Bio

Larissa McPherson is a metalsmith and jewelry artist from Adairsville, GA, and is currently working on her MFA in Jewelry & Metalsmithing at the University of Georgia Lamar Dodd School of Art. Larissa graduated from the University of West Georgia with a B.S. in Psychology and a minor in studio art. By studying metalsmithing with an old professor and joining the Metal Arts Guild of Georgia in early 2022, Larissa started a path toward pursuing metalsmithing full-time. 

Larissa is the daughter of a pre-k teacher and a disabled veteran wood carver. An appreciation for craft and the arts was instilled in her from a young age. Later in life, seeing her father use wood carving as an outlet for the pain from his disability would inspire her to explore craft as an outlet for herself. After graduation, Larissa was part of the metal guild as a studio monitor, student, and AV specialist in MAGG’s hybrid workshops.  She was a resident artist and teacher at Arts Beacon Studio in Atlanta, from 2022-2023. Additionally, Larissa has experience as a studio assistant for Eddie Farr, an electrical artist at South River Studios in Atlanta, and Aalia Mujtaba a jewelry artist in Clarkston, GA. She also assisted two artists, Ellie Richards and Dan Essig, at Penland School of Craft (Spruce Pine, NC) in a live /work exchange. All of this while working on her own studio practice. Fall of 2023, Larissa started her MFA program at UGA to study jewelry and metalsmithing.

Curriculum Vitae 

EDUCATION 

Candidate for Masters of Fine Art, Concentration in Jewelry and Metalsmithing, University of Georgia, Athens, GA. August 2023- May 2026. 

  • Recipient of Departmental Assistantship

  • Recipient of The Frierson Graduate Fellowship in Art

Bachelor of Science in Psychology, University of West Georgia, Carrollton, GA. December 2020. 

  • Minor in Studio Art & Graduated with Honors.


WORKSHOP 

  • Participated in Penland Work Study Program, June 2022, attended Well Connected: Beyond the Jump Ring workshop taught by Marlene True. 

  • Attended Concreation with Micheal Nashef in May 2023. 


EXHIBITIONS

  • “Positive/Negative 39 National Juried Art Exhibition” at East Tenessee State University (Feburary 12-March 8, 2024). 

  • “Ring on a String” Pop-up Exhibition by University of Georgia Presented at New York Jewelry Week November 15-19th, 2023. 

  • “Degrees of Commitment: Climate, Ecosystem, and Society” at Arrowmont School of Arts and Craft (August-December 2023)

  • “8th Biennial Alumni Art Exhibition” at the University of West Georgia (August 2023)

  • “2023 Invitational” at Swan Coach House Gallery in ATL, GA (May-July 2023)

  • “Nesting: Art of Nature” Exhibition at Blue Heron Nature Preserve in ATL, GA (May-June 2023)

  • “Snake and Things That Look Like Snakes” South River Studios in ATL, GA (March-May 2023) 

  • "Nature's Way" Virtual Gallery, Patience Gallery (February 2023)

  • “Annual Winter Postcard Pin-Up Exhibition”, MINT ATL Gallery (December 2022) 

  • “2022 South River Review”, South River Studios in Atlanta, GA (Nov, 2022-Jan, 2023)

  • “Good Cup, Bad Cup” Annual Art Exhibit, Spruil Center for the Arts (September 2022)

  • Annual Pin-Up Show & Sale, Museum of Contemporary Art Atlanta (March 2022) 

  • Annual Postcard Pin-Up Exhibition, MINT ATL Gallery (February 2022) 

  • The Potter's Hand Exhibit, Alpharetta Arts Center (February 5th-April 8th, 2022)

  • Art Takeover Exhibition, Carrollton Center of the Arts, Carrollton GA (2019)

  • Juried Student Exhibition, University of West Georgia, Carrollton GA  (2018)


PRESENTATIONS 

  • “Spotlight x Spotlight Ecologies: Graduate Student Symposium” Presentation on Natural History Collections Research November 12, 2023. 

  • UWG Student Psychological Annual Research Conference (SPARC),  Processing Trauma: Expression of the Inner World, University of West Georgia, Carrollton GA, April 2020 

  • UWG Scholars Day, Processing Trauma: Expression of the Inner World, University of West Georgia, Carrollton GA, April 2020 

  • Southern Regional Honors Conference, Authenticity in Science: Identifying Pigments within Painting, Memphis, TN. March 2019


PUBLIC LECTURES AND TALKS 

  • Graduate Student Artist Talk for the Athens Metal Arts Guild. 

  • Thomas Street Art Complex Graduate Open Studios 


GRANTS 

  • Wilson Center Research Grant for Project “Smithsonian Natural History Archive Visit” (April 3rd, 2024). 

  • Awarded a UGA Sustainability Grant for “Project for a Sustainable & Equitable Art School” (December 6, 2023). 


CURATION

  • Co-curated art show “Guiding Form” along with Orion Crook, LPC, displayed at UWG, September 2020.

  • Co-curated TAR Virtual Gallery for “me irl” Virtual Exhibition created by Melissa Huang, April 2020.


PUBLICATIONS


TEACHING EXPERIENCE 

May 10, 2024, Teaching Assistant for Athens Queer School Workshop

  • Assisted teaching for youth workshop. 

January-May 2024, Teaching Assistant for Introduction to Jewelry and Metalsmithing Course

  • Shadowed instructor of course. 

  • Led a demo for students. 

March 16, 2024, Teaching Assistant for Boyscouts Metalsmithing & Jewelry Workshop

  • Assisted teaching and demo-ing for boy scout class. 

August- December 2023, Teaching Assistant for Three Dimensional Design Course

  • Shadowed instructor of course. 

  • Assisted teaching and aiding students in course projects. 

  • Led a project in the course through presentation and critique. 

March-May 2023, Instructor of “Metalheads” Introduction to Jewelry Workshop, Arts Beacon Studios

  • Taught introductory techniques and concepts to students in metalsmithing. 

STUDIO ASSISTANT EXPERIENCE

March 2023- Present, Aalia Mutjaba 

  • Assisting studio practice in metalsmithing and jewelry making. 

July 2022-August 2023, Eddie Farr (South River Studios)

  • Assists in assembling artistic projects including but not limited to thinning wire, soldering, and attaching LEDs. 

May 2023 - June 2023, Cat Goolsby

  • Assisting studio practice in jewelry and metalsmithing.

April 2023- June 2023, Chelsea Darling (Darling Metals)

  • Assisting creation and installation projects. 

Various Occasions (2023), Julia Hill (South River Studios)

  • Assisting creation and installation projects. 

Various Occasions (2023), Alan Peterson (South River Studios)

  • Assisting creation and installation projects. 

Dec 2022-March 2023, Dan Essig 

  • Assisted artist Dan Essig in completing various projects in the studio such as framing and paper mache-ing wooden forms for sculptures. 

Dec 2022-June 2023 (Intermitent), Ellie Richards (Penland School of Craft)

  • Assisted artist Ellie Richards, a resident artist at Penland School of Craft, in completing projects in the studio during a live/work exchange. Set to continue working with Ellie during the month of February-March 2023. 

  • Sanding, spray painting, and various tasks. 

Various occasions, Casey McGuire,  Atlanta Contemporary Studio Assistant

  • Studio Assisting on various projects for Art Installations 


Artist Assistant for The Artful Chain and Clasp with Tonya Davidson

  • 2-Day Virtual Workshop on August 6 & 7, 2022.


RESIDENCIES 

June 2022- June 2023, Arts Beacon 

Resident Artist

  • Uses studio space, takes classes, hosts open studios, and sells art through the resident gallery.

  • Teaching beginning metalsmithing course. 


WORK EXPERIENCE 

August 2023- Present, University of Georgia, Lamar Dodd School of Art

Tool Room & Object Lab Monitor

  • Monitor sculpture building tool room, wood shop, and metal shop. As well as monitoring the Object Lab, including 3D printers and a laser cutter. 

  • Helped with tasks around 3D spaces as needed. 

April 2023- Present, Metal Arts Guild of Georgia

AV Production Chair 

  •  Run video recording set-up and production for hybrid metalsmithing workshops at MAGG. 

April 2021- Present, Orion Psychotherapy / TAR: Therapeutic Artist Resource Project 

Creative Content Director

  • Manages the Encountering the Core Podcast’s Instagram page. 

  • Creates graphic content (posts and infographics) based on podcast content and the creative vision of Orion. 

  • Edits and creates additional content/skill sheets for the self-published workbook “Orion Psychotherapy Guidebook” by Orion Crook, LPC. 

  • Works with Orion’s artist residency TAR Project (Therapeutic Artist Residency) through social media and graphic design. 


October 2019-October 2020, Orion Psychotherapy

Orion Psychotherapy Intern

  • Worked on projects for Orion’s therapy practice such as creating workbook materials, marketing, workshop building, transcribing, and running the TAR (Therapeutic Artists Residency) project’s Instagram. 

  • Worked with Orion Crook, LPC to co-author and self-publish the “Orion Psychotherapy Guidebook.”

  • Worked with TAR resident artists and create promotional materials, content, and marketing materials for the project and Orion’s residents. 

  • Helped plan and run “gabshop” events for Orion Psychotherapy.

  • Co-curated art show “Guiding Form” along with Orion Crook, LPC, displayed at UWG in September 2020.

  • Helped recruit and train a new intern.


Jan 2021-Jan 2023, Kadiant Inc.

Registered Behavior Technician

  • Worked with clients with autism to develop independent skills under the direction of BCBA and based on the client’s individual needs. Works with clients of elementary through high school age. 

August 2021-March 2022, Tract Learning

Art Creator

  • Creates scripts, and films, and edits videos for e-learning. 

  • Teaches on art topics with content geared towards elementary & middle school students. 


JURIED CRAFT SHOWS

  • Annual Jewelry Show, Metal Artist Guild of Georgia, October 20 & 21, 2023. 

  • Annual Jewelry Show, Metal Artist Guild of Georgia, November 12, 2022. 

  • Summer Shade Annual Festival as part of Arts Beacon Artist Collective, Atlanta, GA, August 2022.

  • Mayfest Annual Craft Festival, Carrollton, GA, May 7, 2022. 

AWARDS

  • Worthmore Jewelers Student Best In Show Award, Metal Arts Guild Annual Jewelry Show, 2023. 

LEADERSHIP

  • President for the Graduate Artist Council (GAC) 2024-2025 School Year

    • Led meetings and facilitated activities between graduates of the arts school. 

    • Managed finances and budget for student activities. 

  • First-Year Student Representative for the Graduate Artist Council (GAC) 2023-2024 School Year. 

    • Planned Accepted Student Day and Open Studio Cookout & Welcome Party

    • Planned Graduate Student Atlanta Trip and Gallery Tours 

  • Creator and leader of “The Creative”. 

    • Led bi-weekly meetings to follow art prompts to nurture spiritual and creative growth while on leadership in UWG Christian Campus Fellowship. 

    • Facilitated sharing of ideas and artistic explorations.

STUDY ABROAD

  • June 31- August 5, 2019- European Council Paris Study Abroad program 

    • Took courses abroad in psychology and art (Watercolor in Paris)

  • May 10-19, 2018- Belize Study Abroad program with the UWG Department of Education

    • Built lessons and instructed students at St. Matthews Government School.

MEMBERSHIPS HELD 

  • Metal Art Guild of Georgia Member, Student, Social Media Volunteer, & Studio Monitor since Spring 2022. 

  • Museum of Contemporary Art of Georgia member from Spring 2022-Spring 2023.