Staff & Studio Artists

george@mansfieldartcenter.org

419.756.1700

George is the Executive Director of The Mansfield Art Center and an active community leader of the arts.  George has an extensive background as a professional artist and arts educator, with an MFA from Wichita State University, a BFA from Florida Atlantic University, Washington State University and Memphis Academy of Art.

George has been a Visiting Artist at several universities and taught Studio Arts and Art History at Findlay University.  He has served on the Ohio Designer Craftsmen Board of Directors and is the Director of the Boston Mills ArtFest.

His pieces have been in exhibits all over the world and many are currently in fine art collections not only in the United States, but also in Italy, Israel, South Africa, Canada and Mexico.

Contact:

jennifer@mansfieldartcenter.org

419.756.1700

Jennifer can be found taking photos, speaking with artists, instructors and staff, and engaging with the public. She combines the many facets of The MAC into events and social media content, which bring the Galleries, Education Department and Events Pavilion together.

Jennifer’s background includes 13 years of brand development, visual merchandising, staff enrichment, and new store openings. In addition to appreciating the arts, and the impact of museums/art centers on the community, she is also an established artist. As a former recipient of the Congressional Art Award, her work has been displayed in the US Capitol. She also creates custom watercolor illustrations, and has produced cover art for published novels.

Contact:

jerry@mansfieldartcenter.org

419.756.1700

Jerry’s relationship with the Mansfield Art Center dates back to his early childhood.  He currently serves as the Art Center’s Preparator, Membership Coordinator, and Head of the Tech Lab.

He is a graduate of North Central State College, with a background in Business Administration, Information Technology, and Graphic Design.

When Jerry isn’t creating amazing 3D printed objects, he is focused on being an award winning photographer, a recording/performing musician, and a Rock Star Dad to an amazing daughter.

Contact:

tim@mansfieldartcenter.org

Tim serves as the Chair of our Exhibitions Committee. He is involved with the selection of artists that we represent in our exhibitions, in addition to building lasting relationships with exhibiting artists. Te is an accomplished artist with his main focus being woodworking; however, he has been known to excel in colored pencil as well. 

Contact:

emily@mansfieldartcenter.org

419.756.1700

Emily graduated from Youngstown State University with a bachelor’s degree in Art Education in 2015. Since then, she has been teaching all ages in various programs all around Ohio. She spent 3 years at the Wayne Center for the Arts creating community projects, writing curriculum, and teaching a vast array of media.

Emily became a part of The Mansfield Art Center family in 2019 and has been passionately encouraging her students to live creatively and find the art form they love ever since.

Contact:

tony@mansfieldartcenter.org

419.756.1700

Contact:

may@mansfieldartcenter.org

419.756.1700

pia@mansfieldartcenter.org

419.756.1700

Pia Douglas, is a French native, born in Madagascar. Pia is fluent in French, English and Spanish and has been teaching silk painting, ceramics, sculpture and stained glass for over 30 years to adults as well as children. With a degree in cosmetology and theatrical make-up, Pia went on to teach art classes in oils, acrylics, watercolor, silk painting, clay and glass.

Pia created her first stained glass and painting studio in Egypt where she worked with local construction companies for the integration of leaded windows into homes. In Saudi Arabia, Pia managed a compound entertainment center and created a studio for expatriate women and children with a focus on stained glass, silk painting, and clay works.

Now in the United States, Pia shares her knowledge in various art centers in Columbus and the Mansfield Art Center.  Since 2014, her focus has been on sculpture, and has studied under the tutelage of Phillipe Faraut in New York. She is dedicated to teaching and giving to others through her love of art.

Although he now lives in Lexington, Ohio, James was born just north of Pittsburgh, PA. He grew up in Jackson, Michigan where he attended the Jackson Area Career Center for Commercial Art while in high school. He was offered a full five-year scholarship to attend Lawrence Tech for a degree in Architecture but left after just one year to pursue a greater passion—a career in Computer Science, which eventually led him to the DC area.

Despite the shifts in his career paths, Fleeson has always created art and in many mediums including pencil, pastels, and watercolor, but it wasn’t until 11 years ago that he decided he wanted to paint in oil to take advantage of the deep colors it provided. And after two years of researching the science of painting with oil, he did his first painting.

“Today oil is my main medium, and life is my subject,” James says. “I like to tell stories with my paintings, to shine a light on everyday scenes that people miss and show the beauty all around us. I once read, ‘An artist’s job is to document their life.’ I hope to live up to that statement by painting what isn’t seen.”

Victoria has had a variety of experiences in life leading to her love of art. After taking art classes at The Ohio State University, she pursued a degree in Advertising and Marketing. As a manager for Santana Imports, Victoria specialized in buying and selling art internationally; primarily Native American art and artifacts, and artists such as Remington, Pena and Ansel Adams.

Hoefler has been an artist most of her life, working in jewelry, sculpture, custom made costumes and mixed media. Victoria has sold her art at galleries, retail stores, festivals and through catalogs. She now works mostly primarily in polymer and natural clay, mixed media and found objects.

Terri is a talented jewelry and enameling instructor offering a range of classes and workshops at all levels. You can also purchase her amazing creations in our Gallery Shop. 

Born in Taiwan, raised in Belize, and educated in Canada, transplant Yani Sheng has recently taken roots in Columbus, Ohio. She received her B.F.A. in Visual Art and her Bachelor of Education from Memorial University and has exhibited in several galleries abroad, including Image Factory Gallery, JL Gallery, and SWGC Gallery.

Yani had her first solo exhibit in Columbus at BrickBox Studios, Mcconnell Art Gallery, and was selected as an emerging artist by the Columbus Art Festival. In 2022, Yani won the Juror’s Choice Award for her OAR exhibition “Faces in The Time of Covid”.

Her adorable dog “Cupcake” is also a regular at the Mansfield Art Center.

yanisheng.com

Don Snyder is a well known ceramicist in the area. He began his 32 year career teaching carpentry and cabinet making at Mansfield City Schools and then became an Industrial Tech. teacher and Fine Arts teacher.

In 1994, Don and his late wife Gayle opened DragonFly Pottery.  Since retiring, Don and Sandy Overholt have devoted full time to making stoneware pottery, both functional and decorative.

Don is an excellent instructor and extremely adept in both wheel throwing and hand-building.

Facebook: Snyder DragonFly Pottery.

Mike is an incredible Ceramic Artist & Instructor.  You can find his work in our Gallery Shop and take classes from him.