Roanoke native Gabrielle Frohock worked as a visual arts teacher in Arlington, Virginia, where she developed a passion for teaching. Returning to Roanoke in summer 2022, Frohock also works as a freelance artist and assistant manager at her family’s women-owned small business, Two and a Half Sisters.

“My self-portrait is representative of my move back to my hometown,” says Frohock. “It represents the developing role Roanoke plays in helping defining who I am as a person and who I am becoming. Back in Roanoke during the pandemic, I was reminded of the way that so many throughout the community truly care about it and they want to find ways to contribute to its growth and vibrancy. The knowledge that those around me are finding ways to make their passion for art a reality is the true inspiration for my return home.”