Current Mission: Essex Art Center inspires and sustains lifelong growth and learning for a diverse community of artists in Greater Lawrence. Our classes, events, and exhibitions harness the power of art to transform lives. History: Essex Art Center was founded in 1993 when three Bradford College classmates—Helen Tory, Linda Maddox, and Leslie Costello—opened a nonprofit art studio that offered classes on Essex Street in downtown Lawrence. In 1995, we moved to our current home on Island Street. We've grown into a thriving arts community working to positively impact the lives of artists and residents in our region.
October Artist of the Month
Edie Tang Artist Edie Tang was born and raised in China. She began painting in 2019. She is totally self-taught. Her first experience as an artist was when she painted a cartoon portrait on a pair of shoes. She discovered she really enjoyed it and had a natural talent. She soon started painting people, animals and landscapes. Edie believes that being an artist is something that one is born to do and not learned at school. She went on to study through practical experience, learning through trial and error, and studying the works of YouTube and their techniques. With family encouragement and support, especially from her father who is a calligraphy artist, Edie became a full-time artist, part-time model and actress while taking care of her own children.
July Artist of the Month
Lorraine O’Brien’s interest in art is connected very closely to her love of nature, and the beauty of New England’s changing seasons. She finds her inspiration for landscapes and seascapes in coastal Maine, rural Vermont or sailing on the beautiful Lake Quannapowitt. Over the years, Lorraine has studied oil, watercolor and pen and ink with many well-known artists including Roger Curtis, George Shedd AWS, Cory Staid, Elmer Reising and Thaddeus Klodnicki AWS.
May Artist of the Month- Thea Shapiro
Thea Shapiro is a mixed media artist who has recently rediscovered the joys of painting Her current work which favors abstract images dominated by blues and greens seeks to illuminate an inner world where grief and joy and nature coexist Thea finds peace in the process of creating art work which she considers a form of meditation…