Resident Artists
Lancaster Art Vault has 24 Resident Artist Studios that are working spaces for Artists to create, market and collaborate. Our Artist’s studios are open to the public and visitors can walk through studios, view completed and works in progress and visit with Artists while learning a bit more about the Artist’s craft and process.
Peter’s artistic process is as multifaceted as the landscapes that inspire him. His acclaimed series, “Biospheres,” was inspired by his move back to the region. Returning to Lancaster, he was struck by the ever-shifting landscapes of Lancaster’s farmlands, where the passage of time and seasons paint an endless variety of rural landscapes, the same land with different points of view. With each brushstroke, Peter invites viewers on a journey of discovery through the interplay of light, color, and form.
As life is a journey, Christiane’s art is a vehicle, and she sees her work as milestone expressions. Using watercolor and oil, Christiane emphasizes the nature of the color more than the nature of the object itself. In her abstract painting, she completely eliminates the subject to concentrate on color, shape and rhythm, a painterly exploration and an attempt to capture the soul essence of life.
Carla lives for the visceral response of surprise when viewers learn the materials that create the colors and textures of the work is sculpted thread...and trash. It validates the fact that life repurposed is beautiful. A lifetime of experiences compels her to create abstract pieces that tease the viewer through more than just what their eyes can only see. “People may forget what you say or what you look like, but they will never forget how you made them feel.”
Marcy channels meditation as an extension of herself, actively transferring her emotions onto the canvas. Marcy also paints for the viewer, encapsulating an emotion that you can take home and experience for yourself. When observing Marcy’s work, you can feel the emotions in every brushstroke, almost becoming one with the colors and aura of the artwork. Marcy prefers to feel the color instead of merely seeing it when she is creating her work.
Brad’s drawings are a glimpse into his imagination. Brad starts many of his drawings with no preconceived idea of what the finished product will be. He starts with a line, or a pair of eyes, allowing the work to decide what the next element will be. Driven by his desire to push his artistic boundaries further, Brad was drawn to the art of body painting where he uses the human form as his canvas exploring the intersection of art and the human experience.
Sara seeks to capture the beauty and feeling of a time and place through color. Her work features floral studies, landscapes, and cityscapes; the subjects found in her backyard or gleaned from her travels. Painting helps her with two seemingly juxtaposed ideas: remaining present and connecting with places and people from her past. Self-expression and communication are at the core of Sara’s values: through words as a linguist, through dance, or through the color in painting.
With a background in graphic design and fine art printmaking, Gabrielle prefers the freedom of linoleum block printing, pastels, watercolors, and pen and ink illustration. She draws most of her inspiration from nature and the world around her with her prints often featuring peaceful and serene imagery. The duality in her work – combining the precision of digital printing with the hands-on craft of block printing – sets her apart as a unique a versatile artist.
The creative act by its very nature is an expression of love. My process is a creative journey to hold and reveal that love in the shape of beauty. A beauty that traverses the landscape of our lives, and that weaves truth through moments, memories, aspirations, hopes, dreams, hurts, and yes, disappointments- with the essence of a mysterious divine love. The use of earthy organic chalk pigments, wax, oil paint and oil sticks for luminosity is very intentional as is the use of Gold leaf which has been associated with the divine across cultures and religions since ancient times. The juxtaposition of horizontal composition with vertical elements alludes to the natural seen landscape and strata, infused with an ascension/descension of the ethereal unseen.
My love of the creative process and wide range of materials sparks my curiosity and inspires a lively contemplative navigation through exploration - and discovery of the profound amidst the ordinary. May you pause for a moment and reflect on these paintings as your own exploration and discovery into beauty and truth. What will the experience of art reveal to you?
James is versatile in many mediums such as oils, pastels, acrylic, even ceramics and glassblowing. Yet watercolor is his passion for its luminosity, transparency, and quick drying time, which allows for layering and experimenting with techniques like wet-in-wet and dry brushing to create texture and dimension. James finds inspiration in his travels, photos, and everyday scenes, applying principles of value, shape, and color to any subject.
An artist, writer and historian, Robin strives to honor marbling’s traditional craft and heritage while expanding it by incorporating modern materials and extending age old techniques into new artistic expression. A well-known Gustav Mahler quote captures Robin’s zest for celebrating the energy and passion of past marbling masters while forging his own color-inspired artistic vision: “Tradition is not the worship of ashes, but the preservation of fire”.
Melissa S. Zane’s artistic practice is marked by an innovative approach to design and mastery of acrylic paint. Her work features a captivating interplay of textures, blending flat areas with raised, sculptural elements. Deeply inspired by nature, Melissa explores the balance between natural irregularities and artistic design. Her process begins with extensive reference gathering and study, where she distorts her sources to engage with them deeply. Through this process, Melissa not only develops a unique visual language but also invites viewers to experience art that is both thoughtfully crafted and vibrantly expressive.
Kristin’s Haudenosaunee name, given to her by her great- grandmother is Ganä:gah:is, One who splashes water. Kristin lives with what this could mean. To be playfully disruptive? Cleansing? Living water always moves — all living things move and change constantly, in harmony and adapting to the environment, flowing to an ocean where all merges again. Kristin works with this, conveying the experience of the streams that move in objects, nature, beings and events.
Ann Benton Yeager, a native of Millersville in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, carries on a strong artistic lineage as the great-great-niece of renowned American painter Thomas Hart Benton, mentor to Jackson Pollock. Ann’s work has gained international recognition, including publication in International Contemporary Artists, Volume XI (2016), and she was awarded the Readers’ Choice Award for Best Artist in Harrisburg Magazine’s “Simply the Best” contest in 2021. An abstract and contemporary artist, Ann specializes in acrylic mixed media, cold wax and oil, acrylic pouring, and alcohol inks, while also exploring watercolor. She is known for her dynamic textures, often using unconventional materials to bring depth, energy, and visual intrigue to her layered, expressive canvases.
As an artist, I am committed to creating bold and impactful works. My art unfolds as I paint without a definitive endpoint. Each piece reveals a path as I work. The interplay of color and depth exploration forms the foundation of my compositions. I strive to build an association that includes the artist, the artwork, and the audience. My work unites color, form, and perception. I encourage viewers to participate in a visual dialogue based on my art. Connectivity and understanding are essential goals of my creative process. I encourage you to pause, reflect, and immerse yourself in each piece.
Nature serves as a constant source of inspiration in Ellen's practice. The patterns, textures, and rhythms inform the pieces she creates. Working primarily in two distinct materials-clay and fiber-Ellen finds a surprising continuity in the forms, despite the vastly different approaches each medium demands. Clay offers spontaneity, inviting her to mold and shape intuitively in the moment. Fiber, on the other hand, requires a deliberate structure, beginning with a clear plan before evolving into a finished piece.
Ellen interjects Joy and humor with an explosion of color in her work, hoping to add a bit to our world.
I am passionate about creating images that radiate vibrant colors and light...inspiring positivity and emotional connection. My work frequently incorporates architectural elements with a bold color palette.
Through the mediums of photography and watercolor, I craft whimsical pieces that push boundaries...inviting viewers to see my world from a novel perspective.
Ceanna’s art serves as a reflection of her journey, express her unique experience with girlhood and the inherent growing pains it entails. With the medium of paint, Ceanna endeavors to narrate stories that resonate deeply, stories that she finds difficult to articulate through any other means. Ceanna looks to share her unique perspective and the beauty she finds in everyday life through her art.
At the heart of Kelby’s artistic practice lies an unwavering joy for the act of painting itself. His work is a vibrant exploration of this joy, manifested through a diverse range of subjects and styles—from intimate portraits, and detailed still lifes, to expansive landscapes and abstract compositions. Each piece is a celebration of painting’s versatility, embodying both the tactile satisfaction of brushstrokes and the boldness of color.
Tina blends nostalgia, materialism, and consumerism with humor and reflection in their work. Their paintings often feature personal relics like vintage toys and iconic labels, evoking both personal and collective memories. Through a mix of subtle and exaggerated humor, Tina explores the absurdities of modern consumption, engaging viewers and provoking reflection. This creative approach underscores Tina’s deep belief in the essential role of art in shaping their identity.
Tatiana is a self taught multi-passionate artist that seeks to spread joy and evoke emotion through her use of color and texture. Her work is a mix of abstract with traditional elements. Tatiana’s work has been apart of exhibitions in Athens, Greece and London, England. She is a multimedia artist who uses a variety of tools to create layers of texture. Her main medium is acrylic but she loves to implement oil pastels, colored pencils, markers, and so much more. She is constantly learning and evolving as an artist and looking for unconventional techniques to add to her work. “Painting has always been an intrinsic part of my being. Even when I tried to venture away from the world of art, my love for painting always found its way back to me.”
Using big bold lines and comical figures, SOOP hopes to take you into her brain to explore the many lives she has lived. SOOP has traveled a variety of paths, from growing up as the child of a Bagel Maker on Long Island to taking improv classes at Upright Citizens Brigade in hopes of getting on Saturday Night Live. The mission, however, has remained the same - to make the viewer laugh.
Through mixed-media, SOOP layers personal iconography from her past with fresh memories from the present- creating a strange new world for all to enjoy together.
Oscar McDonah is a Lancaster based Sculpture / Installation artist and has been practicing as a lighting designer for the past five years. Much of McDonah’s installation works approach the reimagining of familiar interior spaces through simplified architecture, exaggerated color, as well as superimposed forms and textures. When focussing on smaller sculptural works, McDonah further seeks to explore concepts which draw from the absurdity which can be created through the juxtaposition of contexts. In an effort to draw from both practices, many of McDonah’s pieces incorporate lighting components.
Kat Chapman is a multidisciplinary painter, metalsmith, and photographer based in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Their work explores identity and the tension between presence and distance, drawing from portraiture, decorative arts, fashion illustration, and ornamental design. This pull toward beauty shapes Kat’s practice—one they both embrace and resist. Currently completing a B.A. in Art at Millersville University (2025), Kat previously studied at Tyler School of Art in Philadelphia, where they developed a passion for photography and narrative storytelling. Raised Roman Catholic, they are fascinated by the contradictions between the faith’s rejection of excess and its love of grandeur.
Britney Lorraine, a self taught surrealist painter, opens up her mind to the darkest and the most beautiful so that she can share with the world no matter how uncomfortable it may be. Always loving art, Britney always took art classes in school but only found the confidence to pursue art at the age of 21. Ever since then it has been a goal to use her stories of self discovery from the tribulations of depression and anxiety, to eating disorders and honestly just being a woman. Gaining more of a presence online Britney has with full intent of widening her horizon. Overall, having the goal is to create a safe space in such an overwhelming world. A place you can escape into even if it's just for a little.
All paintings are made with oil paints and some including foam clay sculptures to fully immerse you into the vision. Britney has a love for detail and vibrant colors. To put into words the art gives off an ethereal approach with a touch of celestial essence. Getting inspiration from the beauty of nature, the woman's body, and her vivid dreams. Orchestrating each piece in the hopes you have to take a second look from maximizing every part of the canvas.
