Tiffany Brown, lead designer and Vice President of the Interior Design Society’s Charlotte chapter, brings over 17 years of combined hospitality and design experience to every project she leads.

As the founder of the award-winning Brown Builders Design—named one of Charlotte’s Top 20 Small Businesses—Tiffany blends professionalism, creativity, and client focus to deliver spaces that are both timeless and personal.

Her work, featured in SouthPark Magazine, QC Exclusive, and Axios Charlotte, reflects her belief that great design radiates both purpose and joy.

This month, we’re excited to welcome Kirk Fanelly, a Charlotte-based artist known for vibrant works that feel like painting—but are actually inlaid cut paper. His recent direction centers on reconnecting with the natural world and finding joy through deep observation.

In his talk, Kirk will share his process, influences, and work from the past 25 years—including pieces that will be on view in a solo exhibit at the Mint Museum Uptown March 14 thru August 23—plus a few fascinating tangents on the science of visual perception.

Come see Kirk’s work in person and notice the remarkable surface: archival papers (often hand-tinted) are scalpel-cut and inlaid into a single plane, then adhered and sealed for a refined, painterly finish.

Bonus: Kirk will do a live demo of his ‘inlaid cut paper process’.

We’re excited to welcome nationally recognized artist Andy Braitman in April. With a career spanning more than four decades, Braitman is known for his loose, expressive interpretations of landscape—shaped by time in the Wyoming backcountry and his current North Carolina surroundings. His work is represented in galleries across the United States and is available locally at Shain Gallery. In addition to his painting career, Andy owns a highly regarded teaching studio in Charlotte.

In his talk, Andy will share how Charlotte’s art scene has developed and where we are today. He’ll also address timely topics, including the creative opportunities emerging with AI, and the tension many artists face between maintaining authentic creative expression and the demands of being a branded, marketable presence. As Andy puts it: How do we stay true to our artistic voice while also selling our work?