Sally King Benedict is an artist with the South in her blood. Born in Atlanta and working there today, her talents as a creative director and artist are innate. Encouraged by her parents and after school art programs at a young age, it’s hard for her to remember a time when she didn’t love getting her hands dirty and making things.
Sally was lucky to gain a deep appreciation of art at a young age, thanks to a mom who worked at a modern art gallery and exposed her to the Atlanta art community – little did she know she’d one day be a big part of it.
When asked about what inspires her work, she says: everything. “Everyday life inspires me, especially my son who’s four and a half. Watching him paint and create artwork with so much freedom and joy inspires me to paint with a new perspective. Seeing how happy it makes him to create something for someone else reminds me of why I love this profession so much.”
Her art screams “freedom” itself. She works in mixed medium, meaning she draws and paints on various surfaces simultaneously and without constraint. Her studio facilitates her freeform pieces perfectly, with its natural light and segmented workspace: studio on one side, and office, gallery and meeting space on the other. It’s the ideal balance of artistic whim and necessary organization. Right now, Sally’s studio time is consumed by large commissions, the development of a children’s book, and other product expansion.
We took note of a special item in her studio when we visited: a small handprint pressed into clay. An heirloom that Sally keeps near, the handprint is her son’s. “I grew up with my handprint in clay at my house and as soon as I became a new mom, I knew I wanted to do that with my son. We did it with him at a week old, pretty much as soon as he could put his little hand out. It’s my favorite possession. I’ll definitely pass it down to him someday.”
Sally is hard at work as one of the top contributors to the Atlanta artistic community, always offering her time and talent to collaborations, like providing insight on the design of the our Studio Apron and creating her own piece of apron art.
When it comes to heirlooms and the preservation of stories, there’s nothing more important than hearing the narratives and inspirations of the makers and collaborators in your communities. We believe firmly in those people who work with their hands and master their craft, keeping it alive for another generation.
So, we reached out to artists in our community who we look to for inspiration ourselves. We asked them for insight into their creative processes, the legacy of their artwork, the importance of learning fundamental skills of a craft, and the role that their most special heirloom plays in their day-to-day. We also talked to them about our newest Studio Apron and received their design feedback. We wanted to ensure that the Studio Apron would be for artists and by artists.
heirloomed is a lifestyle brand with a mission of “keeping heirlooms around for another generation.” Our blog features stories about family recipes, creating traditions with your family, interior design and entertaining by mixing new and vintage pieces, classic style, and small town + historic travel. Our shop features a collection of “goods inspired by the past, for generations to enjoy” with an array of products and meaningful gifts including linen aprons, tabletop linens, art, ceramics and beyond. Learn more at www.heirloomedcollection.com.
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