About ArtPop

Our Mission

We believe that art connects people and builds vibrant communities.

ArtPop transforms everyday places and creates immersive experiences, amplifying the region's creative spirit.

Transforming Communities Through Art Since 2014!


501c3 Arts Nonprofit Organization
Serving the Charlotte-Metro Region in NC and SC

Get to Know Us
Support Local Art

Community Programs:

Immersive Experiences

Connect with your creative community at gatherings where everyone is welcome to celebrate local art! Join us at art markets, exhibits, activations, and our Annual Upcycled Fashion Show!

Upcycling Initiative

Partnering with local designers to creatively repurpose our billboard materials into couture fashion! Preventing over 13,000 sq. ft. of vinyl material out of landfills annually.

Creative Commissions

Art project management and consulting to bring creative visions to life! We connect businesses and organizations with artists to create murals, art installations, commissioned artworks, and much more.

Annual Artist Cohort

Featuring 20 local artists annually on billboards throughout the CLT region & across the country. Program artists also receive educational, networking, & marketing benefits.

ARTIST IMPACT

Serving Our Community

ArtPop has proudly supported local artists within the Charlotte-metropolitan region since 2014. Our current area of operation spans following 12 counties:

North Carolina Counties:

  • Cabarrus

  • Catawba

  • Cleveland

  • Gaston

  • Iredell

  • Lincoln

  • Mecklenburg

  • Rowan

  • Stanly

  • Union

South Carolina Counties:

  • York

  • Lancaster

MEET OUR TEAM

Wendy Hickey
Founder & Executive Director

  • Wendy Hickey is the Founder and Executive Director of ArtPop Street Gallery, a role that embodies her unwavering passion for supporting local artists, a mission she has championed since 2002. With over 20 years of experience in the billboard advertising industry (OOH), Wendy transitioned to fulfilling her dream of making art accessible and supporting small businesses in the Charlotte region and beyond. ArtPop became a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in the summer of 2015 and is now celebrating its 11th year of impact.

    Wendy became ArtPop’s first employee on May 1, 2018, and since then, the organization has supported hundreds of artists in achieving sustainable success. An outdoor enthusiast, Wendy enjoys hiking, biking, mountain biking, paddleboarding, and spending time with her partner of nearly nine years, JT. She is also a live music aficionado, with JJ Grey and Mofro being her favorite live band.

    Friends, family, her artist community, and kindness are central to Wendy’s life. Having left home at 16 and never attended college, Wendy takes immense pride in her career in advertising, which ultimately led to the creation of the ArtPop Street Gallery mission.

Dylan Bannister
Director of Inspiration Projects

  • As ArtPop’s Director of Inspiration Projects, Dylan works to further our mission by connecting local artists to paid opportunities and by providing turnkey creative solutions for our clients. Having joined the ArtPop staff in 2022, Dylan oversees each project’s development, working to clearly understand the visions of the businesses and organizations that partner with us, and engaging directly with the artists hired to bring those visions to life.

    Dylan is also a practicing visual artist himself, whose works explore the concepts of memory, nostalgia, and liminality through photo- and print-based media. His works have been exhibited throughout the Carolinas, including his 2023 solo exhibition Dialing Out at the Arts Council of York County, and he was featured in ArtPop’s Cities Program Class of 2021! When he’s not managing Inspiration Projects or working in his art studio, Dylan enjoys hobbies such as playing video games, watching quality television series, and taking a nice walk outdoors.

Vanessa Ross
Social Media & Marketing Coordinator

  • Vanessa is an NC native with a background in performing arts and a passion for sculpting and resin casting. She’s a huge believer and supporter of the Charlotte, local creative scene and believes that is the heart of what makes the city so special. She also firmly believes that creativity and art are vital to happiness and the human experience, and should be accessible to people of all walks of life and of all incomes.

    Inspired by her love of pop culture, designer toys, and vintage fashion Vanessa’s pop art sculptures are often combined with jewelry components to create wearable art. 

    In her spare time you can find her binging horror movies, attempting to recreate the SFX, and filming silly photo shoots that scare her neighbors. 

ArtPop Board
of Directors

MEET OUR BOARD

Connect With Us

The ArtPop team is always thrilled to meet new people, discover new talents, and grow with our community!

Let's create something together!

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