A Kansas City native, Jean’s career as an accomplished interior designer spanned 35 years, creating and installing both residential and commercial projects from Boca Raton to Bermuda. Closing her Asheville business, Greeson & Fast Design in 2019, Jean began pursuing her life-long interest in sculpting full time.
The daughter of a Hallmark Cards executive, Jean’s exposure to imaginative and compelling artistry began at an early age. From sewing doll clothes to crafting Christmas ornaments, the transition to sculpting in clay was a natural progression. Today, many of her ceramic sculptures are whimsical animals, inspired by her love of furry creatures and her work with pets. In fact, she has been active in greyhound rescue, fostering litters of kittens, trapping feral cats, and is currently serving Henderson County’s Blue Ridge Humane Society as board secretary.
Largely self-taught, Jean has participated in workshops and classes both locally and out of state to hone her craft. Her hand-building skills employ an assortment of techniques using different clay compositions, and she occasionally incorporates actual antiques in her work to add humor and surprise. For four years, pictures of her “critters” have graced banners promoting the arts on Hendersonville’s Main Street, the most recent in front of the Visitor Center.
Jean has her own dedicated studio and kiln at her Hendersonville home. She was one of the unfortunate artists to lose a rather extensive display at Asheville’s Marquee Gallery when flood waters flushed the entire building. But she is also one of the artists selected to have her work featured in the recently published book, “The Flood Collection,” showcasing the work of artists who lost their original works during Hurricane Helene.
