WELCOME

Kandice A. Medley is a Black American visual artist, educator, and curator with roots in Baltimore, Maryland.

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Kandice is inspired by the beauty seen in nature as well as in the Black people around her. Her subject matter focus is the Black Femme experience. She considers herself to be a visionary and often sees colors, shapes, patterns, and textures in everyday life that inspire her to incorporate into her artwork. Kandice is a Mixed Media visual artist using colored pencil, watercolor, ink, and other tactile materials such as fabric, paper, glitter, and other small objects. Many of her pieces are finished with a fabric border and emphasize the use of bold colors against black and brown skintones. She first learned to appreciate Black Art by reading children's books and has been inspired by artists like Faith Ringgold since childhood.

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Kandice is primarily self-taught and received most of her training during middle childhood participating in art programs at school and in summer camps including youth programs at the Maryland Institute College of Art. Entering high school, she abandoned her passion for creating art  and redirected her energy toward pursuing a career in education. She graduated from Morgan State University with a BS in Family and Consumer Sciences and has worked with children and adults in diverse spaces and communities. As a Child Development teacher in Baltimore County Public Schools, she reignited her passion for creativity and was inspired by her students to get back to her roots and express herself through her art. Kandice has a wealth of knowledge about Child and Adolescent Development, Human Behavior, and Mental Health with a Background in Family & Consumer Sciences and Social Work. Her intention as an educator has now transformed into sharing information about these topics and other social issues to promote healing through the arts in the communities that need it most. Kandice decided to pursue art professionally in 2022 and would like to further develop her skills in art and curatorial practice.

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In 2023, Kandice officially established Grace & Gratitude: A Maker's Gift Shop in order to share a curated inventory of her artwork, epoxy resin art, handmade, and vintage items with the world. It is important for Kandice to have the freedom to create intuitively and to try new mediums therefore having a gift shop will allow her to make what she likes or curate items with the intention that it will find the right home. Kandice has explored using epoxy resin to create home decor such as ashtrays, domino sets, trays, coasters, candle holders and more. She has also explored wire wrapped jewelry, hand painted items, ceramic resin, and handmade body care items. In addition to her art, Ms. Medley has always had a passion for fashion and is developing a space for curated vintage and upcycled fashion in the gift shop.

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Visit gracexgratitudegifts.com to see what's currently available.