I know it’s unseasonably late to say “Happy New Year” but here it is anyway!

2025 ended in a flurry and after a restful month of January, I finally feel ready to step back into the demands of being a full-time creative entrepreneur. I’m learning to embrace the cyclical flow of my years in this field.

As this small creative biz continues to grow, the trend of newness marches ever onward. Allow me to share with you a reflection of 5 moments of “That was a first!”  worth celebrating in 2025.

Early in the year I completed the above installation of Folded Poetry acoustic product by Unika Vaev at ReCity coworking space in the downtown of my city - Durham, NC. 

This was the first installation of my first ever acoustic product and was featured in Durham Magazine in an article about my artistic practice and my story of resilience transitioning from full-time architect plunged into disability, to now thriving sculptural artist. 

To check out the article, click the image of the magazine spread above.

For more information about this amazing Folded Poetry acoustic product with Unika Vaev, click the button below:

In April I showcased my work at Milan Design Week at Salone Satellite - an international exhibition of designers under the age of 35. Salone Satellite is a subsection of Salone di Mobile trade show - the largest interior design trade show in the world.

 I premiered three new artworks all based on curvilinear forms: Curls, Bubble, and Domes. I spent two weeks total in Milan and made dozens of new connections in the design world. Curls (below) cultivated the most interest and has since been internally crowned my best design of 2025! 

I showcased the above Qubes installation in the Cameron Art Museum in Wilmington North Carolina last year marking my first ever art installation in a museum! 

Qubes originated as a paper sculptural artwork DIY kit, and evolved into full-scale noise-reducing artwork for this exhibit.

Cut and created using noise-absorbing PET felt in collaboration with Obsidian Solution in Texas, this whimsical yellow installation is the [successful] prototype installation for suspended ceiling noise-reducing artwork which I hope will adorn many atriums and vast ceiling expanses in the future (just need to manifest the right clients!)

The unveiling of my first ever public art project occurred in October of last year. I served as co-lead artist and worked with some incredible humans on this super meaningful project which uplifts the voices of incarcerated women in North Carolina.

The artwork itself is an immersive shipping container experience which is currently traveling the state in order to raise awareness for mass incarceration.

To learn more about this important project and my role bringing it to life, check out my deepdive newsletter from October of last year by clicking the button below. 

In December I hosted a massive studio blowout pARTy and sale of all the artwork, prototypes, study models, and oopies I have on hand -- which, after 5 years of non-stop ideating & creating, was a substantial quantity.

The evening was a wonderful gathering of Folded Poetry community featuring food, fire, music, and laughter. What an excellent way to round out the year and move lots of work into the hands of my supporters at price points we all felt good about. 

Massive shout out and thanks to the Folded Poetry support team for helping prepare for the event, produce ornaments, and bring joy into this home-studio.

What a year! There were so many incredible moments for Folded Poetry in 2025, AND we have so much to look forward to coming up in 2026!

Here are a couple future happenings we are stoked about… 

I’m delighted to be rounding out final design for noise-reducing acoustic artwork for the atrium space at Durham City Hall. I’ve had so much great feedback on this public art design and am experiencing “going viral” for the first time with my social media post where I showcase the design idea. It currently has over 325,000 views!

Check out the post (featuring the design of this project) by clicking the link below. This installation is scheduled for May/June of this year.

I’m proud to share that I was awarded the Open Air 5-week artist residency coming up this April in Missoula, Montana. I will be situated in the fishbowl maker-space within the modern (and highly esteemed/awarded) Missoula Public Library, and provided housing and a stipend for weeks of design exploration and production. 

I’m eager to learn and utilize all the wonderful new equipment and tools which will be available to me there! Mikie and the three pups will be joining, and I’ll be sure to share all about the residency in my April/May newsletter. 

Did I mention we will be driving there? 😅

That's all for now dear friends of Folded Poetry! THANK YOU so much for following this wild creative journey.