April 2026 3-D Featured Artist Carolyn Gora

Carolyn Gora is a native Floridian who is passionate about these things:  color, art, whimsy, Florida and education.  She has always been drawn small works of art.    Her first obsession was jewelry making, before her love of color drew her to fused glass. When the medium was brand new, in the 1990’s, she created small, fused glass pins of tiny people.   Now she makes whimsical lamp work “Plant People,” “Plant Pets,” and “Mah Jongg Mavens,” as well as colorful pins of tiny menorahs.  No two are alike.

She also creates small, 5”x7” multi-media artworks, that are inspired by Florida plants, trees, insects, and animals.  The small art works are a combination of embossed handmade paper, watercolors, and embroidery.  

When Carolyn’s own birds of paradise bloomed in the backyard, she had the idea of creating bird characters that looked like the plant.  This idea blossomed into a family of characters and paintings called “Birds in Paradise” who do human things like “Bird Watching or Birds Watching” and “Birdie Gets a Birdie.”   And this concept led Carolyn to write and illustrate children’s books based on these characters, which combine her love of color, Florida’s plants and animals, and whimsy.  

There’s something to say about working small.  Carolyn just needs to find a comfortable chair and she is able to create most of her works while binge watching her favorite shows.