The “Mo’ Town” art scene is a must-see!

West Virginia’s Morgantown is a growing creator’s hub where Mountain State natives and transplants make and share their art. 

We never miss a chance to visit artist friends in West Virginia, so we headed to Morgantown for the “Mo’Town Studio Tour,” a vibrant collection of artwork across multiple locations throughout the city, bringing together some of the region’s finest creatives.

The tour was hosted by local artists Lisa Giuliani, Shalya Marsh, and Bryn Perrott, whose carvings and other creations Postindustrial previously featured, alongside the work of her immensely talented siblings.
We really enjoyed getting to know new-to-us guest artists at the show, including Christina Kang, a fairly recent West Virginia University graduate. Kang’s striking prints explore “the cultural rift in which Asian Americans find themselves confined within,” providing a deeply personal and thought-provoking narrative.

Another highlight was meeting Lindsay Hagerty, also known as “Part-time Poodle,” who brings her unique take on fashion with her funky, colorful designs in linen and second-hand fabrics. She also travels with an adorable “prop goose” that’s outfitted in her designs.

We also liked the work of Carolyn “CJ” Helenski of “CJ Sews,” who creates one-of-a-kind wearable art pieces thoughtfully created from cutter quilts (well-loved vintage or antique quilts) and thrifted textiles. CJ is from a long lineage of women who sew where she learned the craft.

And then there was Brad Pierce, who hails from Ohio and goes by the brilliant name “Buttcoffin” (I honestly can’t type or say that name without laughing). His chaotic, seemingly psycho-clown-inspired images offer “a rebellion against the monotony and perpetual dread of life via a scrambled regurgitation of cartoons, pro wrestling, and heavy metal.” A perfect antidote to the ordinary.

Make sure you don’t miss the next Mo' Town Studio Tour for a fantastic peek into this rich and evolving Appalachian creator community.