Bourbon with HeART Presents World’s First Bourbon Barrel Bow Tie Art Exhibit

“We’re thrilled to showcase the talent of our local artists and honor the service of our veterans with this unique exhibit,” said Hancock, a US Army Veteran herself. “Our goal is to use the influence and popularity of bourbon to raise funds, awareness, and education around the local art community. We’re committed to providing better access and first-class arts experiences to every person in Kentucky.”

For more information on Bourbon with HeART and the “Bowtied Together” exhibit, visit www.bourbonwithheart.org. 

• Heather is a Kentucky native, a former Miss America, and an advocate for veterans. She is also an artist excited to participate in this project. 

• Katie is an artist, wife, and mother to two young girls. She spent two years at the UofL School of Fine Arts but has otherwise been self-taught. Part of her artistic journey has involved finding manageable artistic mediums for her chronic illness.

• Bryan was born and raised in southeastern Kentucky and discovered painting after his father died seven years ago. He has donated paintings to multiple charities, from local to national. 

• Kenneth’s paintings are created on canvas using acrylic paint. His current work is focused on a mash-up of impressionism and improvisational painting. Much of his work is music-related, with individuals playing musical instruments. 

• Kelly is a Kentucky-born artist who has been a Louisvillian for nearly 17 years. She typically considers herself an acrylic painter but also enjoys turning original artwork into wearable art. She has a passion for color and disco balls, especially when used to pay homage to Louisville, the disco ball capital of the world.

• Bobby is an artist and jewelry designer from Louisville who appreciates the arts in many forms. His style varies from abstract, space-related images to commissioned pieces such as dogs, people, and even murals. He uses different mediums, including acrylic, oils, and pastels, for his paintings and magnetic hematite paired with natural stones and crystals for his jewelry designs.

• Designing wooden bow ties and frames from bourbon barrel wood is unique and presents a fun challenge for Sheila as an artist. She looks forward to exploring the character and history of the wood and incorporating it into her designs to create aesthetically pleasing pieces that carry a story.

• Brittany loves the concept and mission behind Bourbon with HeART. It allows artists like her to showcase their work to a larger audience while doing good and raising funds for local charities.

• Texas-born and Kentucky-settled, Josh is a US Army Veteran and father of two with a passion for woodworking, running, traveling, and bourbon. His life centers around swim meet soccer games, music recitals, and sleepovers. For his day job, he is a trained geographer currently employed by Yum Brands in Louisville.  

• Nabeel is a local comic artist living in Louisville who is most excited to participate in this project as it offers a chance to display his art in his home city.

• A veteran of the US Army, Mike has lived in Kentucky his entire life except for during his time serving. He is originally from eastern Kentucky but currently lives in Corbin, Kentucky. He has done art for as long as he can remember.  

• Rob is currently an Automotive Designer working in Detroit. But growing up in the Kentuckiana area, Kentucky’s Bourbon culture and art scene are still near and dear to his heart. He even created the company “Meeting Minutes,” where he creates custom bottle artwork. 

• Madeline is from Versailles, Kentucky, and has a full-time job in Marketing and Communications but has painted her entire life. In 2019, she started a business painting champagne and bourbon bottles for parties, weddings, and other celebrations. 

• Having transplanted to this beautiful state in 2003, Kellene found a home in the mountains of this bountiful land and people. She is a full-time muralist and fine artist, mainly working in acrylic paints. Besides promoting travel and adventure across the state, what she loves more than anything is her work and how it alters the future. 

• Diego is originally from California and now lives in Louisville, Kentucky. This is his first time displaying his art publicly. 

• Maggie was born in Louisville and stills live in the city today, working at the Louisville Zoo. She primarily works with gouache and loves creating art depicting animals or landscapes.

• Sam works primarily in cast bronze and aluminum, incorporating encaustic media as a binder for cast objects. He plans to cast aluminum polished versions of the bowties and then embeds these in colorful/mystical encaustic mixed media with historical images related to Kentucky.

• Mike is excited to participate in this project and thinks it’s an interesting art assignment. He’s itching to get working and is thrilled that the exhibit helps local charities.

• Ashya Denise Watkins was born and raised in Louisville, Kentucky. She works in Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) as a Registered Behavioral Technician (RBT). She has always been engaged with creativity. She completed her first commissioned mural in January 2019. Since then, she has grown in her craft, now presenting her art at conferences. 

• Sarah is a self-taught artist who lives in southern Indiana. She has painted live events at the Speed Art Museum and illustrated a children’s book in 2021. She works primarily in acrylic and watercolor and loves portrait work and natural themes from the world. 

• Michele, also known as Crazy Chicken Lady Art, is from Hardinsburg, Indiana, and creates colorful, fun paintings. 

• Chahta Noir is excited to celebrate African and Indigenous symbols/traditions in her work. She is inspired by joy and history. She feels art is a haven and hopes to invite others to share that freedom.

• Karen is a local artist and a cancer survivor. She currently has small B cell Lymphoma but is in remission. Her mediums are oil, acrylic, and photography. She is a gallery owner in Lagrange, Kentucky, and teaches children and adults to be creative with painting.

• Elizabeth just moved to Louisville and wants to get involved with everything the city offers! She finds inspiration to create from constant curiosity and play.

• Growing up in southern Mississippi, Chris is a veteran who served as a paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne Division, an Air Defense Unit. After four years of active duty, he left the Army and moved to Kentucky with his wife, Amber. Chris founded Cruise Customs in 2017, building flag displays alongside his fellow veterans.