About ArtPop
Our Mission
We believe that art connects people and builds vibrant communities.
ArtPop amplifies the region's creative spirit by transforming everyday places into creative and immersive experiences.
Transforming Communities Through Art Since 2014!
501c3 Arts Nonprofit Organization
Serving the Charlotte-Metro Region in NC and SC
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!
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.
Featuring local artists on billboards throughout the CLT region & across the country. Program artists also receive educational, networking, & marketing benefits.
ARTIST IMPACT
Regional Community Support
ArtPop has proudly empowered 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 THE ARTPOP TEAM
Wendy Hickey
Founder & Executive Director
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Wendy Hickey is the Founder and Executive Director of ArtPop, 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, Wendy transitioned to fulfilling her dream of making art accessible and supporting local artists’ small businesses in the Charlotte region. ArtPop became a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in the summer of 2015.
After years of volunteer service, Wendy became ArtPop’s first employee on May 1, 2018. Since then, the organization has grown and transformed communities while supporting hundreds of local artists.
Friends, family, her artist community, and kindness are central to Wendy’s life. An outdoor enthusiast, Wendy enjoys hiking, mountain biking, paddle-boarding, and spending time with her partner, JT. Having left home at 16 and with no formal college education, Wendy takes immense pride in her career in advertising, which ultimately led to the creation of the ArtPop mission.
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Dylan Bannister
Director of Arts Programming
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Dylan advances ArtPop’s mission by managing our Artist Cohort and Creative Commissions programs. He oversees program operations including strategic planning, coordination with artists and community partners, installation logistics, and more. Dylan also contributes to the organization’s strategic planning, events planning, and creative direction for our marketing materials and website.
Having joined the ArtPop staff in 2022, Dylan believes that ArtPop creates significant community impact through accessible arts experiences. His favorite part of the job is connecting and collaborating with talented local artists.
Dylan is a visual artist himself, and his interdisciplinary artworks are based in memory, nostalgia, and everyday life. Based in Rock Hill, SC, he advocates for the city’s vibrant arts & cultural community. In 2025, he worked alongside local artists and organizations to found the ‘Keep Rock Hill Creative’ initiative.
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Vanessa Ross
Marketing Coordinator
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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.
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Kristina Aquilone
Development Director
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Kristina brings more than a decade of nonprofit development experience to ArtPop, with a passion for building relationships, creating meaningful partnerships, and connecting people to missions that make a difference. As Development Director, she works to grow ArtPop’s philanthropic support and expand opportunities for local artists throughout the Charlotte region.
Before joining ArtPop, Kristina served in nonprofit development leadership roles, where she built fundraising strategies, cultivated individual and institutional donors, secured grants and sponsorships, and developed partnerships that helped organizations grow. She especially enjoys bringing people together around a shared vision and finding creative ways to create meaningful impact.
Kristina is excited to be part of an organization that makes art accessible, celebrates local creativity, and brings color and connection into everyday spaces. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, trying new restaurants, and discovering new places. She has called Charlotte home for many years and loves exploring the city’s neighborhoods, restaurants, and arts scene.
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ArtPop Board
of Directors
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!
