Visual artist Mia Tarducci primarily works with oil paints, whether 2D or 3D. Coming from a family of creators, she moved to Pittsburgh in 1998 and has been working as a professional artist here for 16 years.
Tarducci has known Brenda Friday, owner of the interior design store Shoppe B, for several years and was thrilled when she opened her Lawrenceville store. “She has a true appreciation for the talent that exists here and a sincere desire to showcase the work we do,” she says.
Tarducci thinks being a working artist is difficult in any city, but the scene has changed for the better. She ran an art space called The Mine Factory for five years, primarily to fill the void of places for Pittsburgh-based artists to show work. Although she closed the doors in 2017, many other grassroots efforts continue spotlighting the creative community.
“As a result of artists lifting artists, we’ve seen an increased number of younger creators staying in Pittsburgh, more businesses engaging artists for public works and a resurgence of patrons looking for art in Pittsburgh rather than elsewhere,” she says. “I feel we’re just beginning to feel the effects of a robust artistic movement.”
Read our article about Shoppe B and Brenda Friday to learn more about local artists Rachael Ryan, Isaac Bower, Laura Jean McLaughlin, Philip Soucy, and Andrew Jowdy Collins.
Story by Corinne Whiting / Photography by Adam Milliron
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