the creation of her art.
ELSIE EBRAHIMI
“On the Way to the Creek”
IG
A senior at Fort Mill High School, Elsie Ebrahimi is inspired by nature and paints using impasto techniques (where paint is thickly laid on a surface, so that brushstrokes or palette knife marks are visible) accented by bright colors.
JAKE SUMMEROUR
“Rest Day”
Web | IG
A local artist who gained national attention during Inktober 2022, Jake Summerour is most known for his lighthearted ink illustrations that have evolved from realism to stylized creatures, characters and bright colors.
JANET CROOG
“Paper Tiger”
Web | IG
Janet Croog is a paper artist who transforms two-dimensional designs into vibrant three-dimensional expressions.
JINNA KIM
“Korea Pavilion at World Expo”
Web | IG
An interdisciplinary artist formally trained in classical music, Jinna Kim has expanded her creative life to explore filmmaking and photography, in addition to music.
JOANN C. MCDANIEL
“There’s No Place Like Home”
Web | IG
Focusing primarily on watercolor, acrylic painting and collage, Joann McDaniel enjoys applying her work to various substrates including yupo (synthetic, waterproof paper) and wood panels.
KRYSTLLIN LOUDERMILK
“Reflections”
Web | IG
Krystillin Loudermilk has a passion for incorporating natural elements and themes into work that spans various art forms. She frequently explores the themes of femininity and raw emotions, simultaneously celebrating the light, as well as the darkness, in her subjects.
LAUREN GIBSON
“Sunday Drive”
Web | IG
Lauren Gibson is a fine art photographer with a focus on movement within cinematic, street-style scenes
LILY ROMAN
“Lavi Apre”
Web | IG
http://@lilyromanartDespite being an active creative for many years, Lily Roman describes herself as an emerging artist. Her current mediums of choice are acrylic on paper, canvas and wood.
A painter, metal sculptor and photographer, Lori Schember has taken a creative path across the country. Her paintings especially seek to convey the surreal, dreamlike qualities inherent in the American Southwest.
MALAYSHA K. BELTON
“A Blue Line in a Red Sky”
Web | IG
Malaysha K. Belton’s passion is exploring Black culture through the arts. Her most recent collection features work that reflects advocacy for social and emotional change while calling for the healing of our culture’s inner child.
MARGARET FLEEMAN
“Urban Sunset”
Web | IG
Margaret Fleeman is a textile designer and fine art painter who uses symbolism and abstract design in her art to illuminate and explore future environmental issues.
MELISSA D. JOHNSTON
“release”
Web | IG
Melissa D. Johnson is a self-taught digital artist. Her recent focus is creating art with mobile devices.
NATALIE DARATONY
“All Matters”
Web | IG
A multi-disciplinary artist, Natalie Daratony creates work that reflects on the calm and organic shapes of nature.
RICO MARCELO
“Game. Set. Match.”
Web | IG
Rico Marcelo uses his camera’s lens to capture the beauty and essence of his subjects. He is motivated by being of service to others and in capturing small, genuine moments.
“It’s the moooost … creative time … of the yeeeear!”
Here are four events taking place in Charlotte over the next two weeks you should know about … and experience!
THIS WEEKEND: Pride & Joy Holiday Concert from One Voice Chorus
Dec. 8 at 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 9 at 2:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
BUY TICKETS.
One Voice Chorus of Charlotte is ready to infuse your holidays with an abundance of Pride and Joy. Their 2023 Winter Concert this weekend features musical selections celebrating holiday wonder and cheer with time-honored classics like “Lo, How A Rose E’er Blooming” and “It’s The Most Wonderful Time of the Year.” After the concert is over, you’re invited to hang with the singers immediately at a celebratory reception.
TWO: ONEBAND HOLIDAY CONCERT
Dec. 12 at 6:30 p.m.
Divine Barrel Brewing
FREE Admission
Charlotte Is Creative’s signature “flash-band” project, led by CIC co-founder, Matt Olin, will play one more set in 2023. Like every OneBand performance, the band has practiced only one time before hitting the stage for a “one night only” performance. Then, they’ll disband and two months later a new band will form for another go. Tuesday’s set list includes:
- “I Got a Woman” (Ray Charles)
- “Takin’ It to the Streets” (The Doobie Brothers)
- “Torn” (Natalie Imbruglia)
- “The Heat Is On” (Glenn Frey)
- “I Know You Rider” (Grateful Dead)
- “Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town” (Bruce Springsteen)
BONUS! One Voice Chorus and a brass trio will warm up the stage before OneBand brings it home.
THREE: HUNNID DOLLA ART FAIR
Dec. 15 and 16
Camp North End
FREE Admission
‘Tis the season to hunt for holiday gifts. Look no further. Hunnid Dolla Art Fair is headed back to Camp North End’s Ford Building for a second year. More than 40 Charlotte-based artists – many of whom were just featured at LOCAL/STREET in the Mint Museum – are selling original works of art for $100 each. But, be quick. Hunnid Dolla’ is a collector’s dream – but if you don’t act quickly, you may face the nightmare of missing out on an amazing piece of art.
Based on last year’s event, art will fly off the walls. More than $40,000 in local art was sold in two days at Hunnid Dolla last year.
The event is free, but tickets to the VIP party on Dec. 15 are $25 here.
FOUR: TOSCO MUSIC HOLIDAY PARTY
Dec. 18 at 7:30 p.m.
Knight Theater
TICKETS start at $29.50
Our friends at Tosco Music are playing their 8th annual holiday party concert on Monday, Dec. 18. This year, the Tosco team has transformed the theater into Charlotte’s living room, ready for a special night of holiday songs and singalongs before Santa comes down the chimney.
Led by John Tosco and the TMP House Band and Singalong Choir, more than a dozen diverse performers will take audiences on a musical sleigh ride through a variety of music styles. If you’ve never experienced a Tosco Music Party, give yourself a holiday gift and go.
Tickets are available now and discounted for groups of 10 or more