Our Team
Our Team is made up of artists, makers, creators, and innovators with a shared mission to bring beautiful art to spaces around the world.
Alex Loops
Business Manager, Art Consulting
With Team Since: April 2015
Hometown: Pittsboro, NC
3 things I do on the weekend: Get myself outdoors. Whatever it takes. Wish I could sleep in late like a teenager, but my body never lets me. Friend Fun Time.
Favorite Time of Day: Magic Hour and the first crack of dawn
Favorite Place: Anywhere under big trees
Favorite Movie: Rear Window
Only album I'd take to a deserted island: Daniel Romano "Sleep Beneath the Willows"
How I take my coffee: Cream and Sugar. Black, if all else fails.
Fun Fact (personal or general): I film music videos (when not slinging art) and have played drums for the local band Mandolin Orange (okay, I played one snare drum at one show..but still)
Brooke Dinda
Curation Manager
With Team Since: January 2022
Hometown: Setauket, NY
3 things I do on the weekend: Hang out with the kiddos (which generally involves listening to random Pokemon statistics, attending soccer games, and watching impromptu dance performances), playing with our new pet guinea pig, S'mores, and working on more home improvement projects than I wish to participate in.
Favorite Time of Day: Early morning before anyone is awake. So much hope for the day!
Favorite Place: Prague
Favorite Movie: I could watch High Fidelity any day of the week
Only album I'd take to a deserted island: Ooh, this is a tough one. If I had to choose I suppose I'd take Wilco, Yankee Hotel Foxtrot.
How I take my coffee: Dark roast, oat milk, in my travel mug, listening to NPR. This is the best possible combo.
Fun Fact (personal or general): I played drums for an all-girls punk rock band in high school. I was terrible.
Claire Kloss
Art Consultant
With Team Since: February 2022
Hometown: Savannah, GA
3 things I do on the weekend: Adventuring to the ocean, a lake or river to go SUPping, hosting dinner parties for friends that almost always include elaborate table scapes and going to the movies for the movies but really the popcorn
Favorite Time of Day: 10am always feels pretty good
Favorite Place: Portland Maine (Summer Only Please)
Favorite Movie: Jaws
Only album I'd take to a deserted island: Rumors
How I take my coffee: Iced with a splash of milk
Fun Fact (personal or general): I have been to The Shire and climbed Mt. Doom!
Coleman Churchill
Studio Artist
With Team Since: August 2023
Hometown: Hillsborough, NC
3 things I do on the weekend: Running, dancing, Dungeons & Dragons
Favorite Time of Day: Early morning
Favorite Place: Eno River
Favorite Movie: Spirited Away
Only album I'd take to a deserted island: Iron & Wine - The Shepherd's Dog
How I take my coffee: Honey & oat
Fun Fact (personal or general): A hummingbird's heart rate ranges from 50-1200 beats per minute.
Danielle Reisman
Curator
With Team Since: August 7, 2023
Hometown: Cleveland, Ohio
3 things I do on the weekend: Hiking, Paddle Boarding, Skiing
Favorite Time of Day: Golden Hour
Favorite Place: Isle of Skye, Scotland
Favorite Movie: Inception
Only album I'd take to a deserted island: The Last Goodbye, Odezsa
How I take my coffee: Hazelnut latte with oat milk
Fun Fact (personal or general): I am a certified yoga instructor!
David Twite
President
With Team Since: August 2022
Hometown: Coronado, CA
3 things I do on the weekend: Spend time with Jen, home renovations, whatever is next
Favorite Time of Day: Sunrise
Favorite Place: Floating in water (wherever)
Favorite Movie: Office Space
Only album I'd take to a deserted island: Stevie Wonder - Innervisions, U2 - Rattle and Hum, Talking Heads - Stop Making Sense, Bob Marley - Natural Mystic (not good with limits)
How I take my coffee: Strong with oat milk
Fun Fact (personal or general): Ironing can be zen
Dawn Renner
Creative Director
With Team Since: September 2023
Hometown: Lorain, Ohio
3 things I do on the weekend: Spend time with friends and family, drink coffee on my front porch for hours, Cook/Eat/Drink
Favorite Time of Day: Dawn/Dusk
Favorite Place: Italy
Favorite Movie: Wedding Crashers
Only album I'd take to a deserted island: I'd have to take more than one - Bruce Springsteen, Kings of Leon, Andrea Bocelli
How I take my coffee: Black and strong
Fun Fact (personal or general): I know one verse from almost every song from the 1950s to about 2015 and I feel the need to sing them when I hear them - it makes my grown children very proud (not really lol)
Deniz Miller
Art Consultant
With Team Since: October 2020
Hometown: Duluth, GA
3 things I do on the weekend: Long walks around Atlanta making pit stops for snacks & drinks, chill with the family & two adorable (but loud) hounds, & curl up on the couch reading a book.
Favorite Time of Day: Late afternoon/early evening
Favorite Place: Cortona, Italy
Favorite Movie: Dazed & Confused
Only album I'd take to a deserted island: The Doors
How I take my coffee: With cream; I’d never turn down a fancy Starbucks sugar drink, either.
Fun Fact (personal or general): My first name means “sea” in Turkish.
Ev Minton
Art Director
With Team Since: September 2014
Hometown: Red Bank, NJ
3 things I do on the weekend: Binge watching anime, hand weaving, & spending time outside
Favorite Time of Day: The golden hour
Favorite Place: Kauai, Hawaii
Favorite Movie: Ponyo
Only album I'd take to a deserted island: I'd rather enjoy the quiet!
How I take my coffee: Iced, with lots of cream & sugar but I'm more of a tea person- either green or earl gray
Fun Fact (personal or general): I've seen all 259 episodes of King of the Hill
Gia Vlahopoulos
Vice President of Strategic Accounts
With Team Since: August 2022
Hometown: Chicago
3 things I do on the weekend: Family Dinner with my children, Seeing Friends, Relax
Favorite Time of Day: Sunrise
Favorite Place: Greece
Favorite Movie: Wallstreet
Only album I'd take to a deserted island: Anything Alicia Keys & Greek Music
How I take my coffee: Medium Roast w/cream
Fun Fact (personal or general): Love to make people laugh
Heather Stewart
Vice President
With Team Since: September 2013
Hometown: Gulf Breeze, FL
3 things I do on the weekend: Take a nap, an inevitably skewed combination of cooking/eating/dancing/drinking and I wrestle a 6-year-old (he cheats)
Favorite Time of Day: Sitting down on the back deck with a cup of something hot before everyone else gets up
Favorite Place: Riding on home at sunset in FL after a day at the beach with my family
Favorite Movie: Stranger than Fiction (Seriously, check it out - flew in totally under the radar!)
Only album I'd take to a deserted island: Tom Waits: Real Gone
How I take my coffee: Sweet & Light
Fun Fact (personal or general): I get nervous driving cars over high overpasses even though I'm not scared of heights. I don't get nervous if I'm not the one driving. Go figure.
Isabel Burnette
Art Consulting Associate
With Team Since: June 2023
Hometown: Austin, TX
3 things I do on the weekend: Go swimming, have a spicy margarita, and see a movie at Alamo Drafthouse. Preferably in that order ????
Favorite Time of Day: Afternoon
Favorite Place: Aix-en-Provence, France
Favorite Movie: Phantom Thread (2017)
Only album I'd take to a deserted island: “Come Around Sundown” by Kings of Leon
How I take my coffee: Double shot espresso!
Fun Fact (personal or general): Ancient Greek sculptures were originally painted bright colors; they only appear white today because the original pigments have deteriorated.
Jen Shepherd
Senior Art Consultant
With Team Since: March 2015
Hometown: Westminster, MD
3 things I do on the weekend: Consistently: Sleep in and snuggle with my hubs and our mischievous kitten, Gus. Hit the outdoors for exercise and sweet sunshine! Nosh on Durham's delicious food offerings with friends.
Favorite Time of Day: I've got two – anytime I'm doing a work-out or the moment I slide beneath those blissful bed sheets!
Favorite Place: Location-wise: Luang Prabang, Laos. Physical-wise: Wrapped up in a good hug with my Mom.
Favorite Movie: Hands-down, The Fountain.
Only album I'd take to a deserted island: Nerd moment! Score from Lord of the Rings.
How I take my coffee: Tea girl, here. I can't handle that caffeinated jitter juice!
Fun Fact (personal or general): I've met Brad Pitt on the set of Tree of Life.
Kat Lanser
Senior Studio Lead
With Team Since: April, 2017
Hometown: Portland, OR
3 things I do on the weekend: Play music loud while painting and lounging in my studio
Favorite Time of Day: Golden hour
Favorite Place: New Mexico
Favorite Movie: Groundhog Day
Only album I'd take to a deserted island: Elvis greatest hits album
How I take my coffee: with cream, please
Fun Fact (personal or general): My current life goal is to adopt a family of poodles all named after rock stars
Kelsey Nix
Studio Artist
With Team Since: June, 2021
Hometown: Raleigh, NC
3 things I do on the weekend: Read or watch movies/TV while cuddling with my dog; hike, also with my dog; draw....mostly pictures of my dog
Favorite Time of Day: The Golden Hour (the dusk one, not the dawn one...)
Favorite Place: Anywhere with mountains | The Shenandoah Valley
Favorite Movie: JoJo Rabbit
Only album I'd take to a deserted island: 'Steven Spielberg Presents the Animaniacs' 1993 - but can I bring a book instead?
How I take my coffee: As water or juice, really anything but coffee
Fun Fact (personal or general): Cats, dolphins, seals, and eagles--and only cats, dolphins, seals, and eagles--are obligate carnivores, which means they MUST have blood in their diet. In other words, your cat is a vampire.
Lisa Eddy
Head of Sales
With Team Since: January 2022
Hometown: St Louis, MO
3 things I do on the weekend: Be in nature with my family, Browse the Santa Monica Farmer's Market, Rinse and repeat
Favorite Time of Day: After a workout
Favorite Place: Tofino, BC
Favorite Movie: It's a Wonderful Life
Only album I'd take to a deserted island: Billy Joel's Greatest Hits
How I take my coffee: Cream no sugar
Fun Fact (personal or general): I've visited 49 states
Lisa Van Aller
Studio Artist
With Team Since: August 2024
Hometown: Prescott Valley, AZ
3 things I do on the weekend: Exploring, gardening, eating
Favorite Time of Day: Golden hour
Favorite Place: Mingus Mountain
Favorite Movie: The Big Lebowski
Only album I'd take to a deserted island: Green Day - Dookie
How I take my coffee: Hot latte with whole milk, please
Fun Fact (personal or general): I took a basketweaving class in college and it was the most impactful class I took.
Meg Davis
Senior Art Consultant
With Team Since: 2014
Hometown: Chicago, IL
3 things I do on the weekend: Pet cats, spend an unreasonable amount of time at Ikea, garden
Favorite Time of Day: In the early morning before the sun comes up, with coffee.
Favorite Place: Maui
Favorite Movie: It’s definitely not Aquaman.
Only album I'd take to a deserted island: Brian Eno, Ambient 1: Music for Airports
How I take my coffee: Iced Latte- even in winter
Fun Fact (personal or general): I only joined Instagram to enter an America’s Test Kitchen photo contest, which I won.
Michelle Salmieri
Business Development
With Team Since: June 2021
Hometown: Norwalk, CT
3 things I do on the weekend: Hike, Watch my Jackson play baseball (spring, summer, and fall) Day trips all over New England
Favorite Time of Day: Right around sunrise
Favorite Place: Oceanside
Favorite Movie: The Dark Knight
Only album I'd take to a deserted island: It’s not an album, it’s my “Bunny’s Buns” mix I created with all my very best favorites.
How I take my coffee: A little cream, a little sugar and frothed
Fun Fact (personal or general): I was Meatloafs nanny ( for the young ones, google “paradise by the dashboard lights” )
Olivia Carlson
Art Consultant
With Team Since: August, 2022
Hometown: West Palm Beach, FL
3 things I do on the weekend: Hike, cook for the fam, and jam out to lo-fi beats
Favorite Time of Day: Twilight
Favorite Place: Anywhere in the mountains
Favorite Movie: 500 Days of Summer
Only album I'd take to a deserted island: Charlesthefirst - The Ascent
How I take my coffee: Not a coffee person, so Chai lattes for me please!
Fun Fact (personal or general): I'm addicted to Diet Dr Pepper
Olivia Scharwath
Senior Art Consultant
With Team Since: May 2024
Hometown: Huntington Beach, CA
3 things I do on the weekend: Tend to my ever-growing collection of plants, explore San Francisco, and Netflix my heart out.
Favorite Time of Day: Golden Hour
Favorite Place: New York City
Favorite Movie: Beetlejuice
Only album I'd take to a deserted island: I'd take an audiobook - Lord of the Rings Trilogy (it would keep me the most motivated).
How I take my coffee: Oat milk latte, hot or iced depending on the weather.
Fun Fact (personal or general): I make up songs about your projects and sing them as I work. I'm also a terrible singer, so it's lucky for everyone that I work from home.
Sophia Caruso
Senior Art Consultant
With Team Since: September 2024
Hometown: Small town just outside of Pittsburgh, PA
3 things I do on the weekend: Go to the beach to watch the sunrise, catch some live music at local venues, and avoid doing yardwork.
Favorite Time of Day: Early mornings
Favorite Place: Savannah, GA
Favorite Movie: Once Upon A Time in Hollywood
Only album I'd take to a deserted island: Time Out by The Dave Brubeck Quartet
How I take my coffee: Splash of cream, no sugar
Fun Fact (personal or general): I once had the incredible opportunity to dance on stage with George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic.
Tiffany Dow
Studio Artist
With Team Since: February 2024
Hometown: SF Bay Area
3 things I do on the weekend: Paint spooky illustrations, make miniature haunted houses, hang out with my husband (Scott), dog (Loki) and cat (Baby Bird).
Favorite Time of Day: Twilight
Favorite Place: Sitting on the beach in Trinidad, CA
Favorite Movie: The Dark Crystal
Only album I'd take to a deserted island: Such a hard question! The first that comes to mind is "Return of the Frog Queen" by Jeremy Enigk, but I don't think I can go to this deserted island if I can only take one album!
How I take my coffee: Black, unless it's cheap diner coffee, then two creams and two sugars please.
Fun Fact (personal or general): I recently illustrated my first children's book, Busy Wizzy (Halloween themed, of course).
Our Story
Our roots come from Jesse’s art and his passion, and his belief above all that, "Everyone deserves great art.”
Jesse’s first camera arrived on his sixth birthday as a present from his father, celebrated photographer Simpson Kalisher. A darkroom soon followed. Despite his enthusiasm for the medium, however, when it came time to consider a career, Jesse took his father’s advice and focused on anything but photography.
In the mid 1990’s, Jesse Kalisher made a life changing decision to step away from a successful career in advertising and travel the world with his camera. While exploring the forests of Guatemala, he met his wife Helen, and through their adventures he further developed his passion for fine art photography.
In 1999, Helen and Jesse officially began their partnership, creating The Jesse Kalisher Gallery. Jesse lead Marketing and Business Development and Helen, a skilled artist and designer, developed the Kalisher branding and founded the Creative Department. After setting up a makeshift office in their spare bedroom in 2005, Jesse and Helen hired their first employee, Sarah Elder. In 2020 Sarah stepped up as CEO.
Today Kalisher HQ is located in Durham’s thriving Arts District at the Golden Belt Campus.
ART IS LOVE
