Damon Kelly
Damon Kelly is a furniture curator and the owner of The Eclectic Motif in Woodbridge, VA – his business specializes in preowned high-end furnishings and antiques. Brands within his inventory include Baker, Swaim, Ralph Lauren, Maitland Smith, Milo Baughman and Harvey Probber among many others and spans styles from fine European antiques to mid-century modern, vintage, and contemporary pieces. Damon enjoys the "surprise" in the hunt for great pieces and treasures as well as the timelessness of unique furnishings of different tastes, periods, styles, and moods. He says his journey as a curator is also influenced by his love for old houses and old things as much as he appreciates the new.
Damon's love for antiques and fine furniture spans well over three decades, and he says this love story began during his childhood with his parents. Both Damon's mother and father also had a love affair with antiques and "junking" as young adults. While Damon's friends and other children were out playing on Saturdays, Damon's parents took him and his older sister with them to auctions and antique stores in search of unique treasures and pieces to add to their collection. He was captivated by the world of auctions as he watched people bid against each other to own all kinds of beautiful and unique things that so often had equally intriguing histories behind them.
When Damon was about ten years old, he started refinishing antique pieces to sell in his father's retail space inside a local antique mall. From there, his interest in furniture deepened, and he began to develop his eye for great finds.
Drawing from his personal experiences through the years and from his emotional connection to hunting for treasures, both old and new, Damon says it is the mystery and stories behind the pieces he acquires which draw him most. He loves translating how he relates to furniture into someone else's opportunity to develop a connection of their own with his finds. And more, Damon loves hearing the stories about pieces from people he encounters that often enjoy sharing with him during his furniture finds
Damon is extraordinarily selective and intentional in his search for fabulous and exciting pieces. Still, his passion for what he does is what compels his success as a curator, as he finds things that he knows will stand the test of time and that others will appreciate and enjoy.
Since his teen years, Damon says that he has dreamed of owning an auction house and creating an upscale home aesthetics brand. Living out his passions as he is doing right now puts Damon even closer to realizing that dream. Damon says that he always reminds himself that "I love what I do and know that the possibilities for my business are endless."
sarah ritter
Sarah Ritter is the creator and owner of Ritter Candle Co, the makers of Leslie Tyler’s infamous ‘Black House’ Candle. Sarah has been making candle for many years, but took the leap to start her business in December of 2018. Sarah and her family live in Dahinda, Illinois. We make sure that all of our hand-crafted and poured creations use 100%, eco-friendly soy wax and bring inviting aromas into your home using only the highest quality fragrance oils. Sarah hopes that you fall in love with Ritter Candles, and thanks you for supporting her small business.
kayla phillips
Kayla Phillips is an artist, graphic designer, and aspiring print maker living and working in Peoria, Illinois. She sees the world in shapes and splashes of color and hopes that through her art you will too. When she's not making or creating, you can find her exploring the outdoors or at her favorite coffee shop.
Eliza Von Zerneck
Eliza von Zerneck holds a BFA in illustration from the Rhode Island School of Design. While in Providence, she created and published editorial illustrations for the Brown Political Review and contributed artwork to various independent and RISD publications and exhibits. After four years on the East Coast, she now lives and works in Peoria as a freelance illustrator and designer. She is currently a resident at the Prairie Center of the Arts.
abby gettys
Abby Gettys established her interior design firm in 2014. Procuring original art for her clients' homes reinforced her belief in the philosophy that the best way to support the arts is to buy art. Collecture was founded in an effort to advocate for artists and emphasize the importance of incorporating art in interior design.
Chantell marlow
Chantell Marlow is a midwest based designer and illustrator with an affinity for all things floral. Inspired by faith, motherhood, and the “helpers” of the world, she uses art to bring a little beauty and thoughtfulness into our fast paced world. With a decade of professional graphic design experience, she also offers design services such as brand identity development and packaging design.
Nichole Gronvold Roller
Nichole Gronvold Roller is a painter who received a B.F.A. in Art Education from Minnesota State University of Moorhead, an M.A. in Art Education from Boston University, and an M.A. in Painting from Bradley University. In addition to being an artist, Nichole is a full-time high school art teacher in Tremont, IL where she has been teaching for the past twenty-two years. Nichole lives in Illinois with her husband and three children.
Recent selected group and solo exhibitions include "International Juried Show" Beacon Gallery, Boston, MA (2018), SuperFine! Art Fair NYC” New York, NY with BoxHeart Gallery(2018), "Obscure Space" Contemporary Art Center, Peoria, IL (2018), "13th National Juried Exhibition" Axis Gallery, Sacramento, CA (2018), “Above Ground" BoxHeart Gallery, Pittsburgh, PA (2018), "SUDDEN CHANGE OF WIND" James May Gallery, Algoma, WI (2019), "New Optics" The Painting Center, New York, NY (2020) "A Few of Our Favorite Things" BoxHeart Gallery, Pittsburgh, PA (2020) "Nonobjective" Contemporary Art Center, Peoria, IL (2020) "Ensemble: Together Again" The Painting Center, New York, NY (2020), Dubuque Museum of Art, Dubuque, IA (2020), and upcoming McLean County Arts Center, Bloomington, IL (2021).
Nichole's paintings have been featured in art publications in the Inside Publications (Sacramento, CA); Peoria Journal Star (Peoria, IL); Utrecht (Brooklyn, NY); Dick Blick (Galesburg, IL); Grafix (Maple Heights, OH); and Wall Street International Magazine (Budva, Montenegro).
Shannon Emmanuel
Shannon Emmanuel is a self-trained figurative painter whose work in acrylic/oil and gouache features themes of childhood, nature and storytelling. Her work often includes use of gold highlights and references to rural landscapes and is occasionally surreal in the combination of elements as well as influenced by turn of the century art nouveau illustration work.
Born and raised in Nova Scotia and moved to British Columbia in 1995, her work has been shown as a student in the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia, and more recently shown the past three years in the juried 'International Artists' Day' show at 100 Braid St Studios in New Westminster, the 2019 'Ensemble' show at the ACT Art Gallery in Maple Ridge, the 2019 'Positively Petites' show at Place des Arts in Millardville, Coquitlam as well as several commercial properties and local municipal displays including the FVRL.
Andre Petty
"Born and raised in Peoria, Il, André has been drawing and painting since he was a kid. Without much formal training, he was always "drawn" to almost anything artistic through high school, college, the United States Navy, and back to college again. From sketching and photography, to water colors and cosplaying, André has never shied away from an opportunity to try something new. One of those avenues led him from a Navy shipboard firefighter to a 21 year ongoing career with the Peoria Fire Department. Whether learning from others, YouTube videos, or simply looking at art he is a big believer in the idea of many different paths to becoming a great artist. He is blessed to have the continued support of his beautiful wife, Angie, and their amazing som, Henry. Like many others, André is still finding his way and enjoying the process and the ride!
2019-accepted into Peoria Heights Fine Arts Fair
2019,2020-accepted into Peoria Art Guild Fine Arts Fair
2019-Big Picture Peoria Muralist
2020-Peoria Magazine's Best New/Upcoming Artist
laura prieto-velasco
When Chicago artist Laura Prieto-Velasco first started hammering bowls, it was not with the intent to create a homeware line for her jewelry and fashion company, Hvnter Gvtherer. Rather, it was a meditative process she used as a way to work through her thoughts. The evolution of Prieto-Velasco’s work is representative of her personal and artistic journey. The artist originally attended Temple University’s Tyler School of Art in Philadelphia to pursue a degree in graphic design. But while studying abroad in Italy, she fell in love with metal sculpture and upon her return switched her studies to metals, jewelry and CAD CAM. She went on to earn her master’s in applied design at San Diego State University, where she discovered her passion for hammering.
Guided by an ethos of sustainability Prieto-Velasco uses byproducts of the construction industry to create her pieces, working with gutter and roofing companies and other artisans who allow her to dig through their scrap bins to procure discarded copper. The scrap metal dictates the size of the final piece, which is guided by a multitude of influences– including, unexpectedly, Flamenco dancing.
“The rhythmic aspects of the dance and the heel work is really connected to hammering,” explains Prieto-Velasco, who has Puerto Rican and Spanish ancestry. The artist has been fascinated by the dance style since she was a child, and she began taking classes when she moved to Chicago in 2009 after graduate school. “I am heavily drawn to the history of the Romani people and early flamenco style because of its complex origins and nomadic culture,” she explains.
Prieto-Velasco’s newest collection, Iron Age, has a more personal focus. “I’ve had my head in Iron Age for the past two years or so,” she says. “As a woman in my late 30s struggling with infertility and the pressures associated with this, I used the bowls to meditate upon this concept of an empty womb.”
Female fortitude is a common thread in Prieto-Velasco’s work. The work of women metalworkers leans toward the tactile and intuitive, says Prieto-Velasco, who is influenced greatly by female artists.
“People have this notion that most metalworkers are big, burly men, But when it comes down to it, you have to have a sensitive sensibility and delicacy about the way you work with metal. It’s a precise but also fluid and sensual medium.”
dan ossandon
Dan Ossandon believes that art should felt as well as seen. He enjoys creating prints that are filled with pleasing tones and forms that convey strong emotions on contemplation. Dan O. has been creating art since his youth. He gets his inspiration from everyday life experiences which he captures onto printworks with bright colors and thick lines which define his signature style.
dan nagel
Daniel Nagel is a Graphic Designer and Screen Printer who lives and works in Peoria, Illinois. He attended Western Illinois University where he received his bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts in 2010. Shortly after graduation, Daniel moved to Dubai, UAE, where he was heavily influenced by his travels and the diverse cultural landscape. During his time in the Middle East, he was a resident artist at Tashkeel, an art facility established by Sheika Lateefa bint Maktoum. In 2018, he relocated to Peoria and began a residency at the Prairie Center for the Arts. He spent his residency creating screen prints that were inspired by his travels abroad. Daniel uses limited colors and balanced compositions to create light-hearted and graphically pleasing works which are accompanied by a range of depth and dynamic textures. Several of his works were chosen to be displayed at the newly opened Ronald McDonald House in Peoria, IL.
lily mendez
Lily Mendez is by far our youngest collaborator at a budding age of 12! Lily lives with her parents in the Chicago land area and has enjoyed exploring many creative mediums, including performance art through her school. Lily has been drawing since she can remember, often gifting those close to her with portraits. She began exploring portraitures with markers of pop culture icons, including everyone from Cardi B. to the late Justice Ruth Badder Ginsberg. Lily hopes to continue to hone her craft and discovery more about her unique expression through art.
Gina Perillo
Gina lives in Washington, IL with her husband and their two sons. She graduated from Southern IllinoisUniversity of Carbondale, IL in 2010 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts-Major Art and Design, MajorConcentration Art Education with minors in Art History and Museum Studies.Gina has exhibited in several juried art shows and her work has been displayed in solo and collaborative gallery exhibits. She has a painting in the permanent modern art collection at The Rochester Museum ofFine Arts located in Rochester, NH. In 2015 she had her work featured in a project collaboration withThe Ellen DeGeneres Show and Houzz. You can find her work in stores such as West Elm & Minted..Gina works with acrylics on gallery stretched canvas. Her pieces are minimalist and focus on modern abstract landscapes/seascapes which are layered with rich colors and have a lot of movement and depth. Much of her inspiration comes from nature and can be described as calming, soothing, bold, and vibrant.
Cherise rollins
Cherise Rollins is an artist and creative entrepreneur designing vibrant, artistic, engaging pillows to empower people to express their individual personalities, creating joy and enriching the world by being your true self.Her art’s inspired by a diverse mix of materials, often the high quality sample-sized textiles interior design firms have set aside to discard. “I see the beautiful possibilities in each piece and feel compelled to creatively transform them into something new and extraordinary that brings value once again to our lives.”With a deep love for textiles, she acted on a desire to make a different kind of pillow—oversized and bursting with colorful, mixed fabrics. After sewing the first one, she felt pure joy in having the artful expression in her home and wanted to share that experience with others, helping us all create spaces that celebrate our individuality.As a black woman, she tells her story in her own narrative through this art. Her work is all about the beauty in diversity and in our differences
- the Leslie Signature Collection -
I am so excited to formally join the gang and offer my own collections of curated home furnishings inspired by the craftsman and artistry I incorporate into my design client’s homes. You can expect to see everything from stemware to vintage art, small furniture, textiles, and even utilitarian wares. My collection will be for the homeowner who values art and yearns to evoke it in even the most mundane, everyday activities. Typically reserved for my clients and ART Box subscribers I am so excited to share my growing collection with everyone!
