about

Gold Dust Studio features handmade work by Voula O'Grady. I have been crafting & making for far back as I can remember, and Gold Dust Studio was officially launched in 2003. After seven years working in arts education--first as the co-founder and coordinator of the Creative Action Project and then as Coordinator for Academic Advising at California College of the Arts-- I am now focusing my time on art, craft, and design work. I hold a BA from Wesleyan University where I received High Honors for a mixed media/installation thesis, and have since studied at California College of the Arts, Massachusetts College of Art, and the Boston Film & Video Foundation.


ARTWORK: My current projects explore themes including queer history, the role of memory in family relationships, safe spaces, and consent. I am interested in the the build-up and break-down of identity. Much of my work sits at the intersection of art/craft, and I often incorporate found items into my work in combination with objects with a personal connection (e.g. pages from my grandfather’s high school chemistry notebook or fabric swatches that my grandmother dyed in a textiles class.) View visual artwork here.

CRAFT/DESIGN: Most of my work features a combination of photography, drawing, painting, screenprinting, cut paper, and subversively altered found images. My designs are sweet, sassy, quirky, fierce, and fabulous. I hope to help keep old-fashioned letterwriting alive via my papergoods line (cards, postcards, and stationery.) I also make jewelry, papier mache nesting bowls, coasters, magnets, and pins/buttons. See the gallery for links.

COLLABORATIVE PROJECTS: I am a founding member of the Theater of Irregular Desire and am currently working on the Re/Generator project.

COMMUNITY & SOCIAL JUSTICE: As part of my commitment to social justice and my belief in the power of art as a force for change, I regularly work with community organizations and support their work via projects such as workshops, donations of artwork for auctions and free graphic design work (thank you cards, invitations, etc.)

CUSTOM DESIGN WORK: I do occasional custom work, such as the cover for DeWayne Dickerson's poetry collection Chunky (V52 Press, Boston MA, 2004) and the cover for Adhamh Roland's 2009 album Patchwork and Threadbare.

ENVIRONMENT & SUSTAINABILITY: I am committed to sustainability and always looking for ways to improve my production methods. My studio is in a building that uses greywater, solar power, recycling, and compost systems. Most of my studio furniture and storage is reused/repurposed/recycled from the Center for Creative Reuse, yard sales, flea markets etc.

PAPER PRODUCTS: I am currently printing my cards on recycled (30% postconsumer) paper which is made with 100% windpower-generated electricity; the paper production process is certified sustainable by GreenSeal and the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). Most envelopes are made with 30-50% postconsumer waste and are FSC-certified; they are purchased from a company that uses windpower and recycled shipping materials. I am researching paper options so my next paper purchase should be 100% postconsumer waste! When stores require cards to be packaged in plastic, I am using compostable/biodegradable EarthFirst PLA Film.

ART/CRAFT: I always keep my eye out for art & craft supplies that can be reused/repurposed from SCRAP, the Center for Creative Reuse, yard sales, etc.

contact me!

goldduststudio at gmail dot com

Wholesale/Consignment Inquiries
Check out this page for more info!

Can't wait for the shopping cart to be installed?
Email me at the address above and we can arrange to fill your order via email/PayPal.

Art & Design Donations
See info here

+ THIS SITE IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION +