About the Artist

Meet Lois Trader

I never planned on becoming an artist, but grief and caregiving brought me here. What began as a small attempt to cope with a profound personal loss slowly evolved into a means of healing, growth, and connection. My sculptures reflect the emotional weight of lived experience and the resilience that quietly rises from it. Though life has tested me with profound loss, I’m deeply grateful for the family who surrounds me—my husband, children, and grandchildren. Their love anchors me. Creating art has become my way of honoring both sorrow and joy, past and present. Every piece I make reflects that balance.

My commitment to creative healing also extends beyond gallery walls. I co‑founded the nonprofit Hearts and Pages to uplift mothers and children through literacy, art, and compassionate outreach—connecting the emotional threads in my work to tangible support in my community.

Artist Statement

I create from the inside out. My work is deeply interpretive, often built from found objects, natural materials, and paper mache, layered with emotion and meaning. I don’t try to hide the raw edges, whether in the sculpture or the story behind it. My pieces explore themes like identity, memory, loss, and hope, inviting viewers to sit with their feelings and reflections. Art doesn’t need to be perfect to be powerful—it just needs honesty.

Each sculpture is a conversation—sometimes heavy, sometimes whimsical—but always rooted in something real. I’m drawn to what people carry, what they hide, and what they hope for. Creating is how I process, pray, and try to make sense of the things words can’t quite reach.

Biography

Lois Trader is a self-taught, mixed-media sculptor based in East Tennessee. She began creating art unexpectedly after years of caregiving, using it to navigate grief and rediscover herself. Her work is known for its emotional depth, rich textures, and bold symbolism. She often incorporates everyday and found materials to tell deeply personal yet universally human stories.

Lois has sold dozens of pieces, participated in juried exhibitions across the country, and continues to share her evolving body of work through shows, galleries, and her online platform. At the heart of her creative practice is a deep gratitude for her life, the family she treasures, and the healing art she continues to offer.