Ellen Emerson Yaghjian Solo Exhibition

Stormwater Studios is pleased to present a solo exhibition by sculptor Ellen Emerson Yaghjian, on view from Wednesday, May 6, through Sunday, May 17, 2026. The exhibition will feature both copper sculpture and recent acrylic paintings, highlighting the breadth of Ellen’s creative practice. Ellen is widely known for designing fountains and figurative works in her favorite medium—copper. Her love of sculpture at the University of Georgia where she studied with noted professor and sculptor, William J. Thompson at the Lamar Dodd School of Art. Ellen participated in a summer study abroad program based in Cortona, Italy. She was inspired by the outdoor fountains she saw in Rome. After receiving her BFA from the University of Georgia in 1976, Ellen expanded her creative range with a Master of Media Arts degree from the University of South Carolina. She then spent seven years working in television production at South Carolina Educational Television in Columbia. While in Columbia, she met fellow artist David Yaghjian, and together they moved to Atlanta in 1985, where she worked as an Associate Producer at Turner Broadcasting on the series Portrait of America. After completing the project, she returned to sculpture. In 1990, Ellen received her first fountain commission from a landscape designer seeking to add movement and sound to a courtyard garden. Over the past 35 years, she has designed and fabricated site-specific fountains and copper sculptures. Her work has been exhibited widely, including at Spruill Center for the Arts in Atlanta; McKissick Museum and the South Carolina State Museum in Columbia; ArtFields in Lake City; and Francis Marion University in Florence. Her fountains can be found in gardens and homes throughout the Southeast. Recently, Ellen has begun exploring painting with acrylics, and this exhibition offers visitors the opportunity to experience both her sculptural work and her newest paintings together. Join us at Stormwater Studios to celebrate this special exhibition and experience the work of an artist whose practice bridges sculpture, water, and the natural rhythms of the landscape. Opening Reception: Thursday, May 7, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Exhibition Dates: Wednesday, May 6 to Sunday, May 17 Gallery Hours: 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Wednesday to Sunday