Philly Art Center

Lori earned a B.S. in Health Behavior Science at the University of Delaware & researched Autism at Duke prior to moving to Philadelphia to pursue her Masters of Occupational Therapy at Temple University. She is inspired to create a space where art intersects with accessibility for all. At home, Lori loves making vegan recipes, styling fresh flowers & going to trivia with friends!

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!

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.

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 teaching 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.

Shane was born and raised in Glenside, PA. He holds a BFA in Studio Art from Marywood University and an MFA in Painting from Boston University. He currently lives and works in Philadelphia, and draws inspiration for his paintings from the vast array of people he sees every day. When he isn’t in the studio, he can be found playing the piano, listening to some vinyl, or traveling somewhere new.

Emma is from Reading, PA, and earned her BFA in Painting with a minor in Art Entrepreneurship & Curatorial Studies from Arcadia University. She is thrilled to have the chance to provide art opportunities for kids and adults around Philly – by keeping everything organized behind the scenes! In her art practice, she enjoys finding beauty in discarded materials and incorporating them into her artwork, with a passion for mixed media, & collage. Additionally, she aspires to educate others on the importance of accessibility and representation within the art community. When she is not at the art center, she enjoys visiting museums, organizing community art events, painting, and cooking. 

Destin’ee is a mixed media oil painter born and raised in Philadelphia. She loves teaching kids to not be afraid to try something’s new and enjoy the process of creating. She is currently in school for business administration at Southern New Hampshire University and attends the Milan Art Institute for Mixed media arts. When not creating art, Destin’ee loves baking, dancing, singing & spend time with her friends.

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.

Laura is a woodworker and seamstress with a bachelor?s degree in Crafts from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia. She teaches woodworking and engineering courses at the high school level, having earned an MAT in Technology Education from The College of New Jersey. Prior to teaching, Laura built custom cabinets and furniture. Laura loves working with kids of all ages in their exploration of different materials and techniques.

Maren Less is a Philadelphia based artist who received her undergraduate degree from Kenyon College, Post Baccalaureate in Fine Art from The Maryland Institute College of Art, and MFA in Painting from Tyler School of Art. Maren believes in provoking imagination and joy through storytelling and has shown her work in galleries in Philadelphia and New Jersey. Her experiences as an adjunct professor and studio assistant to different local artists, translate seamlessly into her role as a teaching artist at the Art Center! Apart from working in the studio, Maren enjoys listening to audio books while taking long walks.

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!

Graduating from Swarthmore College with degrees in Studio Art and Political Science, Nick understands curiosity and attention as central to any process of making. Drawing is his approach in art: watching and observing lets the world—inside or outside—feel freshly alive. Currently teaching art to Pre-K through 8th Grade, he works towards the joy of students taking learning into their own hands.

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.

Haley Schultz is an artist with a passionate and enthusiastic approach to teaching kids! Haley loves drawing, illustrating, and painting and is always excited to start a new project! They collect rocks and anything miniature. They love connecting with children through art and creating a social and fun environment for their students to comfortably explore together

Joni was born and raised in Northampton, MA, but has spent time in Pittsburgh, Chicago, Boston, and now Philadelphia. She earned her Bachelor of Humanities and Arts in Psychology and Art from Carnegie Mellon University, and May 2021 she graduated from Boston University with an MFA in Painting. She has a studio in North Philly, and when she's not painting there, she's with her rescue pup Tala or she's finding a new Italian restaurant to try with her fiance. Joni loves teaching and sharing the joy of painting, and believes the magic is in the process.

Kailey graduated from the University of the Arts with a BFA in Illustration in 2016 and has been illustrating anything and everything ever since. Her work can be found in magazines, newspapers, books, and even murals. She has loved drawing, painting, building, and making for as long as she can remember and loves to watch young artists learning to do the same. When she’s not drawing or teaching, she can be found outside, usually with her dog, and a coffee!