Amy Massey

Meet Asheville-based artist, Amy Massey.

Amy Massey is a visual artist and massage therapist living in Asheville, NC.  She grew up in Pittsburgh, PA and received a BFA from Columbus College of Art & Design.  Initially, her studies were focused on photography and its ability to intimately capture the essence of a place or person.  As she honed her creative vision, she began yearning for a means to capture less material aspects of the human experience, and painting became the perfect outlet for that exploration. 

Amy’s current body of work, Portals and Passages consists of delicate, ethereal vignettes painted in watercolor & gouache on watercolor paper. This work illustrates the push and pull of emotion, intentionally using negative space to suspend fluid forms while seeking both tension and harmony in the intricate, lively relationships of line, shape and color. The resulting images are meditations on the intangible aspects of being: a flowing exploration of the complexities of growth, grief and motherhood, and the ways we must turn inward in order to nurture and expand the softest parts of ourselves.

To view Amy’s work locally, visit the Wedge Studios.

Matt Perusi


Meet Asheville-based artist, Matt Perusi.

Meet Matt Perusi, owner of Perusi Art and tattoo artist at Skeleton Crew Tattoo Company in Waynesville, NC. Inspired by doodling skulls in school, Matt pursued his passion at the Savannah College of Art and Design, earning a BFA in illustration. Now, he's your friendly neighborhood tattoo artist, blending dark and twisted with humor.

Matt believes tattoos should express individual personality, prioritizing the creation of a unique masterpiece that tells your story.

For Matt, tattooing is not just about the art but also the experience. Step into his studio, and it's like hanging out with an old friend. He envisions the process as laid-back and enjoyable, sharing stories while he works his magic. Outside the studio, Matt sketches creepy monsters and 90s throwbacks, a mix of Michael Myers, Beavis and Butthead, and Ahh Real Monsters.

Matt loves connecting with those who embrace his offbeat creativity. Ready to bring your art vision to life on your skin or decorate your walls with 90s style? Matt is the artist you’ve been looking for!

Connect with Matt

Find him on Instagram: @perusi_art

Ashley Ozmint

Meet Asheville-based artist, Ashley Stone Ozmint.

Ashley Ozmint is known for her oil landscape paintings and fine art prints that celebrate untouched land and views that shape a more thoughtful human experience.

Currently based in downtown Asheville, she works from her home studio, immersed in the mountain landscapes that surround. Ashley takes notes from the Impressionist and Tonalist movements seeking to capture emotional reactions from the landscape rather than realistic renderings


Connect with Ashley

Find her on Instagram: @ashleyozmint.art


View her work:

  • Grand Bohemian Lodge • Greenville, SC

  • Common Good Gallery • Boone, NC

  • Nest Organics • Asheville, NC



Lindsay Anderson

Meet Marion-based artist, Lindsay Anderson.👋🏽

Lindsay hopes that each painting and illustration she creates will serve as a lens through which others may view the seemingly ordinary through the eyes of a wonderstruck child. “It is through this lens that we can remember how to let in the full spectrum of beauty rather than seeking to simplify things to their most basic form as society so often leads us to do”, she says in her artist statement.

“I believe that our connection to the earth and all of its wondrous cycles is one of the most fantastic aspects of being human and this belief naturally finds its way into almost everything I create.”

Despite possessing a four-year degree in illustration, Lindsay says that her most significant artistic development occurred post-college. This growth stemmed from living and experiencing the world through unconventional means, such as residing in an unfinished barn on a farm, embarking on solo road trips, hiking a section of the Appalachian trail, and living in a van, among other experiences. At the age of 32, Lindsay is now in the process of settling into a space where she can establish roots and explore the concept of personal growth within a community.

“Through my work, I seek to express the subtle plays of light, color, and energy found in the world around me. I see so many beautiful colors and so many magical things and I want more than anything to share that vision with others.” Lindsay Anderson, Artist Statement

Connect with Lindsay

Find her on Instagram: @FreakyTeaArt

View her work:

  • Foundation Studios in the River Arts District, Asheville, NC

  • Arrowhead Gallery in Old Fort, NC

  • The MACA in Marion, NC

Jen Toledo

Meet Asheille-based artist, Jen Toledo.👋🏽

Jen was born in Chapel Hill, NC, and raised in the mountains of Western North Carolina. After graduating from WCU with a BFA in Fine Arts concentrating in Painting and Drawing she traveled and lived in several cities out of state and abroad before deciding to return to The Blue Ridge Mountains. She has been living and working in Asheville for the past 8 years. 





“I use both watercolor and pen and ink to create depictions of Appalachian flora and fauna, a process that creates a place of sanctuary and expression for me in a chaotic world.”





These pen and ink drawings are meant to conjure curiosity and awe for the natural wildlife in Western North Carolina. By envisioning some of the less popular, more elusive, often furry and predatory creatures and getting to know them in a moment of stillness on paper they can be seen and appreciated in a way that isn't always possible. 

To see more of Jen's work including paintings, drawings and murals go to her instagram @jentoledo.art.

Dylan Helman

Meet Dylan Helman, a Morganton, NC-based artist passionate about keeping things light and enjoying the creative ride. For now, he's perfectly content with his straightforward and honest Instagram bio, which says: "I draw stuff." 

Dylan began drawing as a child and has primarily transitioned to the digital realm, exploring many styles as diverse as his sources of inspiration. His creative fuel comes from fellow artists in the community, music, TV shows, games, beer, the beauty of nature, and, of course, the silly thoughts that dance around in his head.

"If I can make someone chuckle by looking at my work, or at least get them to think, 'that looks pretty cool', then I feel like I've accomplished something worthwhile."

Whether a meticulously detailed masterpiece or a whimsical doodle, Dylan's art is about having fun and sharing that joy with others. 

Visit Dylan at a special “Meet the Artist” event Friday September 29 at 7pm at Fonta Flora Brewery located in downtown Morgantown, where his work is on display throughout September. 


Keep up with Dylan on Instagram:

@dylan.s.helman

Justin Clark

Asheville based photographer, Justin Clark discovered his passion for making photos at an early age. “I picked up my first film camera as a teenager. I was always the kid in my group of friends with the camera, and that hasn’t changed,” says Justin.  

His work ranges from professional portraits to weddings and engagements to picturesque landscapes. Justin takes pride in making photos that allow his clients to look back on special moments in their lives, while cherishing the memories forever.



“There is nothing like a picture that has the ability to bring a smile, or tear of joy”, he says.




Keep up with Justin on Instagram:

@justin_clark_photography

@justintclark





Kyndra Sweep

Alaskan-raised, Asheville-based illustrator Kyndra Sweep uses color and texture to carve silly little monsters from multiple mediums. She finds inspiration from folk tales, fantasy, therapy, and two wonderful dogs, Auggie and Ghost. Whether Kyndra’s creatures convey relatable mental health thoughts or the happy ignorance of real life, her work always represents a sense of whimsy we might have once forgotten.

When not in her studio, you’ll often find Kyndra playing a board game, jumping in a lake, trying new food with her husband Russell, or painting a mural around town.

You can find Kyndra’s work in Horse + Hero, Downtown Books And News, Regeneration Station, HollerHouse, Pollen and Art Garden

Keep up with Kyndra in Instagram: @flywithsparrowsart

Li Newton

Photo courtesy of Li Newton.

Asheville-based artist Li Newton uses an array of found paper collected from old books and magazines to create rich, textured pieces that beg to tell a story. 

“There is an intimacy to tearing out paper and watching a portrait or scene come to life as I build up layers. I feel closer to what I am trying to convey than ever before,” she states in her artist bio.

Her latest collage, featuring thousands of individually hand-cut pieces, testifies to her dedication to sifting meticulously through forgotten pages for the color, shape, or texture she needs to bring her vision to life.

Although mixed media collage is her primary focus, Li has explored many mediums, including pastels, silk painting, acrylics, oils, and more, dubbing herself a “Jill-of-all-Trades.”

Li is represented by Modern Wave Gallery in Asheville and Trackside 375 Gallery in Weaverville. 

Spencer Beals

“I'm currently working on a wordless picture book exploring natural pathways and non-verbal communication”, Spencer Beals, AFAP client, shares what he’s up to.

Meet the Artist

Spencer Beals

Artwork by Spencer Beals

Asheville based artist and van dweller, Spencer Beals, loves creating worlds. His work is imaginative, colorful, and often intricate, evoking a sense of wonder and play, while simultanously inviting inner exploration.

Inspired by nature, Spencer enjoys conceptualizing works that show the interconnectedness of life, each piece telling its own story.


Spencer’s Studio is located in the River Arts District at Foundation Studios, where he also hosts Sketch Book Club, a creative gathering for the community held twice a month to share inspiration. There is a meeting TONIGHT (April 3)! More details in the flyer below.

Amar Stewart

Photo of Amar Stewart with Painting.

Meet the Artist

Amar Stewart

Painting by Amar Stewart.

Asheville based artist Amar Stewart is opening his new studio in the South Slope. The new space is a multi use unit where Amar will create his works, showcase them in a gallery setting and also sell limited prints, homewares and merch. Amar’s work celebrates Hip-Hop culture and other genres of music that inspire him.

“I am curating this space where like minded people can come through, kick it and look at some art that isn’t usually found in this neighborhood. I’ll be creating new works every month in time for First Fridays.”

Amar’s studio is located at The Refinery which is in the heart of the Brewery district in The South Slope. The Refinery is a building filled with painters, sculptors, photographers, jewelry designers and other creatives spaces.



First Fridays starts 3/3 from 4:30-8pm

The Refinery

207 Coxe Ave

Asheville, NC 28801