"studio creations" by kentuck's studio and teaching artists: exhibition recap

It's the most wonderful time of the year: Kentuck's annual Studio Artist Exhibition! Each December through January, our Studio Artists and our Teaching Artists fill our Museum Gallery with their work from the year. Kentuck's Studio Artists rent working space on Kentuck's main campus and they are each an important part of the fabric of our creative community. Kentuck's teaching artists run our workshop spaces, Studio 2 and Kentuck's Clay Studio.

This year, five artists are part of Kentuck’s Studio Artist program: Neel Alexander, Amy LeePard, Abi Brewer, Michael Hand, and Virginia Shirley. Our teaching artists are Molly Nelko and Amy Smoot.

Neel Alexander

"I believe my art performs best when it subtly blends many styles, influences, and media into something unique for that moment. A lot of my work uses themes of nature and historical popular culture references. The mediums I have been using most are acrylics, paint markers, and spray paint. I also enjoy making sculpture. I usually make those out of sculpey or foam and sometimes adhere them to found objects. My main process starts by writing down ideas throughout the day and later revising them into drawings. Depending on the idea in the drawing, I then choose a medium to start working with. When it all goes well, I finish with a fully realized illustration, painting, or sculpture."

A, Not Another Bad Bunny?, Neel Alexander, canvas, color pencils, pen & ink, acrylic pens, cut paper, & aerosol paint, 11"x14", EX-NA-20, $228

B, Flowretta, Neel Alexander, canvas, color pencils, pen & ink, acrylic pens, cut paper, & aerosol paint, 8"x10", EX-NA-25, $156

C, And She was the Grass, Neel Alexander, canvas, color pencils, pen & ink, cut paper, & aerosol paint, 11"x14", EX-NA-19, $200

D, Fairied Away, Neel Alexander, canvas, color pencils, pen & ink, acrylic pens, cut paper, & aerosol paint, 8"x10", EX-NA-30, $156

E, What's So Funny..., Neel Alexander, canvas, color pencils, pen & ink, acrylic pens, cut paper, & aerosol paint, 11"x14", EX-NA-26, $228

F, Meet Me at the Crossroads, Neel Alexander, canvas, color pencils, pen & ink, cut paper, & aerosol paint, 8"x10", EX-NA-15, $156

G, Nourish the Nest with Love, Neel Alexander, canvas, color pencils, pen & ink, acrylic pens, cut paper, & aerosol paint, 8"x10", EX-NA-28, $156

H, Weird Fishes, Neel Alexander, canvas, color pencils, pen & ink, acrylic pens, cut paper, & aerosol paint, 11"x14", EX-NA-22, $NFS

I, In Bloomed, Neel Alexander, canvas, color pencils, pen & ink, acrylic pens, cut paper, & aerosol paint, 8"x10", EX-NA-27, $156

J, Sports Nut (football), Neel Alexander, canvas, color pencils, pen & ink, cut paper, & aerosol paint, 8"x10", EX-NA-18, $128

K, Sports Nut (baseball), Neel Alexander, canvas, color pencils, pen & ink, cut paper, & aerosol paint, 8"x10", EX-NA-16, $128

L, Sports Nut (basketball), Neel Alexander, canvas, color pencils, pen & ink, cut paper, & aerosol paint, 8"x10", EX-NA-17, $128

M, Haloed Zadkiel (Archangel of Mercy & Forgiveness), Neel Alexander, canvas, color pencils, pen & ink, acrylic pens, cut paper, & aerosol paint, 11"x14", EX-NA-29, $228

N, Perched, Neel Alexander, wood panel, color pencils, pen & ink, acrylic pens, cut paper, & aerosol paint, 3"x9", EX-NA-23, $105

O, Cloud Gazing, Neel Alexander, canvas, color pencils, pen & ink, acrylic pens, cut paper, & aerosol paint, 11"x14", EX-NA-21, $228

Amy LeePard

Amy LeePard is a book artist and letterpress printer who creates one-of-a-kind and limited edition handmade books and prints. Amy received her Master of Fine Arts degree in Book Arts from The University of Alabama in 2016. Her work incorporates printing processes that span the history of print technology from traditional printmaking to experimental processes for letterpress printing to modern giclée printing. As a hand bookbinder and papermaker, Amy has a special interest in historic book structures and paper sculpture.

P, May Flowers, Amy LeePard, Letterpress Print from Wood Type  1 of 5, 8x10, EX-AL-10, $85

Q, April Showers, Amy LeePard, Letterpress Print from Wood Type  1 of 5, 8x10, EX-AL-09, $85

R, August Light, Amy LeePard, Letterpress Print from Wood Type  1 of 5, 8x10, EX-AL-13, $85

S, We The People, Amy LeePard, Letterpress Print from Wood Type  1 of 5, 8x10, EX-AL-12, $85

T, June Moon, Amy LeePard, Letterpress Print from Wood Type  1 of 5, 8x10, EX-AL-11, $85

Abi Brewer

“My paintings are often born out of self-reflection. Through meditating on experiences from my past – be it fairytales I grew up with, Chinese traditions my mother tenderly passed down, or memories from my experiences as a classical ballet dancer- I reference pieces of myself through whimsical portrayals of nature, culture, and the figure. I love the freedom that mixed media allows and how the combination of different materials reflect the concepts behind my work: combining dynamic materials and elements both physically and conceptually to create a harmonious narrative and image."

U, "Wonder", Abigail Brewer, Oil and Assorted Satin and Silk on Canvas, 30x30 inches, EX-AB-02, $700

V, "Cascade", Abigail Brewer, Oil and Korean Satin on Canvas, 24x36 inchew, EX-AB-04, $700

W, "Sylph", Abigail Brewer, Oil and Chinese Silk on Linen, 36 inch circle, EX-AB-01, $1500

X, "Dew Drop", Abigail Brewer, Oil and Chinese Silk on Canvas, 26x26 inches, EX-AB-03, $500

Virginia Shirley

Simple objects and scenes, such as a pear, a child holding a fish, a farmers field, or fresh cut flowers, hold equal appeal for Virginia, who divides her time between homes on Dauphin Island and in Tuscaloosa. Four categories…landscapes and seascapes, still life objects, figures, and abstracted scenes…provide the inspiration for the majority of her paintings. She is known for her flowing, rich use of vibrant color and lush brush strokes, usually with her subjects containing an element of impressionism and often against an abstracted background. Her award-winning work has been featured in numerous real estate show homes, juried shows, individual gallery exhibitions, and more than a dozen galleries across the South.

DD, A Gift of Flowers, Virginia Shirley, Oils on Canvas, 24"x24"x1.5", EX-VS-002, $525

EE, famcy China and Crystal, Virginia Shirley, Oils on Canvas- Framed, 12"x10" Framed, EX-VS-003, $175

FF, Pink Roses, Virginia Shirley, Oils on Canvas, 40"x30"x1.5", EX-VS-001, $1125

Michael Hand

Michael is a resident of Northport, Alabama. He enjoys spending his free time in the gym, working in the yard and in his studio on the Kentuck campus. Michael picked up painting again during the Covid shutdown, “I like to get out of my head and break up the stress of everyday life and let it come out in my work. I love to see my work evolve in front of me. I like to use colored washes and other mediums, I like to let the piece “speak to me.” I like to add textures to some of my pieces, be it sand, left over raw canvas, or anything laying around the studio.” Michael likes to combine acrylics and colored pencils along with the combination of other mediums. Michael also enjoys working with watercolors and recently started working in clay. Michael has been a part of the Kentuck family for several years.  “I enjoy the atmosphere and being with other artist.”

Y, Blurred Vision, Michael Hand, Mixed Media on Canvas, 36"x42", EX-MH-003, $1100

Z, Through a Child's Eyes, Michael Hand, Mixed Media on Canvas, 30"x42", EX-MH-002, $525

AA, shadows, Michael Hand, Watercolor, 15"x18", EX-MH-005, $150

BB, All Equal, Michael Hand, Watercolor, 12"x18", EX-MH-004, $150

CC, Peek Show, Michael Hand, Mixed Media on Canvas, 18"x18", EX-MH-001, $275

Kentuck's Teaching Artists:

Amy Smoot

Amy Smoot is the Clay Studio manager at Kentuck. She is from Carrollton, GA and currently resides in Tuscaloosa, AL. She received her BFA in ceramics from the University of West Georgia in 2015. While there, she was studio technician and research assistant in the ceramics area. In 2019 she received her MFA from The University of Alabama where she first began teaching ceramics as a graduate assistant. Her practice consists of all types of ceramics techniques including mold-making, slip-casting, hand building, and wheel thrown pottery.

GG, I Wonder What People Did Before Television, Amy Smoot, Ceramics, Underglaze, 15"x14"x16", EX-AMY-02, $800

HH, How Come he Don't Want Me, Man?, Amy Smoot, Ceramics, Underglaze, 15"x14"x16", EX-AMY-01, $800

Molly Nelko

A native of Mobile, AL, Molly Nelko has joined Kentuck’s staff as our Programming Manager, and has been teaching classes for all ages in studio 2 for three years. She attended Springhill College and received a BA in fine art with a focus on oil painting and printmaking. Her work has been in individual exhibitions from Portland, OR to Hilton Head SC, and can be found online. Molly currently lives in Tuscaloosa with her husband, three children, and cat Quill. She has experimented with many different forms of art, and some of her favorites are encaustic, tessellations, and ink wash. Molly currently works in her studio regularly, but her focus has become more about enjoying creative projects with her children.

II, Eternal Struggle, Molly Nelko, Block Print, 8"x10", EX-MN-04, $150

JJ, Bicycles 1, Molly Nelko, Block Print, 8"x10", EX-MN-02, $200

KK, Bicycles 2, Molly Nelko, Block Print, 8"x10", EX-MN-03, $200

Our Annual Studio Artist Exhibition is in Kentuck Art Center’s Museum Gallery until January 31, 2026. We encourage you to visit to see this work in person! See something you're interested in purchasing? Give us a call at 205-758-1257 or email us at kentuck@kentuck.org. Out staff is happy to help! Kentuck is open regular hours—Monday-Friday, 9:30-5:30 and Saturday-Sunday, 12-4.