Ellen Durkan grew up in Wilmington, Delaware, as the oldest of nine children. In addition to teaching at her alma mater, she travels around to teach blacksmith workshops. Her business, Iron Maiden Forge, has grown and evolved as she has worked on her “forged fashion” series and presented it through runway shows and performances pieces. Ellen also has a jewelry line to make her work more accessible to the public. After all, not everyone is in need of a metal corset.

Holly Storlie is a daily painter based in Philadelphia, PA whose colorful oil paintings feature animals as well as everyday still-life objects. She earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Illustration from Ringling College of Art and Design in Sarasota, FL, and a Master of Fine Arts in Painting from the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts in Philadelphia, PA. Holly is currently teaching foundation classes in the Fine Arts Department at Delaware College of Art and Design.

 

Aki Torii, a multi-disciplinary artist, explores the transformative concept of “home” through various artistic mediums, including drawing, sculpture, photography, and video. Torii has an MFA from the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts (2008) and a BFA in Painting from Indiana University – Bloomington (2005).

Recently appointed as the Fine Arts Program Chair at DCAD, Torii imparts her expertise in both traditional and digital practices. Torii continues to do public workshops at Philadelphia Museum of Art and Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts School and Museum. Recognized as one of the “10 Philadelphia female artists you need to know” by PhillyVoice in April 2015, Torii has also received nominations for Metro Philly’s Best Artist category from 2021 to 2023.

Bryn Ziegler is a Philadelphia-based artist and educator specializing in intricate narrative books. She holds an MFA in Book Arts and Printmaking from University of the Arts. Bryn’s artistic practice encompasses both contemporary digital techniques and profoundly traditional craft, giving her a unique perspective on the development of books and comics today.

Žaneta Zubkova, a native of Lithuania, is a formerly Brooklyn-based artist and an educator. At DCAD, she specializes in color and design courses. Previous teaching experiences include Pratt Institute and Adelphi University.