Alumni in the Arts

  • David Kirkland Garner '01

    David was a member of Lovett's first Ellington Band to be invited to perform as part of the Essentially Ellington competition at Jazz at Lincoln Center, and it was in Lovett's AP Music Theory Class where he found the spark for what would become a very successful career as a composer.

  • Shara Hughes '00

    Shara Hughes graduated from the Rhode Island School of Design in 2004. As a working artist, Shara had her first solo show in 2007 at the New York gallery Rivington Arms. Since then, she has exhibited in Copenhagen, Berlin, Turin, and London, as well as the numerous art fairs including The Armory in New York City, Frieze in London, Basel in Switzerland, and Nada in Miami. Shara is represented by the Museum 52 gallery in New York and London, as well as the Mikael Andersen Gallery in Copenhagen and Berlin. She will also be featured in the Saatchi Gallery's upcoming PAINT show. Currently, Shara lives and works in Atlanta. Shara Hughes' work can be viewed online at www.sharahughes.com.

  • Wes Gordon '05

    Wes Gordon '05, a graduate of the Central Saint Martins School of Art and Design in London, interned with Oscar de la Renta and worked with Tom Ford before launching his own fashion line, based in New York City. His first collection debuted in February 2010 for the upcoming fall season. Positive reviews of his designs have appeared in The New York Times, WWD, Vogue, and more.

  • Andrew Altenbach ’97

    Andrew Altenbach ’97

    The time Andrew Altenbach, Class of ’97, spent at Lovett—performing in musicals and at Carnegie Hall, singing in the chorus, and playing the piano in the jazz band—was key in developing the qualities necessary for him to succeed in the arts. Even more important than the skills and techniques he learned was the faculty, who had a profound effect on him. “A career in the arts takes extreme amounts of hard work and passion. The tremendous fine arts faculty at Lovett inspired me to have that passion and drive,” said Andrew.

  • Alex Cole '03

    Alex Cole '03

    Alex Cole, Lovett Class of '03, joined the cast of the CBS daytime drama As The World Turns in March 2009 in the role of Hunter Harrison. Born in Atlanta on Groundhog Day, Alex discovered his love for acting in junior high school playing Easy in Dogg’s Hamlet. He continued his classical training at Carnegie Mellon University, receiving a degree in dramatic arts and exposure to some of the world’s best directors and playwrights. His professional theatre credits include A Man for All Seasons at the Roundabout on Broadway. He was the second student ever to play Hamlet at Carnegie Mellon University, and among others, has appeared in Pericles and Robin Hood with theGeorgia Shakespeare Company, as well as A Comedy of Errors with Shakespeare New Jersey. His television work includes guest roles on Law and Order: Criminal Intent and Joan of Arcadia. He appeared as Dixon in the made-for-television movie Back When We Were Grownups, a Hallmark Hall of Fame production. His next film role will be playing Scotty Reese in the Dreamworks movie She’s Out of My League, scheduled for summer 2009 release. Alex currently lives in New York City and is thankful for how it all started in the arts program at The Lovett School.

  • Seth Decker '97

    Seth Decker '97

    Seth Decker, Lovett Class of 1997, is the founder of the Red Door Playhouse and continues to have great success as a professional actor and musician. At the Red Door Playhouse, his original programs include an award-winning summer drama camp, after-school acting and film classes, a monthly improv comedy show, and many family concerts and performances each year.
  • Alexandra Jackson '02

    Alexandra Jackson '02

    A proud native of Atlanta, Alexandra began appreciating music before she could write her own name. At the age of four, Alexandra began what would become ten years of piano lessons. While in the Upper School at Lovett, she was a soloist with Wynton Marsalis at Lincoln Center after Lovett's Ellington Band placed third in the nationwide jazz band competition, Essentially Ellington.

  • Christine Lakin '97

    Christine Lakin '97

    Since graduating from Lovett, Christine Lakin '97 has worked on various projects in film, television, and theater. Currently living in Sherman Oaks, Calif., where she works as an actor and writer, she most recently starred as a series regular on the CW dramedy Valentine, created by Desperate Housewives' executive producer Kevin Murphy. She has four films coming out in 2009: the sci-fi Super Capers, distributed by Lionsgate; The Wiffler, a mockumentary about the best wiffle ball player in America by Tommy Reid; Electra Luxx, opposite Carla Gugino and Joseph Gordon-Levitt; and Race To Witch Mountain with Dwayne Johnson and AnnaSophia Robb for Disney. Past credits include The Game Plan, Georgia Rule, and The Hottie and The Nottie.

  • Ryan Taylor '90

    Lovett graduate Ryan Taylor '90 has spent the past decade touring the United States and the world as a professional opera singer. He has appeared in countless performances in Atlanta, Ft. Worth, Minnesota, San Antonio, England, and Germany. He regularly appears in concert in Shanghai, Singapore, Manila, Beijing, Xian, and Hong Kong. Ryan is also very involved as producer and programming consultant for a variety of non-profit organizations. He also has worked very closely with students and faculty from many universities around the United States.