Alice (aka Alyce) Faye Jarrett

October 2026 Issue
Lowcountry Originals 2026

Photography (top and bottom-right)
by Lindsay Pettinicchi Photography, LLC

Alice (aka Alyce) Faye Jarrett

Current Residence: Hilton Head Island
Hometown: Hillsborough, NJ
Career: Science/ Art
Art (Medium): Wire
Family: Husband Pete and sons Marvin and Brandon

When and how did you discover your artistic talent? How and/or why did you choose your medium? What do you love about it?
My artistic journey began with jazz. I left the South and moved to New Jersey in my early twenties. Its proximity to New York City opened the door to a world I had only begun to imagine. I started going with friends to jazz clubs and found myself captivated by the originality, spontaneity, and energy of the music. I was fortunate to experience legendary artists such as Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Thelonious Monk, and Dave Brubeck live on stage at iconic venues including the Village Vanguard, the Village Gate, and the Blue Note.

During the 1970s and ‘80s, jazz was more than music. It was a cultural force that brought people of different backgrounds together. Its rhythms, freedom, and individuality influenced not only music but also fashion, art, and the way people expressed themselves. The creative legacy of those early jazz masters continues to inspire me, and I remain deeply grateful for the gifts they gave to generations of listeners and artists.

After a professional career in the sciences and pharmaceutical industry, I turned my attention more fully toward art as a self-taught artist. Jazz became one of the first subjects I explored. Over time, my work expanded to include themes drawn from the experiences and emotions that have shaped my life—religion, dance, relationships, and family.

My sculptures begin in my imagination. I mentally visualize the two-dimensional origin of a figure and then allow an imagined rhythm and movement to guide its transformation into three dimensions. Working primarily with a single strand of wire, I bend, shape, and sculpt the line until the figure emerges.

The wire becomes my line of drawing in space. Like jazz improvisation, the process is intuitive and responsive. There is no rigid blueprint; the form develops through movement, rhythm, balance, and discovery. Gemstones, fabric, paint, and other materials are added as embellishments, bringing color, texture, and additional meaning to the work.

In this way, my art is a conversation between music and movement, memory and imagination, line and form. What began with my love of jazz has evolved into a broader exploration of the human experience—translated through a single strand of wire into three-dimensional form.

As a “creative” you are unique. What are three words you would use to describe yourself?
I am courageous, driven and faithful.

What’s the best encouragement you’ve ever received in pursuing your artistic talents?
The greatest encouragement I have ever received came when I began applying to juried art shows throughout the country and was accepted into most of them. This experience was both humbling and deeply validating. To have my work selected by jurors who are accomplished, seasoned, and diverse artists spoke volumes about the quality and originality of my work. Their recognition and stamp of approval gave me a profound sense of validation and affirmed that I had found my place and my voice in the arts profession.

In your artistic pursuits, what is your proudest moment so far?
I couldn’t be prouder of the day I made the courageous decision to walk away from a successful career in corporate America and step out on faith to pursue a new second career as a full-time artist. It was a defining moment in my life. I was driven by a deep belief in myself and was determined to turn my dream into a reality. Leaving behind the security of the career I had built and flourished in to follow my passion took courage, but it was a risk I was willing to take. Looking back, I am incredibly proud that I had the faith to make that leap and the determination to build a life doing what I truly love.

In addition to your art, what is something people would be surprised to know about you?
That as fashionable, polished, poised and well-read as I appear to be, I really love camping, the outdoors, and especially roughing it!

What’s something you’ve always wanted to do, but haven’t done yet?
Travel the world extensively!

What encouragement do you have for those who are just beginning to pursue their artistic selves?
Commit to your decision to embrace it, do something, no matter how small, on a daily basis to nurture and develop it, and most importantly, trust and believe in yourself.

Where can we see your work?
I am a partner at Pluff Mudd Art Gallery on Calhoun Street in Bluffton. Come help us celebrate our new location; we’re having a Grand Opening on October 10!