About the Artist

Artist Biography

Crystal King Wallner is an artist from Pensacola, FL specializing in beadwork and jewelry-making. Crystal primarily works in bead embroidery and bead weaving and often uses glass seed beads, gemstones, shells, crystals, and natural fibers to create unique, wearable pieces. She is an avid collector of stones, seashells, and vintage glass beads. Each bead is individually stitched and comes together to tell a story within the finished piece. Crystal views the arranging of these elements as a contemplative art form, allowing for an emergent dialog between material, environment, and artist. Her art seeks to reflect the culture of the Gulf Coast and the beauty of the surrounding natural environment. Crystal has been working with beads since childhood and enjoys exploring new ways to incorporate beadwork into her art practice.  

Professional Biography

Crystal is an arts-based researcher and educator and holds a doctorate in Medical Humanities from Drew University, where her dissertation work focused on the role and meaning of visual arts in hurricane recovery. She is a current member of the UF Interdisciplinary Research Lab and founder of the Post Hurricane Arts Network, an educational repository and research initiative. Crystal graduated from UF where she majored in the Arts in Medicine M.A. program, and holds an undergraduate B.A. degree in Philosophy from UCF. It is her passion to use her love of the arts and its many forms to help others, and she works in both community and clinical settings. In 2019, she completed a practicum in arts and medicine at Sacred Heart Hospital, where she was able to bring participatory art to children and families in the Pediatric ER and the Pediatric Infusion Unit. Professionally, she has worked in several arts organizations and history museums throughout the Gulf Coast region including the Foley Art Center, First City Art Center, the City of Foley Museums, and the UWF Historic Trust. Crystal is also an active member of many local and national arts organizations, including the South Baldwin Museum Foundation and the National Organization of Arts in Health.

Linked In: www.linkedin.com/in/crystal-king-wallner