Molly Courcelle Studio: A Creative Transformation

After Hurricane Helene, artist Molly Courcelle transformed her studio into a gallery space, offering a home for displaced artists’ work and fostering a renewed sense of community and resilience.

Molly Courcelle Studio Group photo — Studio Artists (Clockwise from upper left) Tessa Lang, Molly Courcelle, Kathryn Phillips, Tania Dirks, and Andreina Bates.
Asheville Elevated Photography

Before Hurricane Helene, life at The Wedge Studios in Asheville’s River Arts District was full of creativity and camaraderie. On the building’s second floor, a shared studio space housed four artists: painter Bee Sieburg, mixed-media artist Sue Strazzella, watercolorist Kathryn Phillips, and oil painter Molly Courcelle. It was more than a workplace—it was a sanctuary.

“The studio was a refuge for me,” Molly Courcelle recalls. “It wasn’t just a place to paint; it was a place where we supported one another.” In addition to the core group, two close friends, Betsy Sloan and Lisa Hegedus, often assisted and contributed to the warm, collaborative environment.

That sense of security was shaken on September 27, 2024, when Hurricane Helene flooded nearly 80% of the River Arts District. “Even though our space was spared, the destruction all around us was overwhelming,” she adds. “So many artists lost everything. It was heartbreaking.”

In the aftermath, difficult decisions had to be made. Kathryn Phillips, whose daughter’s family had lost almost everything in the flooding, chose to leave the studio. “She needed to be with them,” Courcelle explains. “Being a mother and grandmother came first, and we completely understood.”

The loss of a longtime studio member created an unexpected void. The remaining artists hesitated to invite someone new right away. “It felt like too much, too soon,” she admits. “We decided to take our time, even if it meant sharing the rent to keep the space going.”

As the community rallied to recover, fellow artist Phil DeAngelo opened his studio as a gathering place, launching a food ministry for displaced artists and workers in the district. “Phil’s ‘Nonna’s Kitchen’ became a lifeline,” she recalls. “Sharing a meal with others during such an uncertain time meant everything.”

The storm had forced changes, but it also sparked new ideas. Instead of bringing in another studio artist, to replace Katheryn Phillips now vacated studio, a different opportunity emerged—one that had once felt like a distant dream. “After seeing the generosity of DeAngelo and others, it dawned on me that I could use my space in a new way,” she said. “If I wasn’t ready to share my studio with another artist full-time, perhaps I could share it with their artwork.”

With that thought, a plan took shape. Courcelle invited in some artist friends who had lost their spaces: Andreina Bates, who had been in Marquee; Tania Dirks, whose work had been at the flooded ArtPlay on Depot Street; and Tessa Lang, a former Wedge Studios artist displaced from Cottonmill Studios. “And, of course, I wanted Kathryn’s work back in the studio,” she adds. “It was win-win all the way around.”

The transformation began. Courcelle relocated her working studio space to the back, painted the walls a bright white, and hung or placed pieces from the four artists. “It felt daunting at first,” she admits. “I wasn’t sure if I was ready for more change. But once their work was on the walls, it felt right.

The response was immediate and overwhelmingly positive. Collectors, visitors, and fellow artists embraced the new space. “It’s been incredible,” she says. “Their work has brought such beauty to the studio. I sure do love ‘my girls.’”

Tania Dirks, the newest member of Molly Courcelle’s Studio & Gallery, shared, “Molly offered to represent me this winter after my RAD gallery closed due to hurricane damage. Being in the Wedge keeps me connected to the RAD’s vibrant art community and its exciting rebirth. I’m inspired by the talented, engaging artists I now share space with!”

Hurricane Helene had changed everything. The loss, the upheaval, and the rebuilding left a permanent mark, but it also opened the door to something new. What began as a shared studio has evolved into a gallery where resilience and creativity thrive.