Meet the first four Emerging Artists at this year's Three Rivers Arts Festival
Amid the booths at the Three Rivers Arts Festival are a group of exceptional artists who were given the opportunity to showcase their work as part of the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust’s Emerging Artist Sponsorship Program. The Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council is thrilled to sponsor this program, which features the work of eight impressive artists over a 10-day period in Downtown Pittsburgh’s Cultural District.
Our Communications Intern Isabella Abbott visited the first four emerging artists, who displayed and sold their art at the Arts Fest between June 2-6.
Kimberly Joya at Resdolo Designs
Website: www.resdolodesigns.com
Instagram: @Kim.resdolodesigns
TikTok: @Resdolo Designs
Kim, the artist behind Resdolo Designs, is a floral artist who uses acrylic paint to create stunning artworks on canvas. Although she’s new to being an artist, just getting her start in 2020 during the pandemic, her work shows years of painting abilities which could explain how her artwork is so unique and beautiful. Fun fact: Kim also recently displayed her artwork at the Allegheny Conference as part of our Art on the Walls program.
Isabella: What are you looking forward to the most during the Three Rivers Arts Festival?
Kim: I honestly think just meeting new people and also having some of my canvas paintings find new homes. And just meeting new art collectors and kind of getting feedback on why they’re choosing this painting and where they’re going to hang it.
Isabella: What’s your favorite piece you’re selling today, and what was its inspiration?
Kim: It’s probably the largest piece I’ve ever painted [pictured at left], and it took about five days nonstop.
I think just seeing everything kind of growing again, and I had just never done anything like that before. I’d seen a couple of artists do like a two-piece and was like, you know, I’m gonna give this a shot.
Isabella: Do you have any advice for artists who may want to start painting and selling?
Kim: Yes, I would say it’s not as intimidating as it looks to at least start. I’m a relatively new artist. I only started painting in 2020, and so I think for the longest time, what held me back was just everything looking kind of overwhelming and not knowing where to start. You have to pick somewhere to begin, and then as you do it, you’ll learn, and you'll grow, you’ll find your style, your color palette, and you’ll find your niche.
Marlon Gist at Marlon Gist Art Studio & Gallery
Website: gistgallery.business.site
Facebook: @Marlon Gist Art Studio & Gallery
Instagram: @MarlonGistArt
Marlon is an Aliquippa artist whose passion for creating work is displayed through his pieces. Gist’s main goal for the Arts Fest was to show people a taste of his artwork and to share it with Pittsburgh. Anyone who missed out on his display can visit his gallery on 441 Franklin Avenue in Aliquippa to see the entire collection.
Isabella: What inspired some of the pieces you have here today and your art in general?
Marlon: What inspired my work? I mean, I just want to be the best artist, you know, my inspiration is just I love everything, so I just do everything, and yeah, I’m just inspired by trying to be one of the best.
Isabella: What are you looking forward to the most being a part of this festival?
Marlon: It’s just all these great artists here, you know, I love going to see artists that I didn’t know existed. I’ve seen a lot of artists, I’ve met a couple of artists, and ate some good food. I wish there was a little better weather conditions [Editor's note: It was over 90 degrees during this interview], but you can’t get perfect in Pittsburgh.
Isabella: Do you have a favorite piece of work here today?
Marlon: I’d probably say [the Best Barber Shop piece pictured in the photo above]. It took me seven years to paint this. I was working on other things, but a lot of hours into this piece. I drew it all first by hand, so it was an all-pencil drawing, and as I painted, you know, everything’s changing, so I’m stopping to make the leg go a different way, that’s why originals take a long time because you’re putting it together, you’re changing stuff, and people behind the scenes don’t know that.
Corey D. Bush
Website: coreydbush.com
Instagram: @corey.d.bush
Corey is a woodworker and potter whose work is handmade right here in Pittsburgh. His passion is to craft contemporary and functional pottery that’ll make for a lasting and memorable artifact.
Isabella: What made you want to start doing ceramics?
Corey: I was doing woodworking, and I didn’t really like it, just the rigidity of that got kind of boring. Then I stumbled on a YouTube video kind of randomly that was just teaching somebody how to make a pot, like after a woodworking video, and I just thought it was interesting. So I just bought a wheel and a kiln and just started, you know, I went all in. Before I even tried it, I just knew I’d like it.
Isabella: Do you have a favorite piece that you’re selling today?
Corey: My personal favorite is the black and red [pictured on the table in the photo], that whole collection.
Isabella: Are you looking forward to anything specifically during the Arts Fest?
Corey: Just exposure, I guess, talking to different artists. The guy next door is a great person, it kind of stinks he’s right next to me, but he’s cool, he’s an awesome mentor, and he’s taught me a lot.
Brandon Irizarry at Beez Designs
Website: designedbybeez.com
Instagram: @Beezdesigns_
Brandon is a Pittsburgh-based painter, illustrator, and graphic designer who specializes in many different areas, including art direction, logo design, digital art, illustrations, and more. His art is a mix between traditional and digital and is inspired by culture, music, and "whatever he’s feeling at the time."
Isabella: Do you have a favorite piece of art here today?
Brandon: Mac [Miller] is up there for sure. I actually only spent a day on it cause I needed it for a show that I was in like the next day, so I knew I needed something big to have, so I kind of just went crazy.
Isabella: What is your favorite part about the Arts Festival so far?
Brandon: Just being able to connect with everybody and see all the different artists, and it’s very inspiring and motivating to see the different techniques that people are using. Even how they set up their booth and whatnot, so it’s been really exciting.
I’m very grateful to be here because there are a lot of people here, and I’ve been able to connect with tons of people online.