Who is Amanda Outcalt, and why is her art representing over 140 creatives at Artisphere?

As no stranger to Artisphere, a three-day crafts festival in downtown Greenville, Amanda Outcalt is a staple on Artist Row, making 2024 her fourth overall appearance at the annual springtime arts exhibition.

Of the 140 mixed-media creatives participating at Artisphere 2024, Outcalt, a Raleigh, N.C. native, was chosen as the commemorative poster artist for the 20th anniversary of the festival. Her artwork, which boasts a ballad to a prancing bunny, is a nod to the Swamp Rabbit Trail and also showcases her affinity for Greenville and the annual art fair happening May 10-12.

"It's an honor to represent such a wonderful and unique festival," Outcalt told The Greenville News. "I love Greenville; I love everybody who runs the show. They treat their artists really well. The people of Greenville are such great art patrons."

Her expertise in printmaking and metalsmithing has earned her D.C.-based creative placements in festivals, fine arts fairs, and best-in shows nationwide. Yet Greenville's experience is as unique as her artistic style, making Artisphere and Outcalt the perfect match to honor 20 years of existence.

"I think Amanda's art is celebratory and it's fun, and we liked the rabbit that she uses a nod to the Swamp Rabbit," said Kelley Barnhardt, communications lead and visual arts committee member at Artisphere.

In 2023, Genna and Singe Grushovenko were the commemorative art creatives for Artisphere.

More on the Festival: Artisphere 2024: Dates, vendors, food, art what to know about the three-day arts festival

Why Outcalt was selected commemorative artist for Artisphere's 20th anniversary?

After appearances at Artisphere in 2019, 2020 and 2022, Outcalt's bubbly personality, passion for the arts and rapport with festival goers are just as desirable as her visual creations; visit her tent during Artisphere and see for yourself.

A combination of those features is why the Artisphere Visual Arts Committee chose Outcalt to represent such a historic year in the art festival's history.

"We look for something that has mass appeal and is a memento of Greenville in some way, a piece that speaks to you," said Kerry Murphy, president of Artisphere, who owns a piece of Outcalt's artwork. "You can ask all staff members why we chose Amanda Outcalt, and you'd get a bunch of different answers."

"Some of the other top-ranking shows had used Amanda (as a commemorative artist) before, so we knew she could do it. She's just great and has an amazing and intricate process," Murphy added.

Outcalt shared a similar admiration for representing the festival with her artwork.

"At Artisphere, you get to meet all of the artists there, so it's unlike a museum or gallery experience because you can talk to them about how their art speaks to you, what they were intending, their process," Outcalt said. "It's really a unique way to view art and have the resource of the person who made it, right there."

What is Amanda Outcalt's unique style of art?

The Eastern Carolina University fine arts graduate has taught numerous metalsmithing workshops and worked in an art museum but has found the most satisfaction as a full-time studio artist for the past seven years. She has chosen art as a way to move forward and process life.

Outcalt uses saw plates, ink, and printing to weave painting, pencil drawings, stitching, and even a gold leafing technique into her creative projects. She admitted to being an "at-home" artist who prefers an interconnected work-life flow that allows her to document feelings and experiences through art—whenever she feels, but often late at night.

During most of her appearances at Artisphere, she could be found on the north side of the Main Street Bridge displaying paintings and drawings that recreate animals in her signature style of copper etchings and cuts by way of a technique called intaglio.

"Art has been something that has helped me understand and cope with everything that has happened in my life. I am a better visual thinker; I need to create an image in order to make sense of things," said Outcalt, owner of studio Out of Print, LLC.

"Similar to breathing, I've always done art. I look back at my mom, saved all my stuff when I was little, art was always there," she added.

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– A.J. Jackson covers the food & dining scene, along with arts, entertainment and downtown culture for The Greenville News. Contact him by email at ajackson@gannett.com, and follow him on X (formally Twitter) @ajhappened. This coverage is only possible with support from our readers. Sign up today for a digital subscription.

This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Amanda Outcalt named commemorative artist for Artisphere in Greenville