Community News

COMMUNITY NEWS

Spring Fling 2023

Mellwood Art Center’s Spring Fling to Showcase Local Artists and Vendors.

Louisville, KY – Mellwood Art Center is excited to announce its first market of 2023, Spring Fling, to be held on Sunday, April 16th from 1:00-5:00 PM. This highly anticipated event will feature the center’s own artists and shops as well as a carefully curated selection of outside vendors offering handmade goods, sweet treats, and more.

Spring Fling promises to be a family-friendly event, with free spring crafts for kids and a pet-friendly atmosphere (on-leash) that encourages visitors to bring their whole family. Guests can enjoy food and drinks from Danny Mac’s Pizza and Butchertown Brewing on the courtyard, plus The Scoop Waffle & Sweet Shop and Hot Buns Food Trucks! Soul Hi Vegan is hosting a special ticketed brunch buffet, so be sure to get tix for that in advance!

In addition to the delicious food, Spring Fling attendees will have the opportunity to explore Mellwood Art Center’s art studios and shops throughout the building, including an impressive 40,000 square feet of antiques on the lower level at Mellwood Antiques & Interiors. Visitors can also browse the carefully curated selection of outside vendors in the Monet Room, showcasing unique handmade and other exciting finds.

Admission and parking for Spring Fling are both free, making it an accessible and exciting event for everyone in the community to enjoy. Don’t miss out on this fantastic event, bring your family and friends and join us for a fun-filled afternoon of art, food, and entertainment at Mellwood Art Center’s Spring Fling!

Contact: Mellwood Art Center 1860 Mellwood Ave Louisville, KY 40206 Phone: (502) 895-3650 Email: info@mellwoodartcenter.com

Rick Moore’s Art Exhibition “The evolution” Comes to The Pigment Gallery

The Pigment Gallery: Rick Moore

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Rick Moore’s Art Exhibition “The evolution” Comes to The Pigment Gallery at Mellwood Art Center

Louisville, KY – The Pigment Gallery at Mellwood Art Center is proud to present the work of local artist Rick Moore in his exhibition, “The evolution.” The show runs from April 7th through April 25th, 2023, with the opening reception taking place on Friday, April 7th from 6:30-9pm. Admission and parking are free for all attendees.

Rick Moore is a multi-talented artist hailing from Philadelphia, PA and now residing in Louisville, KY. His work incorporates a range of mediums, including acrylic paintings, sculptures, and three-dimensional pieces made from materials such as rope, wire, leather, and mirrors.

Moore’s unique artistic perspective has been shaped by his diverse life experiences, including his background in electric/mechanical drafting, his time as a musician, his role as a father, and his service in both the US Air Force and DHS/USCIS. Each of these experiences has contributed to the depth and dimensionality of his art.

“Art has been awakened in me through humble interest that has blossomed into a passion,” Moore says in his artist statement. “With each new project I find the limits of my artistic methods and my own creativity. My passion and enthusiasm grows with each new project and with the connections that they create within the community of artists and art lovers.”

Don’t miss out on the opportunity to experience Moore’s incredible talent firsthand at “The evolution” exhibition. The Pigment Gallery at Mellwood Art Center is located at 1860 Mellwood Ave, Louisville KY 40206.

For more information about Rick Moore and “The evolution” exhibition, please visit https://www.mellwoodartcenter.com/gallery/rick-moore/ or contact the Mellwood Art Center at 502-895-3650.

 

Trick-or-Treat at Mellwood Art Center

Trick-or-Treat @ Mellwood Art Center

Friday, October 28th, 6-9 PM

This month for Open Studio Night, the tenants of Mellwood Art Center are planning something special! In addition opportunities to shop and tour open studios, everyone is invited to come in costume! Kids can trick-or-treat at participating studios, and there’s even a costume contest for the adults! Don’t miss the costume parade starting in the courtyard at 7pm in order to enter the costume contest!

TRICK-OR-TREAT for the KIDS
COSTUME CONTEST for the GROWN-UPS
PRIZES & MORE!!

EVENT SCHEDULE:

6-9 PM | Trick-or-Treat & Shop
7 PM | Costume Parade & Contest (courtyard)
8:30 PM | Costume Contest Winners Announced* (courtyard)

*Must be present to win.

FREE ADMISSION. FREE PARKING.

2022 Upcoming Events

2022 Upcoming Events

There are a lot of cool ways to get involved at Mellwood Art Center and we’re working on making a list to help you find out all the deets in one place. Here is what we’ve compiled so far for the rest of 2022. Note that not all the events are hosted by Mellwood Art Center, and links are provided to more details where available! Mellwood artists and tenants should contact walk@mellwoodartcenter.com if you’re hosting an event that you believe should be listed! 

Saturday, October 22nd
Market on Mellwood Fall Festival | 10:30am-3pm (Details)

Friday, October 28th
Open Studio Night | 6-9pm (Details)

Friday, November 4th
Pigment Gallery Art Opening | 6:30-9pm (Details)

Friday, December 2nd
Open Studio Night | 6-9pm (Details)
Pigment Gallery Art Opening | 6:30-9pm (Details)

Saturday, December 10th
Market on Mellwood Holiday Bazaar | 10am-3pm (Details)

 

Open Studio Night

The artists and small businesses at Mellwood Art Center invite you to tour their studios and explore Mellwood.

Typically the last Friday of each month from 6-9 PM, this event is hosted by Mellwood in conjunction with the participating artists and businesses.

Stop by to learn more about what artists are doing in their studios, enjoy local beer brewed right here at Mellwood, shop for some local art, grab some pizza for dinner, and support artists and small businesses!

Art Openings

Each month our Pigment Gallery features an exhibition of works by local artists! Openings are typically on the first Friday of the month, but it varies, so check back monthly to see when that’s happening.

Market on Mellwood

by Barn Doors and More

This market brings over 70 unique vendors to Mellwood Art Center while also featuring the Mellwood Antiques & Interiors and many other shops and small businesses at Mellwood Art Center.

The event is typically 10am-4pm, and there are a number of dates still coming up in 2022. Email barndoorsplus@gmail.com for more information. 

Open Studio Night Returns in 2022

It’s been over 2 years since the last Open Studio Night at Mellwood that used to be held in conjunction with the Frankfort Avenue Trolley Hop. This year after a 2+ year hiatus the artists and businesses at Mellwood Art Center are ready to welcome the community back for our once monthly open studio night. The first one is Friday, July 29th from 6-9 PM, with future dates slated for 8/26 and 9/30.
 
Details about our first upcoming event are below! You can find even more info in the Facebook Event Page (don’t worry, you can look at it even if you don’t have Facebook) by clicking the More Details link below.
 
Open Studio Night @ Mellwood Art Center
Friday, July 29th, 6-9pm
FREE ADMISSION. FREE PARKING.
 
The artists and businesses of Mellwood Art Center invite you to the first Open Studio Night of 2022. Come by to learn more about what artists are doing in their studios, enjoy local beer brewed right here at Mellwood, shop for some local art, grab some pizza for dinner, and support artists and small businesses! Live music from 6-8 PM sponsored by Danny Mac’s.
 
LIVE MUSIC 6-8 PM!!!
The Buzzard Rock String Band
Sponsored by Danny Mac’s Pizza
 
Watch LIVE PAINTING by artist Jason M. Lois 6-9 PM.

(More Details)

 

Business Spotlight: Peonies & Sparrow

Business Spotlight: Peonies & Sparrow

Transformation is a common theme for Brenda and her boutique/salon, Peonies & Sparrow, whether it’s the business itself or the emotional state of her clients. The desire to provide this emotional transformation for others has been a near constant in Brenda’s life. Doing so through the creation and operation of Peonies & Sparrow is the culmination of the past 20 years of Brenda’s personal and professional life.

After graduating from high school, Brenda knew she wanted to become a hairstylist. “I wanted to to make people feel their best, and it feels good to make them feel good. There’s a transformation when people come in. Once they have their hair done, there’s this whole shift. It’s awesome to be able to do that for people.” Brenda worked as a hairstylist for nearly 20 years, owning and operating two salons, before setting out on a new business venture.

In 2018, she and her best friend partnered together to start a pop-up boutique. Together, they carefully curated collection of clothing including t-shirts, dresses, and sweaters, among other things. Two years later, they were looking for a permanent space to set up shop, a space to store inventory and offer their customers a regular location they could visit. They found this space here at Mellwood, where she and her husband had their wedding party in 2007.

It wasn’t long before Brenda wanted to take things in a different direction. She had lost someone dear to cancer. She used her experience as a hairstylist to ease her friend into the hair loss which accompanied chemotherapy. She was also there to offer her friend emotional support. Brenda later lost her father to cancer and her mother is currently in the midst of her own battle with it. Cancer had left its mark on Brenda, and she saw how she could use her talents to help others; Brenda knew it was important to incorporate that into Peonies & Sparrow. After a discussion with her best friend and business partner, Peonies & Sparrow became a sole proprietorship and added a salon component in addition to the boutique.

With the salon services, there are two parts which Peonies & Sparrow offers. The first is typical salon services, while the second helps women diagnosed with cancer. Brenda provides her hair styling services, and emotional support, depending on the client’s wants and comfort level free of charge. This is free service is also extended to any friends or family members who are shaving their heads in solidarity as well. Lastly, Brenda makes these services available wherever the client is more comfortable, whether it’s at her studio here at Mellwood or the client’s home. All salon services are appointment only.

The inclusion of hair styling isn’t the only transformation to come to Peonies & Sparrow, the selection of products offered by the boutique is changing as well. While some of the previous inventory is still available, Peonies & Sparrow is shifting towards products to aid in comfort and healing. The boutique still offers clothing, such as sweaters and wraps, but it will expand to include candles, lotions, and other sensory products too.

For more information, to book an appointment, or to see what products Peonies & Sparrow offer, you can find them on Facebook at Peonies & Sparrow Boutique Hair or on Instagram at @peoniesandsparrow.

Testimonial

Peonies & Sparrow: Brenda with clients, Jessie and her husband

When you step into Peonies & Sparrow Boutique your worries and stresses are left at the door. The energy of the space is peaceful, calming, and restorative. Brenda welcomes you not only with open arms, but with an open heart to just ‘be’ yourself. Part of her mission is to provide a space for breast cancer warriors who are just beginning their treatment to come and tackle their hair care journey in a space with love, acceptance, trust, and confidence. When I started my breast cancer journey, losing my hair (which is such a BIG part of your identity) was a HUGE fear. And not one I wanted (or could) face alone. So when my hair started falling out, Brenda was there. With open arms, and a caring and supportive spirit. She allowed my family to come in with me, and she transitioned my hair from falling out to a powerful shave/cut that made me feel overwhelmed with confidence and power. She let me cry, she let me talk, she let me BE. This space is a place where love surrounds you. Where grace is abundant. And a place where you can find yourself again when all else is lost. Brenda walked by my side through my entire hair care journey, holding my hand, holding space for me, and allowing me to find strength in the process. I LOVE this space. I LOVE Brenda. And I hope that MANY more warriors (and men and women alike) find this space as restorative, peaceful, and loving as I have.

“Brenda also has a line of clothing and jewelry that are out of this world! Beautiful statement pieces that will last through any changes or seasons in your life!”

– Jessie G.

Peonies & Sparrow: Brenda with clients, Jessie and her husband

When you step into Peonies & Sparrow Boutique your worries and stresses are left at the door. The energy of the space is peaceful, calming, and restorative. Brenda welcomes you not only with open arms, but with an open heart to just ‘be’ yourself. Part of her mission is to provide a space for breast cancer warriors who are just beginning their treatment to come and tackle their hair care journey in a space with love, acceptance, trust, and confidence. When I started my breast cancer journey, losing my hair (which is such a BIG part of your identity) was a HUGE fear. And not one I wanted (or could) face alone. So when my hair started falling out, Brenda was there. With open arms, and a caring and supportive spirit. She allowed my family to come in with me, and she transitioned my hair from falling out to a powerful shave/cut that made me feel overwhelmed with confidence and power. She let me cry, she let me talk, she let me BE. This space is a place where love surrounds you. Where grace is abundant. And a place where you can find yourself again when all else is lost. Brenda walked by my side through my entire hair care journey, holding my hand, holding space for me, and allowing me to find strength in the process. I LOVE this space. I LOVE Brenda. And I hope that MANY more warriors (and men and women alike) find this space as restorative, peaceful, and loving as I have.

“Brenda also has a line of clothing and jewelry that are out of this world! Beautiful statement pieces that will last through any changes or seasons in your life!”

– Jessie G.

New to the Site: Artist & Business Directories

New to the Site: Artist & Business Directories

We are excited to announce a new feature of our website, one which has been long requested. We recently finished creating online directories for our artist and small business tenants. These new directories are meant to help connect site visitors with tenants and help increase their online visibility. Site visitors are able to send messages through the listing to the artist or small business they wish to contact. Additionally, directory listings allow for a brief description, which is a chance to give prospective customers or clients an elevator pitch. Logos and links to websites can be included in listings as well.

We have taken the liberty of creating listings for most of our current tenants. When creating the listings, unless told otherwise, the email addresses which tenants have provided the office are used as the means of contact. While not visible to site visitors, the email addresses are required to create the listing. When contacting tenants, visitors complete a brief contact form which is sent to the tenant’s email. We encourage tenants to review their listings to ensure the information is correct (Artist Directory | Business Directory). If you need any listing information changed, want to have your listing removed from the directory, or have any questions, please send us a message through our contact for on our Contact Us page with the subject line “Directory Listing” and a description of what you need or questions you have in the message. Changes may include changing the email address prospective clients use to reach you, as well as adding your logo, web address, phone number, and brief description. We recommend keeping descriptions to 250 characters or less.

Business Spotlight: Focus Physical Therapy

Business Spotlight: Focus Physical Therapy

You’ll be hard pressed to find someone who hasn’t taken at least one personality inventory. Maybe you took one as part of a class in high school or college. Maybe you found one on the internet and took it for fun. These inventories can help us better understand ourselves and how we relate to other personalities. Some of these inventories even include lists of professions best suited for each personality type. While in high school, Brad from Focus Physical Therapy took one such inventory to help him figure out the right career path for him.

Brad Conder from Focus PT working on patient's back

With the results in hand, Brad did some volunteer work to figure out which of the hypothetical professions suited him best. He found his calling when volunteering with a physical therapy clinic. While in college and physical therapy school, Brad believed he would go into pediatric physical therapy, as most of his volunteer experience was at clinics treating children and special needs cases. When it came time to do his clinical rotations, Brad did so at a pediatric clinic. However, when he graduated from physical therapy school in 2006, there were no jobs in pediatric physical therapy available. There are few clinics which treat children specifically and most are non-profits, making such jobs hard to find. He instead went into out-patient orthopedics, which would work out for the best in the long run. For the next ten years, Brad worked for various corporate physical therapy practices before striking out on his own to start Focus Physical Therapy in 2016.

Focus PT physical therapist working on patient's back

Focus PT can be divided into two components: its out-patient program and its on-site injury prevention program. With the out-patient program, Focus PT specializes in chronic pain treatment. Brad has seen many chronic pain patients either slip through the cracks or simply prescribed medications, which fails to address the pain’s root cause. Focus PT’s on-site injury prevention program looks to prevent workplace injuries before they happen. This includes developing proper methods and procedures for workers when performing certain tasks, implementing ergonomic changes, testing workers to ensure they can do the job without injury, and intervening to treat minor problems before they get bigger.

Focus PT physical therapist working on patient's arm

At Focus PT, Brad wanted to provide a level of care that many healthcare providers, inside or outside of physical therapy, are unable to give. The key to this is time. At a minimum, patients at Focus PT spend thirty minutes to an hour with therapists. All too often, healthcare providers rush to see as many patients in a day as possible, meaning patients spend more time waiting to see someone than they do with their doctor, nurse practitioner, etc. This leaves patients and their healthcare providers little time to determine and understand the root cause of any given problem. Brad wanted to avoid this and truly treat the underlying cause. The therapists of Focus PT spend a lot of time speaking one-on-one with their patients to understand their patients’ problems and develop a treatment plan based on that information to meet each individual patient’s needs.

For more information about Focus Physical Therapy, visit their website at physicaltherapylouisville.com. They also have a helpful YouTube channel with educational videos, which you can find at youtube.com/c/PTFocus/. Lastly, you can find them on Facebook at @Focusphysicaltherapy or Instagram at @pt_focus.

You’ll be hard pressed to find someone who hasn’t taken at least one personality inventory. Maybe you took one as part of a class in high school or college. Maybe you found one on the internet and took it for fun. These inventories can help us better understand ourselves and how we relate to other personalities. Some of these inventories even include lists of professions best suited for each personality type. While in high school, Brad from Focus Physical Therapy took one such inventory to help him figure out the right career path for him.

With the results in hand, Brad did some volunteer work to figure out which of the hypothetical professions suited him best. He found his calling when volunteering with a physical therapy clinic. While in college and physical therapy school, Brad believed he would go into pediatric physical therapy, as most of his volunteer experience was at clinics treating children and special needs cases. When it came time to do his clinical rotations, Brad did so at a pediatric clinic. However, when he graduated from physical therapy school in 2006, there were no jobs in pediatric physical therapy available. There are few clinics which treat children specifically and most are non-profits, making such jobs hard to find. He instead went into out-patient orthopedics, which would work out for the best in the long run. For the next ten years, Brad worked for various corporate physical therapy practices before striking out on his own to start Focus Physical Therapy in 2016.

Brad Conder from Focus PT working on patient's back
Focus PT physical therapist working on patient's back
Focus PT physical therapist working on patient's arm

Focus PT can be divided into two components: its out-patient program and its on-site injury prevention program. With the out-patient program, Focus PT specializes in chronic pain treatment. Brad has seen many chronic pain patients either slip through the cracks or simply prescribed medications, which fails to address the pain’s root cause. Focus PT’s on-site injury prevention program looks to prevent workplace injuries before they happen. This includes developing proper methods and procedures for workers when performing certain tasks, implementing ergonomic changes, testing workers to ensure they can do the job without injury, and intervening to treat minor problems before they get bigger.

At Focus PT, Brad wanted to provide a level of care that many healthcare providers, inside or outside of physical therapy, are unable to give. The key to this is time. At a minimum, patients at Focus PT spend thirty minutes to an hour with therapists. All too often, healthcare providers rush to see as many patients in a day as possible, meaning patients spend more time waiting to see someone than they do with their doctor, nurse practitioner, etc. This leaves patients and their healthcare providers little time to determine and understand the root cause of any given problem. Brad wanted to avoid this and truly treat the underlying cause. The therapists of Focus PT spend a lot of time speaking one-on-one with their patients to understand their patients’ problems and develop a treatment plan based on that information to meet each individual patient’s needs.

For more information about Focus Physical Therapy, visit their website at physicaltherapylouisville.com. They also have a helpful YouTube channel with educational videos, which you can find at youtube.com/c/PTFocus/. Lastly, you can find them on Facebook at @Focusphysicaltherapy or Instagram at @pt_focus.

Business Spotlight: Vital Motion

Business Spotlight: Vital Motion

It was her sophomore year when Dana found herself at a crossroads. She needed to make a decision: stay the course or make a radical career change. When Dana first enrolled at UofL, she did so as a math major. At the time, it made sense, it was one of her interests after all. Then her grandmother, whom she was close to, passed away. Dana’s grandmother struggled with her weight, as well as the health problems which arise from being overweight. When Dana heard from the doctor that things could’ve been different had her grandmother been more active, Dana heard her life’s calling. She wanted to help others, who like her grandmother, struggle with weight and wanted to be more active.

She changed her major from math to exercise science. While working on her bachelor’s degree, she interned at the gym she would one day own. At the time, it was owned and operated by one of her professors from UofL under the name Pure Fitness. She was hired on as a trainer following her internship and graduation in 2012.

Dana stayed on with the gym as ownership and company names changed. Before owning the gym, she was a partial owner and partnered with the previous owner, who had operated the gym as a franchise of Training for Warriors (TFW). After six months, he wanted out. To keep it open, Dana knew she needed to buy his stake in the business. If she didn’t, it would likely close; the community which had built up around the gym would lose its home. She couldn’t let that happen. She bought out her partner and has been the sole owner and operator of the gym for the past three and a half years. Seeking to be an independent entity, she ceased to be a franchisee of TFW and rebranded as Vital Motion.

The name Vital Motion ties back to Dana’s personal mission to improve lives by helping people move, be healthy, and ultimately have more time with their loved ones. While Dana touches on dietary basics and ensures they’re implemented, her main focus is exercise through a combination of strength training and cardio. There are three six-week cycles for the strength training, with supplementary exercises to compliment them. The strength training is tailored to each individual’s goals; for some it’s increasing muscle mass, for others it range of motion. A typical week at Vital Motion consists of strength training on Monday and Friday; cardio on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday; and a mix of the two on Wednesday. Dana knows that starting at a gym can be intimidating and sometimes people need to try it first. As such, Vital Motion offers a two-week free trail. New members can join the program at any point and Vital Motion will help ease them in.

For more information about Vital Motion or to become a member, visit their site at vitalmotionfitness.com. You can also find Vital Motion on Facebook at @vitalmotionlou and on Instagram at @vital_motion.

Artist Spotlight: Sam Parker

Artist Spotlight: Sam Parker

We all have something that’s almost intrinsic to who we are, something that’s been part of life so long it becomes part of our identity. For Sam Parker, drawing is that integral aspect; he can’t recall a time when drawing wasn’t part of his life. Even at a young age, Sam realized drawing allowed him to express himself where words failed.

In high school, at the age of 16, Sam enrolled at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design. It was around this time that Sam really began his career in art. He started taking little jobs and selling some of his work in boutiques. By the time he graduated from high school in 1993, Sam already had a year of undergrad completed. Sam began to show interest in tattooing. One of his friends worked as a tattoo artist. In addition to doing some of Sam’s tattoos, Sam began to hang around the shop and watch his friend work. This friend helped Sam get his first pieces of tattoo equipment. Shortly after this, in 1994, Sam dropped out of art school. A year later, he moved to Atlanta.

Sam Parker: Illustration 1

Sam got a job as a tattoo artist in an Atlanta tattoo shop. After a few years, Sam began to pick up work painting murals in addition to his work as a tattoo artist. In 2000, Sam decided to go back to school. He attended Kennesaw State University where he studied drawing and painting. During his time in undergrad, Sam began to show his work in galleries. After receiving his BFA in 2004, Sam continued showing his work in galleries, got married, and started a family.

In 2007, Sam enrolled at Georgia State University’s graduate program for drawing and painting. After earning his master’s, Sam and his family moved to Colorado and opened his first studio/gallery, The Spiritual Bypass. He continued to show his work in galleries. His work made it into gallery shows across the country, with a few international shows as well. As time wore on, Sam began to feel burnt out. By 2015, he stopped doing gallery shows altogether, preferring to spend his time and energies in the studio making art rather than setting up shows and traveling. Focusing on his art for the remainder of his time in Denver, Sam worked with a group of great artists.

Sam Parker: Illustration 2

As he and his wife began looking to buy a house, they quickly realized the housing market in Denver was far too expensive. This prompted their move to Louisville. Despite the pandemic, the transition was fairly smooth. Currently, Sam works as a tattoo artist with Karl Otto out of Good Karma Tattoos. Additionally, Sam and Karl have a separate art studio space here at Mellwood, working under the Spiritual Bypass name.

Sam’s work, both his art and tattoo, is illustrative in nature. Both influence the other and share the use bold, distinct black lines. His tattoo work is largely black work, meaning the tattoos only uses black ink. Much of his artwork is pen and ink with splashes of paint for color. On occasion, he uses a traditional brush, but he primarily turns to pentel color brushes. He likes the loose feel theses brushes have compared to traditional brushes. In their use, it’s more akin to drawing than painting. To see more of his work, visit his site at samparkerartist.com. You can also find him on Instagram at @samparkerartist.

We all have something that’s almost intrinsic to who we are, something that’s been part of life so long it becomes part of our identity. For Sam Parker, drawing is that integral aspect; he can’t recall a time when drawing wasn’t part of his life. Even at a young age, Sam realized drawing allowed him to express himself where words failed.

In high school, at the age of 16, Sam enrolled at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design. It was around this time that Sam really began his career in art. He started taking little jobs and selling some of his work in boutiques. By the time he graduated from high school in 1993, Sam already had a year of undergrad completed. Sam began to show interest in tattooing. One of his friends worked as a tattoo artist. In addition to doing some of Sam’s tattoos, Sam began to hang around the shop and watch his friend work. This friend helped Sam get his first pieces of tattoo equipment. Shortly after this, in 1994, Sam dropped out of art school. A year later, he moved to Atlanta.

Sam got a job as a tattoo artist in an Atlanta tattoo shop. After a few years, Sam began to pick up work painting murals in addition to his work as a tattoo artist. In 2000, Sam decided to go back to school. He attended Kennesaw State University where he studied drawing and painting. During his time in undergrad, Sam began to show his work in galleries. After receiving his BFA in 2004, Sam continued showing his work in galleries, got married, and started a family.

Sam Parker: Illustration 1
Sam Parker: Illustration 2

In 2007, Sam enrolled at Georgia State University’s graduate program for drawing and painting. After earning his master’s, Sam and his family moved to Colorado and opened his first studio/gallery, The Spiritual Bypass. He continued to show his work in galleries. His work made it into gallery shows across the country, with a few international shows as well. As time wore on, Sam began to feel burnt out. By 2015, he stopped doing gallery shows altogether, preferring to spend his time and energies in the studio making art rather than setting up shows and traveling. Focusing on his art for the remainder of his time in Denver, Sam worked with a group of great artists.

As he and his wife began looking to buy a house, they quickly realized the housing market in Denver was far too expensive. This prompted their move to Louisville. Despite the pandemic, the transition was fairly smooth. Currently, Sam works as a tattoo artist with Karl Otto out of Good Karma Tattoos. Additionally, Sam and Karl have a separate art studio space here at Mellwood, working under the Spiritual Bypass name.

Sam’s work, both his art and tattoo, is illustrative in nature. Both influence the other and share the use bold, distinct black lines. His tattoo work is largely black work, meaning the tattoos only uses black ink. Much of his artwork is pen and ink with splashes of paint for color. On occasion, he uses a traditional brush, but he primarily turns to pentel color brushes. He likes the loose feel theses brushes have compared to traditional brushes. In their use, it’s more akin to drawing than painting. To see more of his work, visit his site at samparkerartist.com. You can also find him on Instagram at @samparkerartist.