ABOUT us
katherine vergos riederer
Katherine grew up in Memphis. After graduating from White Station High School, Katherine attended the Rhode Island School of Design where she received a BFA in Apparel Design. After college, she moved to New York City to take a job at Ralph Lauren as assistant designer for girls 2-16 knits and accessories.
After working in NYC, Katherine decided to move back to Memphis. While back in Memphis, Katherine did freelance fashion illustrations and worked at her family's restaurant, The Rendezvous, in marketing, retail and social media. Katherine is married to Danny and has two kids Will and Lucy.
Check out video of Anna and Katherine and their kiddos in their favorite city here.
anna vergos blair
Anna is a native Memphian. After graduating from White Station High School, Anna attended the University of Virginia and received her BA in American Politics. Anna worked in the political world for a few years and then went to law school. Anna practiced law for almost 5 years, but has recently returned to her family's restaurant, The Rendezvous, to learn the family business.
Anna and Katherine were inspired by Anna's 3 year old (now 12) to open The Art Project. Anna is married to Angus and has two sweet little kiddos, Mac and Matilda.
Check out video of Anna and Katherine and their kiddos in their favorite city here.
art project staff
Terri Scott - Studio Manager
Terri Scott is a professional illustrator living in Memphis, TN. Terri earned a BFA with concentrations in illustration and painting at MCA in 2014. Since then, Terri has taught art to kids and made a handful of children’s books. Check out terriscottillustration.com to see more!
Bailey McDaniel
Bailey is a 19 year old college student working towards a career in real estate. She loves working with kids and seeing how they express themselves through art!
Hannah Grace Hall
Hannah Grace is a 3rd year student at University of Memphis majoring in Psychology with a minor in Child Development. Hannah Grace’s favorite artist is Monet, particularly Water Lilies, and enjoys painting and drawing art for friends.
Christiana Mercado
Christiana enjoys painting and creating mixed media illustrations. She currently lives in Memphis doing freelance painting and installation work!
FORMER ART PROJECT STAFF
Grace Porter
Grace Porter is Store Manager at the Art Project. She received her BA in Art in 2015 from Rhodes College. Grace has had various jobs in the Memphis arts community, including assisting and interning with Anna Wunderlich Art Consultation and studio assistant jobs with local artists Erin Harmon, Maysey Craddock, Ben Butler, Suzanne Henley, and Betsy Brackin. Grace has also had numerous experiences in art education, such as assisting at Flicker Street Studio and a Teaching Assistant position at Memphis College of Art’s Summer Art Camp. She has also spent two summers in Southern California working as a Youth Counselor at the prestigious arts camp, Idyllwild Arts Summer Program. Grace left the Art Project for a year to work as a pre-school teacher at Temple Israel's Barbara K. Lipman Early Learning Center. She loves being back!
Grace is also a practicing artist; check out her Website and Instagram.
Caroline Landaiche
Caroline Landaiche is a high school senior at St. Mary's Episcopal School. She was born and raised in Memphis, TN and has attended St. Mary's her entire school career. In the past, Caroline has worked as a counselor at St. Mary's Summer Day camp, St. Columba Episcopal Day Camp, Camp Strong River, and Grace St. Luke's Vacation Bible School, as well as a tutor at the St. Mary's Hughes Learning Center.
Anna Bodnar
Anna is an illustrator and graduate of Memphis College of Art. She has 4 years experience in children’s art education.
Claire Payne
Claire Payne is a senior at Rhodes College, studying Computer Science and Gender & Sexuality Studies. When she’s not coding, she enjoys art as a way to relax and unwind. Her favorite forms of artistic expression include embroidery and hand lettering. Her favorite part of working at The Art Project is seeing the creativity that is fostered within the space and its impact on the Memphis community.
Lauren Randolph
Lauren Randolph grew up in Humboldt, TN and is currently majoring in English Literature and Creative Writing at The University of Memphis. Her primary mediums are pen and ink. She has worked at The Art Project since May 2017, though her excitement for encouraging children’s artistic expression has long been a passion.
Colleen (Leen) Zorc
Colleen (Leen) Zorc is Memphis transplant and a local printmaker. She grew up in Washington, DC and graduated from Georgetown University with a degree in Finance and Studio Art. She is currently completing a masters degree at Boston University School of Medicine. When she is not at the Art Project, she can be found in the library writing her thesis, hammocking at the park, or working in her studio. Check out her work on Instagram.
Olivia Berry
Olivia Berry is a freshman at the University of Memphis and is majoring in Graphic Design. When it comes to art, she enjoys photography, painting portraits, and pen and ink work.
Stacy Green
Stacy Green has been a maker her whole life. She has been working with metal since 2016. Stacy received an Associates in Fine Arts from Sandhills Community College in 2015 and a Bachelors in Fine Arts with an emphasis in metal smithing from Memphis College of Art in 2018. She is interested in how objects interact with the body. She enjoys making wearable art and drawing and photography. Stacy is also apprenticing under Tootsie Bell, a local silversmith and jeweler.
HEATHER HOWLE
Heather grew up in Memphis and attended Briarcrest High School. She then attended the University of Memphis, where she earned a degree in Commercial Aviation. After college she's spent her time backpacking in Europe, working as a nanny, and refining her skills as an artist, honing in on collage and paint as her primary media. She draws her inspiration from the taboo and often-hidden demons within us and hopes that through her art, she can shine a light on those subjects, thereby illuminating them to show their ubiquity.
LAUREN McGEORGE
Lauren was born in Memphis and grew up in Marietta, GA. She received a Bachelor of Science in Communications from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville and worked in marketing and public relations for several years. After nannying for two years she went back to school to pursue a masters in early childhood education at the University of Memphis. Lauren has learned the importance of art in early development. Her teaching approach and methods reflect this as she integrates art into the curriculum whenever possible. Lauren agrees with Rachel Reyner that art and creativity in early childhood foster and build unique brain connections; and can have a long-term impact on inner-resilience that lasts a lifetime.
Sarah Tims
Sarah is a West Tennessee native and graduate of University of Southern Indiana with a Bachelors in Art Education. She loves being in midtown and enjoys hands-on art using with textures, collage, ceramics and plants.
DEVIN CULPEPPER
Devin Culpepper is a graduate of the University of Memphis. She received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in 2015 with a major in studio art and a minor in art history. Devin has been working at the Art Project since it first opened in 2015. Her artwork is featured at the T-Clifton Gallery on Broad Avenue as well as Charlie Vergos' Rendezvous and Eclectic Eye for seasonal window paintings. Devin's work can be viewed through her website and instagram:www.devinculpepperart.com and instagram.com/devin_culpepper
MARY PHAN
Mary is a native Memphian and graduate of Rhodes College with a double major in Economics and Art History. She is active in the arts community in Memphis whether she is playing her fiddle at a show or helping out with an art installation. She also enjoys wood burning, lettering, and painting. She's excited for the future of art in Memphis and is glad she can be a part of it through places like the Art Project.
LEXI PERKINS
Lexi Perkins grew up in Murfreesboro, TN and graduated from Rhodes College with a double major in Art and Urban and Community Health. She specializes in sculpture, painting, and drawing, and has exhibited work in solo and group shows. Her art can be seen on her Instagram.
Charlotte Sechrist
Charlotte Sechrist will graduate in 2019 from Rhodes College with a BA in Studio Art and Art History. Her primary mediums are painting and sculpture. She is originally from St. Louis, where she lived for her whole life before moving to Memphis. She has experience working as a docent for children at the St. Louis Art Museum. She plans to attend graduate school for integrated design in the future after traveling post graduation.
Mattie Boyd
Mattie Boyd grew up in Jackson, TN and graduated from Rhodes College with a BFA in Studio Art. She has a background in painting and sculpture but has recently begun working with digital photography, performance, makeup, and video as a means of making with sculptures as setting or props. She has a extensive experience working with children ages 2-6 teaching after school art programming.
Grace Lee
Grace is a lifelong Memphian and Midtowner and will graduate from St. Mary’s Episcopal School in May. After high school she plans to continue in her love of theatre as a lighting design major in college. In addition to working behind the scenes and onstage for numerous theatrical productions at St. Mary’s, Grace has also assisted at Grace-St. Luke’s camps teaching theatre, dance, sewing, and art with kids aged 4-14. She is also an author at grrlpunch.com!
MONICA BUSHONG
Monica Bushong is a recent graduate from Rhodes College who double majored in Art History and Religious Studies. She has worked in various museums, including the Brooks Museum in Overton Park, and has experience leading arts education programs for all ages. Monica is the current artist-in-residence at Caritas Village, as well as studio assistant to Crosstown Arts artist Eric Clausen. Her art is performance and community based, encouraging creative interaction and collaboration among those experiencing her artwork.
Clara McDonald
This is Clara McDonald! She is 20 years old and just moved back to Memphis to attend college as a sophomore. Clara is majoring in Literary Publishing and New Media, but she enjoys art as a constant presence in her life. She says collage art therapy is her favorite way to relax, but that painting is a close second.
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