ARTIST BIO

Erin O'Connor is a glass mosaic artist based in Ann Arbor, Michigan inspired by Art Deco and geometric designs. To create her art, she hand-cuts each piece of glass, grinds the edges for a refined finish, and grouts the final piece with a charcoal-colored grout.

Erin acquired most of her artistic skills growing up spending time in her mother's paint-your-own-pottery art studio in Okemos, Michigan. She began her artistic career in 2022 and had the honor of receiving the Most Promising Emerging Artist Award from the Ann Arbor State Street District Art Fair in 2023. Alongside her artistic pursuits, Erin is also a medical student at The University of Michigan Medical School.

Inspired by Ann Arbor’s bicentennial, O’Connor’s art is based on a historic map of Ann Arbor from the 1800’s. The piece outlines the city’s roads, railways, Huron River, old fair grounds, neighborhoods and personal properties in a glass mosaic. The University of Michigan medical student even chose a blue and gold color scheme as a nod to the school she shares with the city.

And although O’Connor is a dedicated student, she places a high priority on art in her life after a successful fight with cancer at just 20 years old. O’Connor’s beautiful hand cut piece is featured on this year’s State Street District Art Fair poster to pay tribute to the history of Ann Arbor and to celebrate its evolution, along with her own.

ARTIST BIO

Starting off as a biologist with an emphasis in zoology, I knew my affinity for the natural world was something I needed to pursue. While working for the Dallas Zoo, I discovered that I was to be a biologist turned artist. I picked up drawing about 11 years ago and now I am showing my work all over the country. Using NanoLiner ink pens and Prismacolor pencils, I draw my unique characters onto cut and layered watercolor paper which I then elevate into shadowboxes by pushing needles through the paper.

The backgrounds are collage. I also draw directly onto birch wood panels using ink and collage around them. The collage is found material I collect on my travels around the country and even around the world. The subject matter is inspired not only by my biology background but for my love of anything oddly beautiful. I want my work to inspire and bring people's attention to the underlying beauty and marvelousness of the world around them!

The Ann Arbor Summer Art Fair’s featured artist surprisingly began her career as a biologist. While working at the Dallas Zoo, Curry found her true calling in art and began drawing nearly a dozen years ago. Using ink pens and colored pencils, Curry creates unique characters on shadow box collages of unique materials including birch wood panels, needle and found objects collected on her many travels.

She still draws inspiration from her biology days, featuring animals frequently. The Ann Arbor Summer Art Fair chose Curry’s creation of a dog in an astronaut helmet with a constellation covered bright blue background to be this year’s commemorative poster. The piece is titled, “Canis Major.”

ARTIST BIO

My earliest memories are of me drawing. There was never a question as to what I would do with my life.

I attended Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana. There I was introduced to printmaking and discovered that I had an innate “feel” for the process of making woodcuts. In 1992, I graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Painting.

I spent six years in New Mexico before settling in South Carolina in 2000. I live on twelve acres on Paris Mountain in Greenville, SC. I have a print studio on my property where I spend my days making woodcuts and painting.

Kent Ambler’s earliest memories are of drawing. As a graduate of Ball State University, Ambler's work expanded to include award winning woodcuts, one of which he created as the commemorative poster for this year’s Ann Arbor Street Art Fair, The Original.

Inspired by his many years as an exhibitor at the Ann Arbor Street Art Fair, Ambler’s woodcut depicts the iconic Burton Memorial Tower with the fair's artists and patrons celebrating the return of the The Ann Arbor Street Art Fair, The Original in its 65th year!