(Video Series) Studio Sessions: Get a sneak peek inside the artist studios

Get to know the 2025 Cherry Street Pier Cohort by taking a peek inside their studios in Studio Sessions – a multi-part social media video series featuring vignettes of each artist. See them at work in their studios with an up-close look at their styles.

New videos will be released every Tuesday on the Pier’s social media accounts (Instagram, Facebook, X ) and here. So, be sure to check back to see fresh content.

2025 Cherry Street Pier resident artist cohort are Termite TV, Ana Thorne, SpArc Services, Santé Johnson and Kara Mshinda (GrioX Arts), Athena Scott, Michael A. Thomas, Thomcat23 and Beck DeMaul (Philly Otaku), Caroline Stoughton, Amy Kelly (4 & 7), Christian Gaehde, Chelsea Dalsey, Edith Zapata, Marisa Rother, and Bonnie MacAllister.

Learn more about the Cherry Street Pier artists and support their craft while purchasing amazing one-of-a-kind items from the Artist Shop!

Studio Sessions

Introduction: Delaware River Waterfront Corporation (DRWC) Creative Director Sarah Eberle shares why being a resident artist is such a unique experience for Philly creatives. Learn more about the Cherry Street Pier artist-in-residence program. DRWC considers new applicants every year!

Studio 1 – Termite TV Collective: Meet Termite TV Collective. A group of media artists that push the boundaries by breaking norms through disruption, experimentation, and community involvement. If you like thought-provoking, experimental media, Termite TV’s studio is the place for that and more.

Studio 2 – SpArc Services: Meet SpArc Services. SpArc nurtures creativity, confidence, and community among adults with disabilities through visual and performing arts classes. The artists collaborate with mentors to develop their craft through art showcases, dance, and theatrical performances.

Studio 3 – GrioXArts: Step inside Studio 3, where you’ll meet dynamic duo – Kara Mshinda and Santé Johnson who are fueled by passion, collaboration, and the ability to push creative boundaries as their styles of photography, textile, and embroidery come together in a harmonious blend.

Studio 4 – Athena Scott: Meet Athena Scott, a portrait artist who uncovers the depth of the human spirit through delicate brush strokes. Whether it’s pop culture icons, her family members, or strangers who catch her eye, Athena illuminates the souls of her subjects in a complex and beautiful way.

Studio 5 – Michael N. Thomas: Meet Michael N. Thomas, a painter, designer, and mixed-media artist from New York City. He pours his heart into his art, which explores colors and lines. Influenced by the vibrant New York art scene of the 1980s and 1990s, he draws inspiration from post-punk music, graffiti art, and Nuyorican poetry.

Studio 6—Ana Thorne: Meet Ana Thorne, a Mexican-American artist who finds inspiration in her cultural heritage. She infuses her whimsical style with vibrant colors and textures. Ana’s niche lies in crafting Philly-inspired designs, translating them into handmade gifts such as pillows, blankets, and stickers, reflecting her love for her adopted city.

Studio 7 – Thomcat23 and Becky de Maul (Philly Otaku): Meet Thomcat23 and Becky de Maul (Philly Otaku) in Studio 7. Thomcat23, an illustrator known for his pop-surrealist style, melds social commentary with visual puns, drawing from his background in graphic design for sports marketing. Becky de Maul, founder of Philly Otaku, curates immersive experiences celebrating Otaku culture, uniting anime, manga, video games, and computer enthusiasts.

Studio 8 – Amy Kelly (4 and 7): Meet Amy Kelly. A teaching artist since 2013, she weaves stories into personalized, mixed-media paintings. From pets to the soul of a home, she captures them all. Alongside commissions, Amy teaches kids and adults during monthly classes and workshops in her studio.

Studio 11—Marisa Rother: Meet Marisa Rother, a mixed-media collage and watercolor artist who creates fun illustrations and plein air paintings inspired by rugged coastal lines and wide-open landscapes.

Studio 12—Caroline Stoughton: Meet Caroline Stoughton in Studio 12. Caroline lives in suburban Philadelphia and has a B.F.A. from Tyler School of Art. Her paintings are in collections across the U.S. and in Rome. She paints to recapture the positivity and confidence inspired by her late grandmother, believing feelings last even as memories fade.

Studio 13—Shahv Williams: Meet Shahv Williams, a homegrown illustrator, designer, and educator who specializes in digital, acrylic ink, and color pencil and is nurturing creativity in students throughout the city.

Studio 14 – Edith Zapata: Meet Edith Zapata, an artist and designer who combines contemporary elements to create abstract and expressive works inspired by nature, everyday life, and human emotions.

Studio 15 – Chris Gaehde: Meet Chris Gaehde, a printmaker from Massachusetts who creates intricate works exploring nature and urban landscapes. A Vassar College graduate, he practices his media in Studio 14 at the Pier, where his stunning designs are currently on display.

Studio 16 – Bonnie MacAllister: Meet Bonnie MacAllister, a talented fiber artist known for her dynamic and interactive workshops. From intricate embroidery and delicate felting to the art of natural dyeing, Bonnie’s expertise shines. She also champions sustainability by creatively using recycled textiles. Join her workshops to explore and immerse yourself in the tactile world of fiber arts.

Programming Partners-In-Residence: Meet Cassie Jones of The Craft Coven, Orchestra 2001, SunKissed Group, Walk Around Philadelphia, and Walls for Justice, who will be bringing unique arts programming, such as seminars, workshops, exhibitions, and performances, to Cherry Street Pier in 2025 in celebration of the rich creative community the city fosters. Learn more about this fantastic group of creators.