Guest Artists
Lancaster Art Vault represents a number of Guest and Gallery Wall Artists. These are artists who market and sell their work through Lancaster Art Vault but do not need studio space. Our Gallery Wall Artists rotate every 2 months so there is always something new to see at Lancaster Art Vault.
Rae Ann Ross is an American born contemporary artist. She has attended many art education classes and workshops throughout the United States and Europe. Her admiration of art galleries has directed her into meeting the most amazing artists, clients and lovers of all things art. She has continually been welcomed into all the local art communities which has encouraged her to continue painting. “This was the spark, I’ve been painting professionally since 2018.” Her work has been exhibited in galleries throughout the US and her paintings reside in private collections in the U.S. In November of 2023, Rae Ann’s piece, “Natures Tropical Whimsical Garden” was awarded Best of Show at the 52nd Annual Open Juried Art Exhibition held by the York Art Association in York, Pennsylvania.
Rae Ann Ross lives a creative life. She alternates between homes in Long Island, Bahamas and Lancaster County, Pennsylvania where she creates many of her works in her home studios. Her background as a gemstone jeweler and artisan gave her a strong foundation in color and design. This foundation enabled her to transition to oil painting, her medium of choice. Rae Ann enjoys vibrant color palettes and strives to create paintings that the viewer not only sees, but feels. Her art adds a richness and style to modern interiors. Her paintings feature a broad range of subject matter, and reflect her evolution and experimentation with various styles. She works with a variety of materials predominantly oils, including pigments, graphite, charcoal and the occasional element of collage and/or image transfer. Rae Ann’s work is intuitive and spontaneous, driven by ideas and emotions that translate to shape, color, and texture on the canvas.
Rae Ann Ross
Molly Weldon
Creating art has been a part of Molly's life for as long as she can remember. Working in stone, clay, salt, and other mediums allows her to express ideas to the world. Growth is a recurring theme in Molly's work, often reflecting nature, the human experience, and her journey. She is fascinated by the seasons of life that push us forward into either growth or stagnancy. Molly studies parallels between the natural world and the tension between our life cycle.
Molly completed her bachelor's degree in art and psychology at Mount Mercy University and attended SACI College of Art and Design in Florence, Italy. This opportunity to view some of the world's greatest works of art deepened her understanding of the impact art can have on those who observe and appreciate it. She believes art has the power to change us and open us to the depths of beauty that life offers.
Inspiration from being in nature, particularly among trees and bodies of water, is embedded in Molly's work. She is also influenced by the female form and human connections, especially the bond between mothers and their children.
As a lifelong learner who is always curious, Molly has certifications as a doula and in childbirth education. Here, she has studied and observed the emergence of life and the bonds that connect us. Molly lives with her three amazing kids in Pennsylvania. She spends much of her time creating with her children, discovering the gift of nature, and admiring the growth process around her.
My work explores the way light, motion, and energy intersect within the world around us. As an artist, I am privileged to capture and interpret the everyday scenes that shape my life, viewing them through a unique lens that merges observation with imagination. Living in both Philadelphia and Lancaster has profoundly influenced my subject matter. I find a deep sense of balance in the contrast between urban and rural environments-two seemingly opposing worlds that inform my creative practice.
Initially, my focus was on the dynamic energy of urban landscapes. Over time, this evolved into a deeper fascination with light and movement. Whether wandering city streets, wondering about the stories behind glowing windows, or gazing at birds in flight, I am continually drawn to the unknown. The freedom and fluidity of motion in these moments evoke a longing for something beyond the tangible, a desire to explore what lies just beyond the visible.
In my work, I am not interested in portraying hyper-realism, but rather in conveying a feeling-an atmosphere that captures the elusive nature of the world. My paintings and drawings invite the viewer into a space where the boundaries between reality and abstraction blur. City streets might dissolve into abstract color, or birds soaring through the sky might merge with mysterious landscapes. By embracing glimpses of light, shadow, and motion, I offer the viewer a chance to see through my eyes, while still grounding the images in the reality of our shared experience.
This ongoing exploration of mystery, wonder, and energy continues to inspire my practice. It is my hope that my work not only conveys my personal vision, but also encourages others to contemplate the unseen forces that shape the world around us.
Whitney Babin
ROBIN ASHBY
“I want to take you on a journey—one that flows like ink on water, swirling through centuries of craftsmanship, cultural exchange, and artistic discovery. My subject, and my passion, is historic marbling.”
An artist, writer and historian. Robin's path to art started in Marshallton, PA, where he was surrounded by his grandfather's watercolor art and had a fortuitous opportunity to work at Andrew Wyeth's Chadds Ford home as a teen. His global professional career in IT engineering, audit and compliance took him to France, Florida, and back to his native Chester County. As a welcome diversion from the rigors of corporate work, he pursued training in bookbinder and paper marbling, eventually shifting his entire practice to paper marbling and decorated paper.
History guides Robin's artistic pursuits. In addition to his own art, he researches and writes about art topics. His recent book, The Industrialist's Brush, explores the work and life of his grandfather, Harry Cann, paying tribute to Can's contribution to American mid-century industry as well as his Chester County watercolor landscapes.
Robin's work is inspired by the great artistic and cultural traditions of European and Ottoman marblers. The ancient art of marbling faces extinction as modernity presses it to the margins. Robin works to reanimate traditional marbling methods and bring new vigor and creativity to this rich artform.
Robin studied paper marbling with Dan and Regina St. John of Chena River Marblers in Massachusetts, and with marbling artists in France and Germany. He teaches paper marbling at The School for Bookbinding Arts in Winchester, VA, The John C. Campbell Folk School in Brasstown NC, and the Chadds Ford Historical Society in Chadds Ford, PA. His work is part of the permanent collection of the German National Library's Decorated Paper archive in Leipzig.
I primarily work with porcelain to create sculptures that explore the delicate and symbiotic relationships between botanical, fungal, and animal forms. My fascination lies in the microscopic and invisible structures and systems that govern life, yet remain unseen by the human eye. Through intricate layering and seamless connection, I aim to evoke a sense of the hidden beauty and complexity beneath the surface of the natural world.
Central to my practice are themes of fragility and resilience, cyclical life, and perpetual transformation. The constant flux of life's paradoxical nature is embodied in the delicate organic texture of my work, where fragile porcelain also conveys a sense of permanence.
I envision my sculptures as portals into a surreal, otherworldly landscape where viewers might lose themselves, like walking through a dense forest where time and space blur. The intricate surfaces invite close inspection, revealing delicate textures and subtle details, encouraging a deeper, meditative engagement. This serves as a quiet invitation to pause, wonder, and reconnect with the unseen forces of nature that shape life in all its forms. My work creates spaces where viewers can momentarily step outside their everyday world, immerse themselves in the richness of the natural and the mysterious, and reflect on the profound cycles of life that surround us.
Faith Ku
Lindsey Hall
I am a painter based in central Maryland, just outside of Baltimore. I am a recent graduate of Towson University, where I received my Bachelors in Painting, Drawing, & Printmaking. I work primarily in oil paint and traditional illustration, in which I explore the intersection between Surrealism and female identity.
Through my paintings, I explore the surreal, fantastical, and feminine using symbolism and allegory. My paintings delve into my inner subconscious world, with a focus on the pains and triumphs of womanhood and the beauty of nature. I pull from the painting traditions of Surrealism, Abstraction, Art Nouveau, and Pre-Raphaelite art to create my work. By combining the female figure with elements of nature and symbolic imagery, I construct mystical worlds that explore the complexities of womanhood.
“Trees and grasses stand guard. The venerable conversation of water and stone reverberates and renews as the layers of the ages reveal what’s possible.”
The monotypes and paintings are glimpses of a fragile landscape designed to evoke rather than describe. The viewer is invited to complete the experience with personal remembrances of textures, colors, and vibrations.
A monotype is a singular, original work created by applying pigment to a non-absorbent surface. In this case the images were developed with acrylic paint on a gelatin plate and hand printed on various types of paper. Following Degas’ technique, soft pastel was added to the printed image to enrich, enliven, or subdue.
Marianne Calenda is a contemporary painter/printmaker inspired by the Lancaster County landscape. Her atmospheric landscapes have been shown most recently at the New England Monotype Guild, the American Tonalist Society, Maryland Federation of Art, the Lancaster Museum of Art and other regional galleries and arts organizations including Curio, Third Story Art and MH Art Gallery. Marianne is a member of Marietta Art Alive, sponsor of the annual River Towns Plein Air.
Marianne Calenda
Suzanne Bartlett
Suzanne A. Bartlett is a Silver Spring based artist with a unique body of work encompassing many mediums and sculptural formats.
In her Forest Women Series, she employs new approaches to her decades-long interest in layering images and symbols in a variety of mediums. Best known for her sculpted, textile paintings and assemblages that provide engagement with the history of women’s working lives, she brings to this new printed series totems talismans made of vintage dresses overlaid onto trees. Beauty belies the labor buried within it: Bartlett melds traditional craft forms with photographic and digital tools in her distinctive constructions.
Suzanne A. Bartlett has always been an artist gravitating toward paid work that made use of her design sense. She early developed a talent for learning new skills in vernacular settings, including silk screening, interior design, marketing, and newspaper image production. While raising her family, she received a bachelor’s degree from Lehigh University’s architecture program, graduating with honors. She has an active studio discipline: printing, painting, drawing, sculpting, sewing, photographing, baking bread, and teaching others to be makers too.
Danielle Rose is a self-taught artist who discovered her love for oil painting while pursuing a doctorate in physical therapy at St Francis University. Since 2018, she has been a resident artist and has had two solo exhibitions at Mulberry Art Studios in Lancaster, PA. Danielle is a Board Certified Neurologic Physical Therapist; she lives with her husband, Craig, and their two daughters, Lucy and Chiara. Over the last decade, she has cultivated her identity as an artist, physical therapist, and most recently a mom with the strong-willed declaration “Je choiset tout!” (a French phrase meaning “I choose all!”). Danielle delights in playing with color, exploring new subjects, and drawing inspiration from the vibrant arts culture in Lancaster City.
Into the Wild Yonder
As a self-taught artist, I am continually evolving as I explore new techniques, subjects, and color palettes. I delight in color. My paintings are as vivid and saturated with beauty as my experience of life.
Lightness and stability.
Experimentation and trust.
Limitations and play.
As my first foray into landscape painting, this series reflects how I interact with the world and with my craft in a new season of life. Starting a family changed my relationship with my painting practice. Both my style and subject matter have adapted to thrive in the midst of this transition. I experimented with a new creative process even as I shared my studio space with a sleeping infant.
This is what I discovered.
This is Into the Wild Yonder.
Danielle Rose
Jane deGruchy
I didn't anticipate that enrolling in a painting class would transform my life's trajectory. I became fascinated with the dynamic qualities of watercolor and have since expanded into other painting media. In the last two decades I have committed to independent study by attending classes and workshops with local and nationally respected artists. You can find my work in regional juried and member shows and galleries. I am a Signature Member of the Philadelphia Watercolor Society and Baltimore Watercolor Society. Additionally, I have served on the board for the Pennsylvania Watercolor Society and the Berks Art Alliance. I am fortunate to work from my home studio in Southeastern Pennsylvania.
The natural environment is a continual source of inspiration for my watercolor paintings. My work explores subjects in a close-up format, as if zooming in with a magnifier - possibly an influence from my earlier academic studies in biology. Through these intimate views, the viewer encounters the subject with little distractions and is left to appreciate their intrinsic value. I am fascinated how living organisms are adapted to their environment by color and design. Ultimately, my work invokes the importance of nature to society. Not only does nature enrich our lives through beauty and providing restoration, but also through reflecting aspects of ourselves back to us.
Thinking about the subject matter and conversations I have chosen to explore in my most recent body of work, I have taken an introspective approach to exploring the small things that get me through a week i.e. getting my favorite cheap take out or playing monthly meat bingo.
Following this line of thought, some of my pieces depict scenes of playing games with friends, while others are close up perspectives of local businesses. I find myself drawn to incorporating humor into my artwork because I enjoy approaching the more universal subject matter of my works through exaggeration, making that which may seem mundane lean towards absurd.
The compositions that focus on board games initially came across as more humorous than my business painting through the incorporation of both the exaggerated color palettes and contexts of the settings. However, I do translate some of this humor over to my storefront paintings as well. I started by painting the places I visit frequently, but it has since branched out to stores that I haven't even stepped foot in. With these stores I find humor in visual elements such as the naming of the business or commercial maximalism.
When I'm painting these pieces I think either of my own personal emotions and experiences in relation to visiting the sites, if I have a personal connection to them, or more deeply about the components that make up the architecture. (How plain and ugly they can appear but at the same time be so beautiful. How I feel to be born in the era of strip malls and shopping centers that get taken for granted).
I'm specifically drawn into compositions of store fronts because of the maximalist essence that they radiate from the inundation of information such as advertisements posted in the windows, reflections, and posted business hours. Even the years of discoloration on the sidewalk, fire hydrants, no loitering signs, etc. provide visual information.
My practice started out painting with a much more realistic color palette, but very recently evolved into something much more expressionistic and dreamlike. These features also translate heavily into my sculptures.
Tina Borchert is a painter that also practices within sculpture. Their studio in The Withdrawal Room at Lancaster Art Vault is their primary workspace. Originally born in The Poconos, Tina resides now in Lancaster since graduating with their Bachelor of Fine Arts from Millersville University. Alongside their degree, they have obtained hands-on experience working as a painting studio technician and an assistant at Second State Press in Philadelphia. Their inspirations come from so many different artists, especially being in a digital media age, they find new content they want to pull from daily. Some artists include Miqui Lilintal, Valerie Larko, and heartslob. They have also displayed their art in galleries across the United States, including Missouri, WIsconsin and Pennsylvania.
Tina Borchert
Michael Altman
Inspired by a family of makers, I began making Kumiko-style artwork in 2021. Kumiko is a traditional Japanese woodcraft that has been practiced for over 1,000 years, and is commonly found in shoji screens and home décor. Many traditional kumiko patterns represent plants and the natural world – sesame blossoms, leaves, roses.
The individual pieces of wood are cut to exact size and shape by hand to create intricate patterns. Complex panels may consist of more than 700 individual pieces. All pieces are made from solid wood, including custom frames. I select each variety of wood for its natural color. No stains, dyes or pigments are used.
I'm largely self-taught through lots of trial and error and have benefited from the many skilled craftspeople who generously share their know-how through social media. Additionally, I've "sharpened my edges" through instruction from the talented staff at the Philadelphia Furniture Workshop.
I started Timber Saga Woodworking in 2021 to design and build one-of-a-kind pieces with the intent to showcase the natural qualities of wood. The beauty, technical challenge, and history of the Kumiko technique have made it a primary focus of my work. I source my wood from a local, family-owned hardwood supplier that follows sustainable harvest practices. I'm a Pennsylvania native and currently live in the Kennett Square area.
Thinking about the subject matter and conversations I have chosen to explore in my most recent body of work, I have taken an introspective approach to exploring the small things that get me through a week i.e. getting my favorite cheap take out or playing monthly meat bingo.
Following this line of thought, some of my pieces depict scenes of playing games with friends, while others are close up perspectives of local businesses. I find myself drawn to incorporating humor into my artwork because I enjoy approaching the more universal subject matter of my works through exaggeration, making that which may seem mundane lean towards absurd.
The compositions that focus on board games initially came across as more humorous than my business painting through the incorporation of both the exaggerated color palettes and contexts of the settings. However, I do translate some of this humor over to my storefront paintings as well. I started by painting the places I visit frequently, but it has since branched out to stores that I haven't even stepped foot in. With these stores I find humor in visual elements such as the naming of the business or commercial maximalism.
When I'm painting these pieces I think either of my own personal emotions and experiences in relation to visiting the sites, if I have a personal connection to them, or more deeply about the components that make up the architecture. (How plain and ugly they can appear but at the same time be so beautiful. How I feel to be born in the era of strip malls and shopping centers that get taken for granted).
I'm specifically drawn into compositions of store fronts because of the maximalist essence that they radiate from the inundation of information such as advertisements posted in the windows, reflections, and posted business hours. Even the years of discoloration on the sidewalk, fire hydrants, no loitering signs, etc. provide visual information.
My practice started out painting with a much more realistic color palette, but very recently evolved into something much more expressionistic and dreamlike. These features also translate heavily into my sculptures.
Tina Borchert is a painter that also practices within sculpture. Their studio in The Withdrawal Room at Lancaster Art Vault is their primary workspace. Originally born in The Poconos, Tina resides now in Lancaster since graduating with their Bachelor of Fine Arts from Millersville University. Alongside their degree, they have obtained hands-on experience working as a painting studio technician and an assistant at Second State Press in Philadelphia. Their inspirations come from so many different artists, especially being in a digital media age, they find new content they want to pull from daily. Some artists include Miqui Lilintal, Valerie Larko, and heartslob. They have also displayed their art in galleries across the United States, including Missouri, WIsconsin and Pennsylvania.
Tina Borchert
