5AM STUDIO ArtISTS
Maya Santangelo
Maya Santangelo is an artist originally from California. She has spent the last 25 years working as a muralist and fine art painter. She has traveled the world painting murals, working on projects in China, The Middle East, Japan, Mexico and all over the U.S.A. Maya has also painted artwork for celebrities (Dennis Quaid and Laura Dern) and for hotels, casinos, stores, restaurants and countless residential projects. Since 2001 she has painted murals and artwork for the Cheesecake Factory restaurant chain on a regular basis. Currently, she lives in Norwalk, CT, where she has painted murals for some of the local elementary schools and for the Norwalk Public Library. In the library she painted all the murals in the teen room and the Poetree themed mural in the stairwell on the bottom floor.Maya enjoys painting scenes from nature and portraits of people and animals. She is fascinated with light patterns and texture and is a lover of all things related to the sea. She has sold her fine art paintings at local shows and to private buyers
on the East and West coasts.
Maya's Contact info:
Instagram - @mayasstudio123
Email address: mayasantangelo@gmail.com
MAYA’S WORK
DEVAN MARKIEWICZ
Dmarxx Design
About Us
Dmarxx Design is a hand crafted leather bag company that was birthed and bottomed in Brooklyn, NY, now currently creating in Connecticut. Our bags illustrate where edginess meets elegance and are made for all to wear. The Canteen Clutch showcases Devan’s signature style: classic structures re-interpreted. Each Canteen Clutch is fashioned from 100% genuine leather with a super-soft feel. The exposed stitching is hand sewn with sturdy cord, adding both detail and durability. In addition, the unique self-closing feature transforms each bag, a fashion-meets-function accessory you never have to put down.
Devan Markiewicz, Owner + Designer is working towards officially being a "Sober Friendly Business", where she not only shares her personal Recovery journey of alcoholism and drug addiction throughout our company's social media platform but also hopes to one day employ others in the Recovery community to also hand sew our bags. Hand-sewing is an activity that helps Devan stay present in the moment, a therapeutic practice that helps keep her away from a drink or a drug. She heals through creatively expressing herself through each collections theme which can be reflected right down to color names and even textures and prints of our leathers she picks! Dmarxx Design has become a healthy creative outlet that continues to be a driving force behind Devan's success in remaining Clean + Sober.
Creative Goal Our signature Canteen Clutch the "Blackout Bag" A black on black design named as a nod to the pre sobriety days of our Owner Devan, who dreams of helping to break the stigma of addiction by marrying her story through her love of fashion and creative expression.
Devan’s Contact Info:
Instagram - @dmarxx
ALICIA C. Cobb
Alicia C. Cobb is an award-winning visual artist, body painter, teaching artist and public speaker. Her biggest inspirations are connection, transformation, emotion, nature, and the human body. Her original art works can be found on many surfaces including but not limited to, canvas, walls, and people. Alicia is certified in therapeutic arts. She facilitates professional development workshops, student workshops, student residencies, as well as private lessons, and commissions. She enjoys giving back and participates in community events and organizations frequently. She acts as a mentor to many young aspiring artists and she specializes in social emotional learning through visual art throughout Connecticut & internationally. Alicia was named a 2024, CT Arts hero, Emerging Artist by the Connecticut Office of the Arts. She was also awarded Artist of the Year in June of 2022 from the Cultural Alliance of Fairfield County. She is among the highlighted artists of New York City Body Painting Day and The Flesh Art Show in New Orleans. Alicia placed top ten in the 2016, North American Body Paint Championships in Greensboro, NC. which was the only sanctioned body art competition in the United States at the time. She was a 2017 “Bridgeport Girls Rock” honoree, and she won the award for best artistic concept from the Bridgeport Neighborhood Trust “Do West” mural competition in September 2017. She has been a featured, participating artist in public art exhibits throughout Fairfield County since 2015.
CAROLYN CHILDS
Carolyn Childs’ artwork has garnered considerable attention in the contemporary art scene. Her paintings exude a captivating sense of calm and mindfulness, offering viewers a serene escape into her world. Carolyn’s work often explores themes of tranquility, nature, and introspection, creating an emotional connection with her audience. Carolyn Childs’ work has been featured in renowned art spaces and galleries nationwide, recognizing her talent and unique perspective. She has also been featured locally in The Darien Times, Geary Gallery, UCBC, The Faye & Ben Manger Gallery, Everything is Rosie, and Double Exposure Boutique. Encaustic is a method of painting with wax. The pure beeswax is mixed with resin and pigments. Each layer of wax is melted and fused with heat to the substrate. Carolyn uses careful heat management and manipulation of the hot tools to create these sublime scenes. The artworks engage the viewer to look closer and be present in the moment. These paintings beautifully provide an elevated aesthetic experience. Carolyn Childs is a Connecticut native and Darien mom. She is a certified K-12 art teacher, a BFA in Creative Arts Therapy, and an MA in Art Education Leadership, with a focus on mindfulness and art.
Carolyn’s Contact Info
Instagram - @art.B.L.I.S.S
Email address: Carolyn.p.childs@gmail.com
CAROLYN’S WORK
Karen Schlansky
Karen Schlansky is a multidisciplinary artist whose vibrant, abstract paintings balance structure and spontaneity. Her intuitive mark-making process allows her to explore movement, energy, and emotion through flowing forms, expressive lines, and bold color. While she has studied classical painting, abstraction remains her true passion, offering her the freedom to experiment and evolve.
Schlansky holds a degree from Skidmore College and a Fine Arts Appraisal Certificate from NYU. She has studied at the Art Students League, 92Y, and attended masterclasses with renowned artists. Her deep appreciation for composition and color initially led her into the world of Asian art, where she spent 25 years curating and importing works for private collectors and institutions. Her expertise was recognized in The New York Times and other publications, establishing her as a champion of an often-overlooked art form.
After years of acquiring and studying art, Schlansky turned to painting—and hasn’t stopped since. For over 15 years, her work has been featured in juried exhibitions across Fairfield County, Stamford, Greenwich, and New York City. Her paintings have been highlighted in Westchester and Greenwich publications and are part of private collections, including those of prominent real estate developers, investment bankers, and designers.
Schlansky is a juried member of the Connecticut Women’s Artists Association and the Artist Collective of Westport. She has been affiliated with the St. Philip Artists’ Guild, the Cultural Alliance of Fairfield, the Ridgefield Guild of Artists, and the Carriage Barn Arts Center in New Canaan. Previously, she served for eight years on the board of the Fleming Museum, where she was part of the acquisitions committee.
Currently, she works out of her studios in Norwalk and New York City, continually pushing the boundaries of her artistic expression.
Karen's Contact Info:
Instagram - @schlanart
Website: Karenschlansky.com
KAREN’S WORK
Virginia Juliano
Virginia Juliano is both a left and right brainer. By day, she's a strategic marketing consultant with an MBA who helps creative and healing focused businesses expand and transform. And she’s also an artist. Over the last 20+ years she would work on her painting and photography in a tiny corner of her home office whenever she could, but she always dreamed of a dedicated space to create art. Now, she's very happy to say that it’s finally a reality and is thrilled to be a part of the 5AM Studio Family. Painting mostly in acrylics, Virginia enjoys reinterpreting the landscape and still life photos that she takes into almost dream-like versions – what she likes to call an “abstract impressionist style.”
Virginia's Contact Info:
Website: Virginiajuliano.com
Email: virginia@virginiajuliano.com
Instagram: @virginia_juliano
LinkedIn
VIRGINIA’S WORK
Elisa Grogliochlan
Elisa Groglio works in a variety of media, and is not afraid to mix both traditional and digital methods. She holds a BFA in Illustration from Pratt Institute and an MA in Art Education from the College of New Rochelle. Besides being an active painter, exhibiting artist, illustrator and graphic designer she is also an award winning art educator teaching at the high school and college levels. She explores a wide variety of subject matter in various media and can be recognized by her distinctive signature line and bold, expressive use of color and composition. In 2016, Elisa received the Mayor's Award for Excellence in Arts and Culture from the City of Denver. Elisa is currently exhibiting her work in Stamford and Norwalk, CT and is a member of 5AM Studios and Stamford Art Association. Former member of Loft Artist Association, and former studio artist and exhibiting member at Denver Art Society from 2014-2023.
Elisa's Contact Info:
Website: groglioart.com
ELISA’S WORK
