Emily Cassidy, a High Point-based pet portrait artist with a background in animal science and veterinary technology, is holding a three-day solo exhibition titled "All Things Bright & Beautiful" from May 27 to May 29 at Reynolda Village in Winston-Salem. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Wake Forest University Chaplain’s Emergency Fund, which assists students, faculty, staff, and contract workers with essential expenses. Cassidy, who returned to art in 2020 after a career in cancer research, now has a two- to three-month waiting list for commissions and works in colored pencils, pastels, and oils.
This story matters because it highlights how a local artist with a non-traditional background can build a successful practice through community engagement and charitable giving. It also underscores the role of small-scale, solo exhibitions in supporting local causes and fostering connections between artists and their audiences, even outside major art market hubs.