Keep New Times Free

100 Creatives You Need to Know in Metro Phoenix

Tuesday, October 11, 2016 at 6 a.m.

Courtesy of Rebecca Hollingsworth 100. Nicole Olson of Scorpius Dance Theatre: "I base most of my work off of the human experience. I love telling stories and expressing human emotion through dance." 1/89

Courtesy of Andrew Pielage 99. Phoenix Photographer Andrew Pielage: "Good work should always be challenging and from the heart." 2/89

Courtesy of Jessica Rowe 98. Gilbert Artist Jessica Rowe: "When something is a little bit 'off,' it really makes the art interesting and real." 3/89

Courtesy of Danny Neumann 97. Phoenix Designer Danny Neumann: "I make art because I enjoy the process of bringing to life the ideas in my head." 4/89

Corey Ralston Photography 96. YA Author Beth Cato: "It took years of effort to create a book that resulted in signing with a literary agent." 5/89

Courtesy of Gary Pratt 95. Phoenix Storyteller Jessie Balli: "The connection you feel when sharing your most intimate moments with a room full of strangers has allowed me the opportunity to grow." 6/89

Erin Evangeline Photography 94. Ron May of Stray Cat Theatre: "I'm most productive when I'm under a deadline. I think it's part of why theater and I get along so well." 7/89

Enrique Garcia 93. Phoenix Fashion Designer Leonor Aispuro: "I started getting interested in sewing and design at a very young age, learning from the women in my family." 8/89

Courtesy of Sarah Waite 92. Scottsdale Nail Artist Sarah Waite: "The accomplishment I feel when looking back at something that I’ve just created from nothing is indescribable." 9/89

Courtesy of Christina "Xappa" Franco 91. Christina "Xappa" Franco of Xappaland: "I make art because it makes me happier than any other thing in the world, even when it breaks my heart." 10/89

Airi Katsuta 90. Christian Adame of Phoenix Art Museum: "Good work should always say something and make me see differently." 11/89

Courtesy of Tara Sharpe 89. Tara Sharpe of Artelshow: "We should be encouraging collectors that live in the state to consider Phoenix artists more in their collections." 12/89

Courtesy of Patricia Sannit 88. Sculptor Patricia Sannit: "As a result of my desire to bring a real sense of connection to history in the work, I work with reclaimed and found clay." 13/89

Ken Howie 86. Dennita Sewell of Phoenix Art Museum: "My work is varied from day to day depending on where we are at in the process of mounting an exhibition." 14/89

Tom Story 85. Garth Johnson of ASU Art Museum Ceramics Research Center: "My mission in life is to preserve the legacies of brilliant artists who aren't as well-remembered as they should be." 15/89

Devon Adams 84. Charissa Lucille of Fem Static: "Above all, I strive to surround myself with the writing and artwork by my closest friends and people I admire." 16/89

Jessica Bodford 83. Ryan Downey of Phoenix Chorale: "My mother remembers coming home when I was 6 or 7 and finding me with headphones on, listening to Mozart’s Requiem at full volume and in total awe of what I was hearing." 17/89

Carlee Komar 82. Samantha Thompson of Standard Wax : "Life is a journey, and you have to be willing to leave your comfort zone in order to truly experience it." 18/89

Troy Harris 79. Phoenix Artist Jennifer Campbell: "I think this is a trying time for the art community in Phoenix; a lot of galleries are being pushed out by development." 19/89

Courtesy of Childsplay 78. Dwayne Hartford of Childsplay: "When I graduated from college many years ago, I determined that my idea of success would be to live a life in the arts." 20/89

Craig Smith 77. Shaliyah Ben of the Heard Museum: "The art of teaching is a major driving force for me; seeing students construct and demonstrate that they understand new principles/concepts through art is fascinating." 21/89

Mary McLeod 76. Phoenix-based Photographer Kym Ventola: "Personally, I connect with images that make you feel something and force you to take time to really see the entire image." 22/89

Katrina Donaldson 75. Matthew Watkins of Orange Theatre: "The best thing an artist can do for themselves is to severely limit their choices early on." 23/89

Gary Pratt 73. Phoenix Storyteller Rachel Egboro: "Storytelling helps me slow down to take stock of my experiences and appreciate what they mean to my life." 24/89

iTheatre Collaborative 72. Rosemary Close of iTheatre Collaborative: "My art is different because I have nothing tangible to give, only the performance, the experience and, of course, a playbill." 25/89

Wen Hang Lin 71. Ally Haynes-Hamblen of Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts: "I’m passionate about sharing with as many people as I can what’s being created here." 26/89

Alexandra Gaspar 68. Laura Dragon of {9} The Gallery: "Owning a gallery, I have the gift of working with tons of local artists, musicians, dancers, and writers." 27/89

Michelle Herrick 67. Phoenix Makeup Artist Stephanie Neiheisel: "I will never sacrifice my true friends, family, or time to cater to what the industry says I should be." 28/89

Shaunté Glover 66. Michael Lanier of The Bosque: "We need art anywhere we can get it." 29/89

Alexandra Gaspar 65. Scottsdale Artist Jessica Rajko: "Most of my work is collaborative, and my best work happens when I share conceptual agency with others." 30/89

Velma Kee Craig 64. Velma Kee Craig: "I make art because I believe in its ability to heal, illuminate, and inspire change." 31/89

Courtesy of Oliver Hibert 63. Scottsdale Painter Oliver Hibert: "I don't like to give my art an end-all, be-all label, but my work can be mostly psychedelic, surreal, strange, and sexy." 32/89

Amanda Embry 62. Joya Scott of Orange Theatre: "I'm most interested in art that confronts me with something I don't quite understand." 33/89

Karen Loschavio 61. Tempe Performance Artist Raji Ganesan: "In the context of work that I enjoy, I love when someone expresses that they feel more able to confront some aspect of their own lives: past, present, or future." 34/89

Cheyanne Paredes 60. Phoenix Flea Founder Ashlee Molina: "I love the process of coming up with an idea and then figuring out a way to turn it into something tangible and relevant to other people." 35/89

Courtesy of Myrlin Hepworth 59. Phoenix Poet Myrlin Hepworth: "Good work should always be commissioned or be intended or created to exist primarily for the disenfranchised." 36/89

Elaine Kessler Photography 58. Scottsdale International Film Festival Founder Amy Ettinger: "Art can be challenging, so I bring the community together to experience films which will rarely be seen in the Valley." 37/89

Scott Foust, Image Industry 57. Arizona Science Center's Founding CEO Sheila Grinell: "I began my second career, as a novelist, in 2009, because it was time to explore life differently." 38/89

Peter Bugg Artist Forrest Solis: "I am not an emotional painter; I don’t wait for inspiration or for a particular mood." 39/89

Andrew Rogers 54. Writer and Podcaster Robert Hoekman Jr.: "Really, I’m all about stories that leave a mark. Sometimes, it’s a book that gets me there. Sometimes, it’s asphalt." 40/89

Courtesy of Airi Katsuta 52. Gabriela Munoz of Arizona Arts Commission: "I make art because it’s beyond me to stop, and I find it is a generative form of expression." 41/89

A.J. Grucky 50. Phoenix Designer Liz Magura: "I have a collaborative hunger for just about anything, and truly believe we’re only better together." 42/89

Courtesy of Anita Means 49. Anita and Sam Means: "The Phoenix creative scene could use more people!" 43/89

Ron Brewer 48. Tempe Choreographer Liz Ann Hewett: "If you attend one my shows, you could expect anything from flower petals raining down on you, to character twists, to being asked to be involved." 44/89

Courtesy of Mesa Arts Center 47. Tiffany Fairall of Mesa Contemporary Arts Museum: "For me, good work should always invite closer contemplation. Quality, aesthetic, and meaningful commentary are all good guidelines." 45/89

Image courtesy of Phoenix Art Museum 46. Vanessa Davidson of Phoenix Art Museum: "I curate art because new discoveries inspire me every day." 46/89

Barry Sparkman 45. Michelle Dock of Tempe Center for the Arts: "My inspiration wall is full of pop-culture references. I can geek out pretty easily on anything from sci-fi to history." 47/89

Courtesy of ASU Performance in the Borderlands 44. Phoenix Playwright Nia Witherspoon: "I make art because it is how I survive, it is how I worship, it is how I understand and process the world, it is how I create and build community, it is how I honor and dignify my people, and it is how I imagine justice." 48/89

Amy Hanen 43. Phoenix Dressmaker Monique Sandoval: "The feeling of bringing flat fabrics together by certain cuts and seams into something dimensional and wearable still gives me butterflies." 49/89

Alexander Iziliaev 42. Nayon Iovino of Ballet Arizona: "I'm most productive when I'm being challenged in rehearsals. As a choreographer, creativity comes to me randomly." 50/89

Nancy Lynn Miller of PoshCreative 41. Lighting Designer Daniel Davisson: "I had a hunger for the professional theater world from a very young age, and created my own drive and determination to be where I’m at today." 51/89

Amanda Hunt 40. Visual Artist Andrew King: "I feel like as an artist, it’s an especially long path to self-actualization, but with each job, each new connection, each triumph and mistake, that path becomes more and more clear." 52/89

Courtesy of Michelle Moyer 39. Michelle Moyer of Kenneth Pierre Designs: "I love to wear one of my stepdad’s turquoise rings. It makes me feel like he is here with me." 53/89

Isela Lopez 38. Nail Artist Jimmy Nguyen: "The beauty industry is dominated by women, and as a male, I feel I offer a different perspective while providing services that are heavily influenced by street art and culture." 54/89

Faculty Photography, University of California, Riverside 37. Tiffany Lopez of ASU: "The arts are about coming into voice, becoming present in your body, and sharing work for public witnessing – all things that violence and trauma try to destroy." 55/89

Courtesy of Kristin Bauer 36. Tempe Artist Kristin Bauer: "I've learned most from observation and listening, even (and especially) in silent mundane moments. Life is a long moving composition with many overlapping rhythms and melodies, and I don’t think I could articulate a singular note that is more substantial." 56/89

Scottsdale Cultural Council 35. Donna Isaac of Scottsdale Public Art: "A good work of art is the basis for discussion, and can always engage the public." 57/89

Courtesy of Douglas Miles 34. Douglas Miles of Apache Skateboards: "I've learned most from my mom, older brothers and sisters, raising my own family of four, and never quitting." 58/89

Charles Darr 33. Tempe Artist Sierra Joy: "I work really well in activated spaces. When I have my friends' creative energy flowing around me, I feel like our stories are constantly intertwining and influencing each other's work." 59/89

Sean Deckert 32. Phoenix Artist Francisco Flores: "I think creative people in Phoenix can use more community spaces to gather, spaces such as Cut and Paste, or Puente, places that are open to everyone and their resourcefulness." 60/89

Courtesy of Amy Robinson 31. Arizona Cardinals Graphic Designer Amy Robinson: "I love seeing the fans’ reactions when a new design rolls out or they really enjoy a social media post which gets them pumped for the season or game." 61/89

Courtesy of Julio Cesar Morales 30. ASU Art Museum Curator Julio Cesar Morales: "What I find inspiring is the local activism by individuals and organizations fighting against social injustices within Arizona." 62/89

Actors WorkHouse 55. Duane Daniels of Space 55: "For this city’s acting reputation to become more viable from a national perspective, we all have to do whatever it takes to raise the bar on the quality of our work." 63/89

Courtesy of Kelsey Pinckney 28. Kelsey Pinckney of Four Chambers: "Good work should always start a conversation. Or stop one." 64/89

Melissa Coble 27. Ben Smith of Unexpected Art Gallery: "Good work should always be a goal, but sometimes you just need to call it when a project goes south." 65/89

Grant Vetter 26. Rembrandt Quiballo: "Being an artist means you are aligning yourself to certain values and ideals that are sometimes antithetical to the broader culture." 66/89

Jeff Geertsen 25. Mesa Artist Corinne Geertsen: "The Phoenix creative scene could use more people who put art in their homes." 67/89

Marty Scherer 24. Tess Mosko Scherer of Shemer Art Center : "Although Phoenix chose me more than I chose it, it has offered an unexpected opportunity for me to step fully into myself as an artist and as a woman." 68/89

Karolina Sikorska 23. Slawomir Wozniak of Phoenix Ballet: "I pursue my mission to make ballet an important part of human culture." 69/89

Courtesy of Elly Finzer 22. Mesa Poet Elly Finzer: "I came to Phoenix with $1,000 in my pocket, a 3-year-old daughter, and a small hope that I could make a good life happen for us here." 70/89

Richard Douglas 21. Glendale Artist Josh Brizuela: "This year, I've reverted back to believing every single idea that comes to me and running with it instead of combatting it." 71/89

Jim Nichols 20. Peoria Author Amy K. Nichols: "I'm most productive when I’m on a deadline. Nothing like a ticking clock to get me motivated." 72/89

Larry Alan Photography 19. Phoenix Fashion Designer Angela Johnson: "My inspiration wall is full of succulents, Halloween imagery, avant-garde fashion, sea life, insects, industrial interiors." 73/89

Courtesy of Grant Vetter 18. ASU Galleries Director Grant Vetter: "Phoenix has to embrace its own madness. If you meet an artist here, they are hardcore about making art. " 74/89

Michelle & Melanie Craven 17. Michelle and Melanie Craven of Scottsdale's Tilt Gallery: "We make art because we couldn’t imagine a world with out it. We see art around us everywhere, every day; we need to just take a moment to stop and see it." 75/89

Scott Sandry 16. Phoenix Comedian Erick Biez: "One of my favorite things is when people after my set or show I’ve produced tell me how much fun they had." 76/89

Alvin Galloway 15. Phoenix Storyteller Leah Marche: "My journalism education and experience has taught me how to find a story and how to tell a story." 77/89

Courtesy of Lisa Von Hoffner 14. Lisa Von Hoffner: "Ideas are fluid and I hope to reflect that in my work, learning something new from every piece I make." 78/89

Image courtesy of Phoenix Art Museum 13. Amada Cruz of Phoenix Art Museum: "I love what I do. But the best part of my job at PAM is when I’m in the galleries surrounded by happy visitors." 79/89

Ron Brewer Photography 12. Amber Robins of Phoenix's Center Dance Ensemble: "You have to truly believe that everything around you is some form of art." 80/89

Andy DeLisle 10. Steven Tepper of ASU's Herberger Institute: "I ended up as dean of the Herberger Institute because much of my research and writing has been about the education and careers of arts graduates." 81/89

Lisa Greve 9. Bentley Calverley: "When people ask what I do for a living, I sometimes say gallerist and sometimes say den mother." 82/89

Agnes Art & Photo 8. Lisa Olson of Practical Art: "My inspiration wall is full of art from floor to ceiling. Made by local artists — they are my inspiration!" 83/89

Courtesy of Eric Torres 7. Game Designer Eric Torres: "Some might think fiction is nonsense. That’s okay. Real life is nonsense, too." 84/89

Jeff Libman 6. Phoenix Comedian Genevieve Rice: "I’ve grown so much more confident and content, and it’s all due to silly jokes about raccoons and Pretty Woman." 85/89

Keitaro Harada 5. Kathleen Trott: "Good costume designs always support the context of the play/opera/musical." 86/89

Evie Carpenter 4. Arizona Poet Alberto Rios: "The great secret is that it has been one day after another, each an adventure, each bringing a gift." 87/89

John Groseclose 3. Louis Farber of Stray Cat Theatre: "I feel a great deal of creating theater is being able to successfully operate within the confines of a given amount of time, existing budget, and available resources." 88/89

Troy Aossey 2. Lisa Sette: "The Phoenix creative scene could use more critical writing and exposure locally and nationally — there are some very high-quality exhibitions and artists to be seen here." 89/89

100 Creatives You Need to Know in Metro Phoenix

As part of our countdown to Best of Phoenix 2016: Bordertown, New Times put the spotlight on 100 Creatives working in visual art, theater, design, and behind the scenes to enrich the Valley's creative community. Here they are: the actors, painters, authors, and boundary-defying innovators you need to know.

_{Up Next:}