I was born and raised in Dallas. My mom and dad met in Bremerhaven, Germany where my mom was born. I went to Lake Highlands High School where I was involved with the band playing flute. I graduated from Southern Methodist University with a degree in Marketing. I have lived and worked in Dallas, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Paris. France. I am a visual artist specializing in mixed media. I am excited that I am about to open an art business in East Dallas called Art on Main!
Q: Please tell us a little bit about your family.
My family lives in East Dallas close to Lowest Greenville. My husband Christophe is President of Renue Systems North Texas. Our daughter Emilie is a senior at SMU. I am an artist and marketer and will be opening a new business this fall in Old East Dallas called Art on Main, We have a Maltese named Watson, a Chiweenie named Kylo and two Tabby kitties, Thor and Lannister.
Q: Please tell us about your current, past, or future career. What do you love most about what you do?
I have enjoyed a career in marketing communications for over 25 years working for Texas Instruments, Alcatel and Ascend Marketing. I came to art as a way to heal after suffering a family tragedy. In 2014 we lost our home and pets to a fire. I turned to creating art to deal with the pain of our loss. As I began to emerge from what had happened to us, I realized that I did not ever want to stop making art and being a part of the artist community in Dallas. With my marketing communications background, I have a great passion for telling stories using the written word. My art became a visual extension of that. My hope is that my mixed media paintings tell captivating stories, inspire conversations, and bring positive, creative energy into the world. I am very proud that professionally I found a way to successfully combine my passion and love for art and marketing. I feel I’ve been able to build a bridge between the worlds of marketing and art that enables me to create some wonderful synergies between the two! For example, mentoring other artists and helping them to market their work! I am thrilled that this fall I will be opening my own art business at 4428 Main Street, Suite 200 in Dallas called Art on Main. We will be an art-focused community providing artist studios, exhibition space for group or solo shows and art class and private event space.
Q: What are a couple of your favorite restaurants in our community?
I love the Mexican food at my new Art on Main neighbor Jilberto’s restaurant! I am a huge fan of Alamo Club on Lowest Greenville!
Q: How long have you lived or worked in our community?
I’m a native Dallasite and proud to be a part of the community for many years!
Q: Who is the most interesting person you’ve met here in our community?
The owner of the building that Art on Main will be in, Tom Ross. Tom is an artist himself and extremely supportive of bringing an artist community to Old East Dallas and DFW.
Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world right now, where would it be and why?
I am actually about to travel to France. I have been accepted into an artist residency residency program at Chateau d’Orquevaux in Orquevaux, France!
Q: What is one of your favorite movies? TV shows?
Christophe and I recently binge watched and loved the HBO series Succession.
Q: What advice would you give to people?
In life it’s vital to focus on what matters most to you, what you truly care about. You should cultivate a well-rooted sense of purpose and a passion for what you do that drives you to persevere, even in the face of adversity.
Q: What is something on your bucket list?
More travel! I would love to go to Tibet, see more of Europe and I have always wanted to visit Alaska just to name a few places.
Q: What is your go to band when you can’t decide what to listen to?
Taylor Swift, I listen to her frequently when I am making art. She is an amazing singer, song writer and gifted storyteller.
Q: What current or former local business makes you the most nostalgic about our community?
I was very sad to see Highland Park Cafeteria close, it was a Dallas institution.
Q: If you could choose anyone that is alive today and not a relative; with whom would you love to have lunch? Why? And where locally would y’all meet for this lunch?
It would be an honor to have lunch with Amy Sherald, the American Artist who painted the official portrait of former first lady Michelle Obama. Her work “A Midsummer Afternoon Dream” is on display right now at The Modern in Fort Worth in the Women Painting Woman exhibition. I am huge fan and would love to have a conversation with her about women and the arts. As my husband Christophe is French and we are a bicultural French/American family we would go to St. Martins on Lower Greenville Avenue.
Q: What is your favorite thing or something unique about our community?
I love the overall vibe of East Dallas! A warm and welcoming community in the heart of Dallas. My great grandparents and my grandmother, on my dad’s side of the family, had a home on Tremont Street. When my mom and dad were first married, they lived with them prior to moving into their first apartment.
Q: Where do you see yourself in 5 to 10 years?
Spending time with family and friends here in Dallas and also with my husband’s family and our friends in France.
Q: (Even for friends or family), what is something interesting that most people don’t know about you?
I wanted to be a ballerina when I was very young.
Q: What is the most beautiful place you have ever been?
Paris, it is one of the most magical cities I have ever visited.
Q: Favorite month? favorite holiday? and best single day on the calendar?
December is my favorite month because both my birthday and Christmas fall in that month! Favorite holiday – Thanksgiving, a time to be grateful for family and friends. Best single day on the calendar, September 17th, the day my daughter Emilie was born.
Q: What would you rate a 10 out of 10?
Dallas of course!
Q: Who inspires you to be better?
My husband and best friend Christophe.
Q: How do you ignite kindness in your community?
By providing a supportive space for artists and our community to appreciate all the amazing art being created in Dallas!
Q: What is one or two of your favorite smells?
I love the small of magnolia blooms which is also my favorite flower. All the yummy smells of Thanksgiving!
Q: Finally, what 3 words or phrases come to mind when you think of the word HOME?
Love, family, and friends.
