About

Emily Clanton is an interdisciplinary artist and researcher based in Weaverville, North Carolina. Her work explores how participatory and public art can foster connection, reflection, and collective well-being in community spaces.

The Ties That Bind Asheville began as a participatory installation that Clanton first facilitated in spring 2025. After its initial activation, she continued to develop the work independently—maintaining the temporary fence site, preparing and replenishing materials for public use, and documenting its gradual transformation through participation and weather.

Her approach integrates arts-in-health and socially engaged practice, informed by graduate study in the University of Florida’s Arts in Medicine program. Her broader portfolio includes projects commissioned by municipalities, cultural organizations, and healthcare institutions across the Southeast, including the Spartanburg Art Museum, Pompano Beach Cultural Affairs, and the Medical University of South Carolina.

Learn more at emilyclantonart.com.