Taylor Epps

Public Studio Hours: Thursdays and Saturdays 12-5pm

Artist Statement:

Born and raised in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, just over the bridge from the beautiful and historic city of Charleston. From a very young age I was interested in art in all its forms. My mother was a wonderful pastel artist and my grandmother was a fantastic amateur photographer. They both encouraged me to find my own artistic voice, and I was inspired by their work.

I graduated with a degree in Studio Arts from the College of Charleston. It was not long after that I decided to become the first in my family for generations to venture out of South Carolina. I moved to Brooklyn, New York to expand my life experiences and opportunities. The year I decided to make this move was a tough one, tainted by the loss of my father and isolating me from the comfort of home. I came out of the other side of that time feeling I have not only become stronger as a person, but I have also learned to appreciate even more the hometown and family I left behind.

I am currently in a position that not only gives me the time to focus on my art, but the flexibility to travel back and forth from my home studio in New York to Charleston. When I come home, usually for a month or two at a time, I stay with my mother, who continues to inspire me to this day.

Often relegated to albums or digital archives, family photos can be easily overlooked as ordinary or commonplace. Through my work, I aim to breathe new life into these seemingly ordinary snapshots.

By elevating family photos to the realm of fine art, I strive to engage with them on a different level. Beyond the narrative and emotional content, I spotlight the artistic choices made by the photographers—the composition, lighting, and framing—all of which contribute to transforming a simple family snapshot into a universal work of art.

Through this creative process, I invite audiences to explore the intricate beauty of family dynamics, the passage of time, and the enduring connections that bind generations. In doing so, I offer a fresh perspective on these family treasures, ultimately transforming them into timeless pieces of art