Up Close and Personal

Kelly Somer explores the elegant details of food preparation in pieces like “Ruby Red.”

Art is nothing if not personal. Artists start out as strangers, but with each new work, more of their triumphs, losses, self-discoveries, loves and memories are revealed. You must be incredibly brave to be an artist; it’s frightening to be that vulnerable. And you must be incredibly interested in other people’s stories to be a collector; you are bringing a piece of the person into your home.

AmericanStyle has been running its annual Emerging Artists feature for five years now (that’s close to 50 artists), and we feel like we know each one of them well. It’s hard not to develop a sense of closeness with a group that is so enthusiastic and forthcoming.

In this year’s edition, you’ll find ceramic artist Amy Chase, who draws from a special place in her childhood, her grandmother’s blue bedroom, to infuse color and evoke feelings of calm and comfort in her work. Glass artist Joshua Hershman also shares very personal memories of his grandparents in his work, embedding family photos into his kiln-cast cameras. Jewelry artist Sukyo Jang, who moved to New York to pursue her dream, uses her art to share with others what used to live only in her head. “Being an artist allows me to bring the beautiful shapes and forms I see in my mind to life,” she says.

Turn the page to delve into the lives and work of our eight new emerging artists—maybe you’ll even be inspired to welcome some of their very personal creations into your own home.

Rachel Wilson
Kate MacDowell
Joshua Hershman
Sukyo Jang
Amy Chase
Andrew Hayes
Kerrick Johnson
Kelley Somer