Gardner Follin is a ceramicist, sculptor, and printmaker from Cincinnati, Ohio, who is a sophomore at Xavier University. Gardner has received a Scholastic Gold Key in sculpture and she is interested in themes of gore, death, and emotion. She uses her work to create empathy in viewers and prefers sculpture as it allows for an easier connection to the audience. Gardner is most influenced by storytelling and the empathy it gives listeners and viewers. Gardner shares her own personal experiences as well as the experiences of those who don't have voices as she is currently focusing on the stories of animals and the pain humans inflict upon them.