Philly Art Center

Bee is a Philadelphia-based multimedia artist with a Bachelors of Art in Art Therapy. In the classroom they prioritize the process of art- emphasizing it's role in building problem solving skills and exploration. When they're not making art, Bee can be found in the kitchen experimenting with new receipts or just chilling with their cat.

Sara holds a BFA in Studio Arts and Art History from the University of Pittsburgh. Her love of color theory and paint-mixing began at an early age. Her mother fostered a process-based learning environment at home, where supplies were always available and experimentation was encouraged. Sara craved a future in the arts and knew she wanted to encourage others in their creative journeys. With experience in a variety of mediums, her favorites are printmaking and painting. With over 11 years of classroom experience, Sara shares her love of art history with her students. When not in the studio, she enjoys gardening, drinking coffee, exploring new restaurants, and traveling to experience the architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright. She is a proud mama to two incredible kids and a local in the Queen Village neighborhood.

Nina is a teaching artist and art therapist. She graduated from Arcadia University with a BFA and a concentration in ceramics and then went on to get her masters in art therapy and counseling from Albertus Magnus College. Nina enjoys working with all age groups and all art media. Her favorite media is anything related to ceramics. She believes that art is one of the best ways to communicate how a person views the world and themselves. She is grateful to work in a studio environment and get to guide individuals in the art process!

Sasha has obtained a degree in photography and art history from Bennington College in 2021. After relocating to Philadelphia from New York she has finally found a position that is relent on their passion for visual arts as well as childcare work! They have a wide range of experience such as tutoring elementary age kids as well as assistant teaching for preschool and day care as well as camp counseling, but pursuing art with children has always been her dream. She is eager to bring this passion to the Philly Art Center!

Kendall is a future educator pursuing a BS in Elementary Education at Temple University. She has a variety of experience working with children ranging from roles as a nanny to an assistant teacher in preschool and pre-k classes. Inspired by the power of art to promote self-expression, she is eager to learn alongside young artists and explore their creativity while fostering a safe and accepting environment. When not at the Art Center she can be found baking or playing with her 2 cats.

Wendy is from Berlin, New Jersey.  She has a Bachelor's of Science degree in Technology Education from Rowan University and has spent many years teaching middle school STEM.  She appreciates how the creative problem solving components of STEM can also be applied to the process of seeing an artistic vision come to fruition.  Outside of the classroom, Wendy enjoys spending time with her family, cooking, the beach and walking her dog.

Taaj is a South Jersey based artist who specializes in oil and digital painting. She completed 3 years at West Chester University for a Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Arts. Before working at Philly Art Center, Taaj was a full-time self-employed artist. She most enjoys the therapeutic and subjective nature of art. Taaj thinks it’s very important that children have a safe and fun outlet to fully express their creativity. Aside from teaching, Taaj loves to paint and create prints, home decor, clothing, etc. Art and creating is her life.

Annabelle Buck is a Philadelphia based painter. She graduated from Temple University with degrees in English and French, and she lives in Fairmount with her partner and her dog. Annabelle is very excited to share her love of art with the kids at Philly Art Center!

Piper was raised in Wilmington, Delaware and graduated from Temple University with a degree in Advertising Art Direction. She believes in the importance of expression for kids and their development and understanding of self. Piper loves the organizational and management side of administration, and is thrilled to spend quality time with budding artists at the Art Center! Outside of work, Piper loves collage, watching TV, and spending time for self care.

Cameron is from Cherry Hill, New Jersey and graduated from the College of Charleston with a BA in Historic Preservation/Community Planning and a BS in Urban Studies. He loves being able to provide children in the greater Philly area with engaging art classes because he feels that art should be heavily integrated into urban spaces. He loves drawing, specifically architectural drawing, and print making. When he’s not at Art Center he can be found exploring Philly with his friends.

Originally from Pittsburgh, PA, Marina has lived in Philadelphia for the past few years and loves it! She studied abroad in Rome for a semester and earned her BFA in Fibers & Material Studies from Temple University's Tyler School of Art. Marina loves teaching kids to get creative and grow their skills in the studio! Aside from teaching, she loves biking and embroidery.

Marcie is from Baltimore, MD, and lived in NYC for 9 years before coming to Philadelphia in December 2018. She received her M.S. in Interior Design from Pratt Institute and a B.A. in Studio Art from The University of Maryland, College Park, with a concentration in drawing and woodblock printing. She loves exploring art techniques and thinks it's more important to enjoy the process than the final product. "Happy accidents" often produce her favorite pieces. In addition to making art, Marcie loves exploring the city, traveling abroad, reading, and bad puns.

Teal holds a BFA in Painting with minors in both Art History and Photography. She most recently graduated from the University of Cincinnati with a Masters in Fine Arts concentrating on Painting and Drawing. Her favorite part about teaching is the opportunity to witness the unique moment when a student artist develops confidence in their own artistic style. In her spare time, Teal can be found painting or maintaining her home plant jungle!

Matt is a Mt. Airy local with his Bachelor's of Science in Early Childhood/Elementary Education from Temple and has 10+ years experience in working with young people of a variety of ages in a variety of settings.  He enjoys being engaged in his community and sharing new and interesting experiences with the youth of Philly.  Matt enjoys being outside, meeting new people, spending time with friends, and reading. 

Caitlin graduated from Maryland Institute College of Art with her Masters of Art in Teaching. Prior to this, she studied at Penn State University where she received her Bachelor’s in Studio Art (specializing in drawing and painting). Her artistic passion is graphite portraiture but finds endless excitement in the mixed media exploration that so often takes place in the art classroom. She has taught children from ages two to eighteen, finding their artistic understanding/know-how to be completely inspiring, but most loves the uninhibited energy and creativity of the youngest artists!

Alexa Galtman is an illustrator and graphic designer with a BFA in illustration from the Savannah College of Art and Design. She specializes in both traditional and digital media with a love for blending the two and playing with new materials. She recently relocated from South Carolina where she worked as an artist for screen printing. In her spare time she plays board games, collects cookbooks and spends time with her husband and three children. She is delighted to be teaching again and loves to help people feel excited about creating art.

Scott is an artist and art educator who graduated from Tyler School of Art at Temple University in 2011 with a BFA in Printmaking, Teaching Certification, and a Minor in Art History. He has since obtained his Master of Education from Cabrini University in 2016. Scott recently left public education after teaching middle school art for 10 + years, to pursue his own artistic endeavors. He is familiar with all printmaking processes but has a fondness for screenprinting and etching. When Scott isn't doing something art-related, you can find him and his wife walking around Mt. Airy enjoying the foliage and conversing with neighbors.

Mary Hall Keyes is an oil painter and collage artist living in Philadelphia. Before working at the Philly Art Center, Mary Hall graduated from Alfred University where she earned her BFA and minored in Visual Arts Education. She has pursued her passion for working with children in a creative setting by student teaching for grades K-12th as well as being a counselor and administrative staff member at Chimney Corners Camp. She believes building confidence in kids is an essential part of being an educator and enjoys celebrating their self-expression in the studio.

Emma holds a Bachelor’s of Art in Art History from Rollins College, and currently attends Tyler School of Art to pursue her Masters Degree in Art History.  She has a range of experience working with children, from teaching art classes to toddlers, to being a camp counselor for ages six to fifteen. She loves to help kids find their excitement for art and creating! Emma’s biggest passion is creating a safe, accessible space to explore the world of art, and she is honored to be a part of the Art Center team. When not at Art Center, you can find her exploring the art museums of Philly, or at a coffee shop with her favorite book. 

Lee obtained her degree in education from Temple University and went on to fulfill her life long dream of teaching art. Before Philly Art Center, she was the art teacher at an elementary school in Camden, NJ. She is a published children’s book author and illustrator and is passionate about story telling. She loves  being silly with kids and helping them grow their love for art through the process of creating and making choices. Outside of the center, she enjoys her time in her sunny studio junk journaling, needle felting, crocheting, and illustrating.

Erica graduated from Tufts University in 2021, with a BA in Anthropology and Architectural Studies and a minor in Studio Art! She moved to South Philly after spending the summer teaching college students to backpack the Appalachian Trail. Erica loves hiking, dancing, and biking for some of the same reasons she loves painting, printmaking, and other crafts: the physical, in-your-body process is cathartic, celebratory, and alive. She loves working with kids and is grateful for the opportunity to learn with them!

Tony likes to draw, animate, sculpt and eat eggs. He finds himself inspired by nature, nostalgia and suburban decay. He went to the Savannah College of Art and Design where he studied animation and has since worked in film and freelance. He lives in Manayunk with his partner and their two cats and little lizard. 

Jill holds an MFA from the University of Massachusetts and a BFA in art education from the University of New Mexico. With a K-12 teaching certificate and over 20 years of classroom experience, Jill has taught art at every level from preschool through university. In 2004, Jill launched the flagship location of Philly Art Center in Fairmount and has worked with dedication to grow Philly Art Center, delivering on their creative mission, ever since.

Amber Martin is a graduate of Temple University's Tyler School of Art
and Architecture, where she earned a BA in Art Therapy. Her passion
for art spans a diverse range of mediums, including oil paint,
watercolor, graphite, linocut, fibers, ceramics, and more. Prior to
pursuing her degree, Amber taught art to students from kindergarten to
eighth grade then spent a few years overseeing the Infant and Toddler
program at a Montessori-based school in Wellsboro, PA. Amber is
passionate about the transformative power of art and is committed to
using her knowledge and love of the creative process to guide others
on their path of self-expression. Currently, Amber resides with her
beloved companions: a cat named Indie and a tortoise named Mr Eko. Her family, friends, and all the children in her life serve as constant
sources of gratitude and inspiration.

Alex is a fiber artist and intaglio printmaker with a BFA from Virginia Commonwealth University. She grew up in Seattle where she spent days exploring the forests and coasts, and evenings in her father's restaurant. When she's not creating (or teaching!) art, Alex can be found cooking for friends or taking long walks to explore the city.

Sophie (Knox) Peters is a practicing visual artist with an MFA from the University of the Arts UK. She specializes in drawing and painting and enjoys working with all age groups. She teaches practical skills in art making as well as develops and supports each student’s creative voice.

Hannah has her Masters in the Business of Art and Design from MICA and a Bachelor’s in Fine Arts concentrating in painting and art history from Kutztown University. Hannah is an abstract painter who believes that art is unplanned, it is about the action and each stroke and color responding to the previous one. She also expresses herself through simple ink drawings and collage work. When Hannah is not creating you can find her on any city tennis court or hanging with her cats, Roger and Rafa.

Abigail is a painter and creative writer who explores everyday moments through art. She graduated from Houghton College in 2019 with a BA in art and writing. Abigail looks for ways to build community and resilience through artmaking with children, and she is continually inspired by the young artists around her. Abigail also enjoys running, reading, and discovering new coffee shops.

Ruth has a BFA in art and currently works in ceramics. She has a passion for the creative process, how we can learn and grow from the making and playing in the arts. She is inspired by the stories, and moments that are told, and lived through the making and experiencing of art, from a picture book to a sculpture to a hand made plate. When she is not in the studio she is making and sharing food, biking and being outside at the park!

Antea Roberts has been working with clay since she was a kid. Hailing from South Philly, she took classes at Starr Garden, The Clay Studio and Fleisher Art Memorial. Antea spent 7 summers at Appel Farm Arts Camp in Southern NJ experiencing all kinds of art, and returned as an adult for an additional 7 summers to lead the ceramics department. After graduating in 2008 with a BFA in Fine Art/Ceramics from Corcoran College of Art in Washington DC, Antea developed ‘The Ceramery’- her brand of one of a kind ceramics; sold online and at area craft shows. A life long love of clay has brought Antea to Philly Art Center, where she’s excited to teach and grow alongside everyone!

Johanna is a designer, a teacher, a traveler and a student. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Graphic Design from The Pennsylvania State University and an Elementary Education Teaching Certificate from Widener University. As a Graphic Designer she combines her outgoing nature and creative style to push the limits of color and typography. Johanna played with clay since she was shorter than a pottery wheel, but now her ceramic work conveys a sense of freedom; in every piece there is a bit of her mood, energy and her fingerprints. She also loves biking, yoga, going to the movies and spending time with her family. More importantly, she¹ll never miss an opportunity to pop into a photo booth.

Bridget is an educator and lens-based artist who creates interdisciplinary works centering around the concept of alternative domestic spaces. With her background in architecture, Rogers’s current work combines miniature rooms and digital manipulation to create large scale prints that skew the viewer’s perspective of space and reality. Rogers earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Photography from Syracuse University, and then her Masters of Fine Arts in Photography from Tyler School of Art + Architecture at Temple University in 2020. Originally from a small beach town in New Jersey, when she is not creating new art or teaching, Rogers can be found enjoying the outdoors on hikes and walks on the beach.

Natalie was born in Seoul, raised in the suburbs of Philadelphia, and has lived in the city since 2009! She graduated from Temple University with a degree in advertising account management and business administration. She loves children and has years of experience in kid-focused environments. Natalie enjoys experimenting in the kitchen, exploring new cuisines, knitting, traveling and the occasional boutique cycling class! She is also a cat mom of two.

Charlotte is from Fairmount PA. She is a class of 2024 graduate at PA Leadership Charter School. She has a variety of experience working with children such as dance teacher, nanny, camp counselor and more. Charlotte plans on becoming an elementary school teacher to continue her love of working with children. When she isn’t at the art center she can be found playing with her dog or hanging out with friends.

Meghan Tranauskas is an artist and educator from Frankford, Philadelphia. Their ceramic work is heavily invested in surface decoration as a vehicle for connection through familiar patterns. Meghan holds a BFA in Ceramics and BA in Art History from the Pennsylvania State University. Though they can usually be found enjoying the making of happy pots in a community environment, Meghan is also a multi-disciplinary artist that works with painting and drawing, fiber arts, and photography.

Erik came to Philly from California in 2017 where he worked as a studio tech in a number of different kinds of clay studios. From 2014-2016 he apprenticed as a production potter, honing his technical throwing skills and learning the ins and outs of what it's like to run a small-scale studio pottery. After spending a few years bouncing around in the Philly clay scene, he started his own studio in South Philly where he focuses on the production of functional tableware. As a teacher, he cares about careful technique and aims to foster a strong understanding of the ceramics process. Overall, he just loves pots.