Cassandra Alexis Richardson
Owner | Director
With an unyielding sunny disposition and an innate passion for art since childhood, Cassandra has spent the last two decades as a gallery director in San Francisco and Charlotte, and as an art adviser on private yachts and luxury cruise ships worldwide. She has produced regional, national, and international exhibitions from progressive contemporary artists to the Great Masters: Picasso, Dali, Rembrandt, Goya, Erte, and the like. With a background in non-profit art-centric fundraising, she curated exhibitions for Tipi Hedren, Bill Clinton, and George Lucas at Skywalker Ranch. In tandem with her mentor, David Ferguson of the Institute for Unpopular Culture, Cassandra is known for her representation of Jean Michel Basquiat's The Offs First Record, which premiered at Art Basel Miami in 2007.
Originally from Charlotte, Cassandra was a Country Day 'lifer' and graduated summa cum laude from the University of Colorado at Boulder with a triplicate degree in Art History, Fine Arts, and English Literature, later completing Sotheby's Institute of Art curriculum, "Writing for the Contemporary Art World." Upon her return to the Queen City, she served as gallery director of Central Piedmont Community College under the tutelage of her beloved mentor, Melissa Vrana, Dean of the Arts. During that time, CPCC's lauded Ross & Pease galleries won Charlotte Magazine's 2015 "Best Art Gallery" award. Cassandra's bold vision brought the mighty talent of Lee Baumgarten, Case Baumgarten, MyLoan Dinh, and Charles Williams to headline the celebrated Sensoria Festival of the Arts during her tenure at the college.
In 2018, Cassandra won an Arts & Science Council Cultural Vision Grant for The Evocation Project, a year-long endeavor with visionary local artist Monique Luck. Co-sponsored by McColl Center and International House, The Evocation Project explores the complexity of the human response to loss, using art as a platform to bring about healing through personal connection.
In 2019, Cassandra took the helm as gallery director of Anne Neilson Fine Art, leading the gallery to unprecedented success with her vast knowledge, worldly arts industry experience, buoyant energy, and contagious passion. Inspired by Anne's philanthropic endeavor to donate a percentage of art sales to non-profit organizations, Cassandra instilled a mission of creativity, collaboration, and true human connection to give back to the community through art.
In 2022, it was time to leap towards a lifelong dream: launching a gallery venture of her own— and thus, Lexicon was born! Cassandra is a committed champion of contemporary artists, an arts industry expert, and an esteemed guide for passionate art lovers at any stage of their collecting journey. She has written feature articles for The San Francisco Chronicle, Juxtapoz, LUX Lifestyle Magazine, American Art Collector, The Mill Magazine, The Loop Mag, Southpark Magazine, and The Charlotte Observer.
Ever since her days "moonlighting" as a runway model in San Francisco, Cassandra has been keenly interested in fashion, thus expanding the realm of Lexicon to champion several world-renowned fashion designers whose aesthetic, passion, and purpose synergize with her own.
Cassandra is elated to contribute to the cultural landscape of our beloved Queen City and warmly welcomes you to Lexicon, where your next love affair with art may begin…
Heather Felts
Gallery Manager
Heather graduated with a BFA from Winthrop University in 2011 with a concentration in Drawing and Jewelry and has since curated and installed more than one hundred exhibitions! These exhibits have been complex in nature, ranging from monumental suspended steel sculptures to installation of more than 50 different artists’ works at UNCC’s and CPCC’s Annual Student Juried Shows.
In 2019, Heather became the Assistant Director of UNC Charlotte’s exemplary art gallery program, facilitating exhibitions with visiting professional artists and BFA student exhibitions. She co-curated and assisted with installations in tandem with UNCC’s Gallery Director, Adam Justice, managing UNCC’s online art gallery and work-study students in the BFA program.
Prior to her tenure at UNCC, she was the Gallery Coordinator at Central Piedmont Community College, where she and Cassandra managed eight different art galleries as part of the college’s robust multi-disciplinary Arts program. Working together in beautiful harmony and creative partnership, their time together in the Arts at CPCC forever shaped their lives, and Cassandra and Heather vowed that they would be united in the Arts in Charlotte again one happy day! We welcomed Heather to Team Lexicon in 2023, where she was instrumental in curating the gallery’s Grand Opening exhibition, Garden of Earthly Delights, and these two “soul sisters” have been together ever since!
Heather is known for her expert eye and consistency in aesthetically pleasing curatorial design and industry-standard safety protocol for art handling and installation. She is Lexicon’s co-curator, art handler, and installation expert. Heather is also an incredibly gifted ceramic sculptor, painter, and illustrator with an eye for up-and-coming artistic talent!
Julie Jones
Art Consultant | Collector Liaison
A passionate champion of artists and collector of art, Julie studied Art and Design, graduating with a B.A. from the lauded Webster University in London, England. As a lifelong painter, Julie draws inspiration from her travels throughout Europe, Africa, and South America. She spent years living throughout England, then in Houston, TX; New Orleans, LA; and now happily calls Charlotte her home with her husband, Eifion, five kids, and two Goldendoodles.
Julie uses her art expertise and extensive travel experience to discover new artists and form and continue close relationships with artists, art lovers, designers, and collectors. As Lexicon’s Art Consultant and Collector Liaison, she is your friendly ‘spirit guide’ in helping you find the perfect work of art that speaks to you!
Elizabeth Aguilera, MPH
Sommelier | Co-Founder of The Artful Pour
With a background in public health and a passion for education, Elizabeth Aguilera has always been drawn to the art of connection, whether through science, storytelling, or sensory experiences. Before earning her Master of Public Health, she worked in virology, fascinated by the science but craving deeper connection with people. That desire led her to a career in injury prevention and health education, working with teens and families in hospital and school settings.
In 2018, Elizabeth’s life took an unexpected turn when she was diagnosed with dysautonomia, a disorder of the autonomic nervous system that left her fainting up to 15 times a day. As she searched for answers across the country, a visit to the Mayo Clinic left a lasting impression- not just for the care she received, but for the calming and beautiful art that adorned its halls. In a time of fear and uncertainty, art offered her peace.
Unable to leave home often, Elizabeth began filling her space with meaningful, local art. Her first gallery visit, just downstairs from her husband’s office, led her to Cassandra Richardson, now her partner in The Artful Pour, and to the artist behind Elizabeth’s first original piece. That encounter sparked a journey of collecting and curating a home that brought her joy, calm, and connection.
In 2020, Elizabeth turned her curiosity toward wine, especially the often-overlooked world of dry, complex white wines. With encouragement from a local sommelier, she pursued her WSET certifications and became captivated by the parallels between wine and art, each shaped by place, time, technique, and emotion. The small vineyards reminded her of independent artists, each with a unique story to tell.
Together with Cassandra, Elizabeth founded The Artful Pour, an immersive experience that brings art and wine into conversation. With her scientific and educational background, she makes both worlds feel more approachable, highlighting the tactile, visual, and emotional journey of art through wine. Every event is a celebration of sensory storytelling, pairing wines that carry depth and character with the visual artwork and creative process behind it.
Today, Elizabeth continues to navigate life with chronic illness but finds deep purpose in these gatherings. With her trusted service dog by her side, she has created a space for joy, learning, and community. The Artful Pour is more than a pairing, it’s a passion project, a way to support local artists, and a reminder of the beauty we can still savor, even when life looks different than we imagined.
Niav Lorenzo
Gallery Coordinator
Niav Lorenzo is a professional artist and creative director specializing in project management, graphic and product design, marketing, and film. Her journey in professional art began with realistic acrylic paintings at the age of seven, culminating in graduation from Northwest School of the Arts with a major in Visual Arts. She is currently pursuing a BBA in Strategic Management and Design at Parsons School of Design in New York and completed the Creative Marketing program from Savannah College of Art and Design.
Niav has an unyielding curiosity and drive that enable her to work passionately on all her creative project endeavors, pushing boundaries and creating impactful change. In 2023, she directed a "Youth Interactive Art Gallery" at Camp North End to promote young artists across the city, giving them resume-worthy experiences and teaching them about entrepreneurship and creative thinking. Alongside this, Niav published a free online guide for replicating educational workshops and independent exhibits, allowing any artist to build their creative career. With a passion for helping and inspiring others, Niav helps to support Lexicon Gallery's mission to nurture artistic success and foster a passion for art collecting.