Stephanie Tomey
In a light-filled studio at Dilworth Artisan Station, where the sun drapes the walls like a silk curtain, photographer Stephanie Tomey returns each day to a lifelong love—creating beauty through the lens.
After a vibrant career in the corporate world of professional sports and years spent raising two sons alongside her husband, Stephanie felt the quiet pull back to photography—the creative rhythm she had long missed. That return has unfolded into a rich journey of exploration, artistry, and discovery.
Stephanie has pursued her photographic path with a spirit of adventure, participating in workshops and residencies from New York City to Cuba, most recently completing a prestigious residency at the Olive Stack Gallery in the storybook town of Listowel, Ireland. Along the way, she has studied a variety of alternative photographic processes, including Polaroid Image Transfer and Manipulation, and has developed her own distinctive technique inspired by Edward S. Curtis’s Goldtones. Her version—called Gildtones—incorporates delicate Italian metal leaf, resulting in luminous, ethereal pieces that seem to shimmer with memory and meaning.
Her work has graced the walls of the Carillon Building, curated by Larry Elder Art Consultancy, and has been featured at The Light Factory in Charlotte, NC, the Cameron Art Museum in Wilmington, NC, and other select venues across North Carolina and Virginia. Stephanie was recently the featured guest on Let’s Talk Art with Brooke, sharing a heartfelt conversation about art, process, and purpose.
Beyond her studio, Stephanie gives generously of her time and talents, contributing to causes close to her heart—most notably through her ongoing work with The Heart Gallery and Celebrate the Tatas, where she has volunteered for over five years.
“Through my work, I strive to capture the fleeting moments that make life exquisite and meaningful, hoping that each viewer will pause, reflect, and find beauty in the ordinary. Thanks to each of you who join me on this visual journey.”
Today, Stephanie continues to evolve as an artist—not only through photography but in her deepening exploration of oil painting in the atmospheric, emotionally rich Tonalist style. Her creative path is ever unfolding, guided by wonder, curiosity, and an enduring love for the beauty found in everyday light.
