Nature is my sanctuary, art-making is my prayer. It has always been that way.
I grew up in the hills of Maysville, Kentucky, making art with whatever I could find - found scraps, paper, bits of nature, and anything that let me make sense of the world around me. Art was my first language, a way to observe, process, and feel connected to people, places, and feelings. That early instinct to create has been my constant ever since: through my professional career as an architect, across seasons of illness and caregiving, and into my urban practice in the city of Philadelphia and in the natural wilderness of Bucks County, grounded in curiosity and responsiveness.
I am mostly self-taught, working in painting, collage, and mark-making. My background in architecture and a lifelong relationship with the natural world deeply inform my work, as does all I’ve learned through years of participation in countless creative workshops both within and beyond Philadelphia's inspiring artistic community. My process is intuitive and open-ended, shaped by rhythm, memory, and material play. I primarily use water-based media for their immediacy, unpredictability, and environmental sensitivity.
My creative practice doesn’t fit into tidy categories. It’s an evolving space of inquiry, where observation leads to abstraction and where beauty - quiet and fleeting - is caught and honored. Art remains, for me, a way of giving back, whether through community workshops, nonprofit collaborations, or simply by staying open to worlds that enchant me.
Education
Art classes and workshops at Wayne Art Center, Pennsylvania Academy of Art, Fleisher Art Memorial, Winslow Art Center, Cerulean Arts, Penn Studio, 2014 to present
Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University Master of Architecture, 1981-84
College of St. Benedict Bachelor of Science, Cum Laude, 1977 Psychology/Learning Theory; Studio Art Minor
Professional Experience
10+ years actively making art, taking classes, attending workshops and participating in juried art shows.
30+ years as a founding, managing principal of an integrated architecture/interiors practice recognized for commitment to revitalizing buildings and communities.
15+ years in various academic institutions teaching, conducting research, lecturing, and participating on design studio juries.
5+ years in senior management at a major university managing design and campus planning staff in all phases of capital projects for three campuses.
5+ years as a resource development director and community development associate managing program planning, grant writing, fundraising, and PR for several nonprofits.
Juried Shows and Exhibits
Wayne Art Center, juried art exhibit, 2020
Plastic Club Philadelphia, Breaking Boundaries, juried art exhibit 2020
Winslow Art Center, online juried art exhibit, 2021
Plastic Club Philadelphia, juried art exhibit + journal exhibit, 2022 + 2023
Sketch Club Philadelphia, juried art show, 2022 + 2023
Philadelphia Episcopal Cathedral Group Show, 2022 + 2023
Wayne Art Center Spring Show, 2023
Philadelphia Stories Summer Publication, 2023
York Street Gallery Group Show, 2023
Schnabel Woods Group Show, 2023
Wayne Art Center juried art show 2025
Community Service & Leadership
Corinthian Gardens, Eastern State Penitentiary Park, Philadelphia, PA Garden Volunteer and Advisor, 2013-present
Philadelphia University College of Architecture and the Built Environment, Philadelphia, PA CABE Advancement Council Member, 2013-2016
Community Design Collaborative, Philadelphia, PA Board Member 2006-2011 and Advisory Council Member, 2012-2016
Fairmount Community Development Corporation Advisory Committee Member, 2004-2006
American Institute of Architects, National and Philadelphia, PA Member, 1992-2023
Women in Architecture Committee Member, 1992-present
Society for College and University Planning Member, 2002-2017
Board of Directors Member and Program Planning Committee, 1990-92
International Interior Design Association Member, 2000-2012