We had the good fortune of connecting with Dorri Buchholtz and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Dorri, what role has risk played in your life or career?

I have always been a big risk taker and have felt that risks are opportunities. Fear has never really played a role in my life decisions. That’s not to say that I don’t at times feel fearful but I never let that stop me because great growth occurs when we are out of our comfort zones. Early in my career I took a huge risk and left my job at a world renowned tennis academy to start my own sports medicine and sports performance practice. At the time this was unheard of for an athletic trainer. I was told by people with more experience that there were too many obstacles and it wouldn’t work. But I didn’t let that stop me, and as a result for the next 25 years I had a thriving successful sports medicine and sports performance practice.
I took up sculpting later in life and was sculpting in my free time. I had gallery representation and my work was selling but still I wanted more. At the start of the pandemic I decided to take another huge risk and close my sports business to sculpt full time. They say what you focus on expands and indeed that is what happened. I now have a full-time successful art business,  I consider to be my “second-act” and I am so thrilled that I took the risk. My work can now be found in private collections both nationally and internationally and in galleries in Atlanta, New York, and Florence, Italy.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
What started as a hobby with no agenda, no pressure, and a tremendous amount of artistic freedom to explore and experience, evolved into a full time career. With my background in sports medicine and sports performance it is no coincidence that I am drawn to the human body. I’m particularly interested in the female form, its grace and strength as well as its emotional and physical flexibility. Using posture and gesture I try to capture the rawness and beauty of our shared human experiences from exhilarating joy to unimaginable suffering. I find inspiration in the empowerment of women and the subject of much of my work is the female form.

I sculpt in clay and either fire and finish the work in acrylics and wax or cast in composites and bronze.
It has taken a lot of hard work to get to this point and although I have had challenges and I’ve made mistakes along the way, I consider this to be part of the journey. I’m still making mistakes and still learning. I continue to take classes and seek guidance from those who are willing to teach me. The biggest lessons I have learned is that it is never too late, always bet on yourself and never give up!

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If my friend were visiting the area for a day and I wanted to show them a good time we would start with a walk on the beltline, stop by Ponce City Market for a little shopping and then head on over to Barcelona Wine Bar for a fabulous meal on the patio. We might also take a walk through Piedmont Park or the Botanical Gardens and then explore the exhibits at the High Museum of Art.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My shoutout is dedicated to my loving wife, Kate, who is my biggest cheerleader and my rock. And to my parents and entire family for their unwavering support, love and encouragement.

Other people that deserve recognition in my story are Martin Dawe of Cherrylion Studios. I started sculpting under Marty’s direction and he continues to guide me today. I still enroll in classes at Cherrylion but now they are under the direction of lifetime art educator, Susan Krause. Susan has been instrumental in my continued development as an artist. Suzan Decker-Ross, Interior Designer who took a chance on me with my first exhibit. Polly Denham, owner of Sloan Home and Gallery for my first gallery representation and one of the galleries where my work can be found today.

Website: https://www.dorribuchholtz.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dorrib.art

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dorrib.art

Image Credits
Bhargava Chiluveru, Holland Reid Photography

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