Studio

Tootsie Bell currently resides in Memphis, Tennessee. She received a Bachelor of Fine Art in both Sculpture & Illustration Design from Memphis College of Art. While in school she began working as a metalsmith for a local jewelry store and worked there until opening her own business in 1995. Bell Fine Art Jewelers was immediately well received by the Memphis community and Tootsie quickly developed a strong following for her work. Tootsie has designed and executed numerous important pieces, including a retirement gift for Alan Balter- world renowned conductor of the Memphis Symphony Orchestra, a commissioned gift for Alice Walker, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of “The Color Purple”, and Tennessee memorabilia for the Grammy-winning Indigo Girls.

In addition, she has pursued, with success, her love of public art. In 2008, she installed “Tree Trio”, bike racks for the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art. In 2009, she installed “House of Rock” in My Big Backyard for the Memphis Botanic Gardens. And in 2012, Tootsie installed her largest piece to date “Respect” in Legends Park, Memphis Tn.

 PUBLICATIONS
 “Chasing A Dream”, Details of Public Art Adventures, www.tootsiebell.blogspot.com (2008 to present)
 “Memphis Bike News and Views”, Memphis Bicycle Feed Read (Oct. 31, 2008)
 “Brooks Museum gets cool bike racks”, My Life Greater Memphis/Focus Art, Commercial Appeal, (Aug. 28, 2008)
“Creating Legends” The Fly-By, Memphis Flyer (July 17, 2008)
“Bird on a Wire Bike News”, Bird on a Wire (July 3, 2008) “Out on a Limb” The Fly-By, Memphis Flyer (July 3, 2008)
 “Fiery Craftsmen Shapes/ Bike Racks at the Brooks”, The Commercial Appeal (June 15, 2008)
“At Brooks, art locks up bikes with flair, utility” The Commercial Appeal (April 14, 2008)
“Silver Settings”, Southern Women (Nov. 2002)
“Cover Artist”, Lamplighter (July 2002) “Delightful Discoveries”, Mid-South Living (Dec. 2000)
“Works and Words”, Suzanne Phelps-Fredette, The Commercial Appeal (Aug. 1993)
 “Room with A Viewpoint”, Robert McGowan, The Memphis Flyer (Jan. 1993)
“Two Exhibits Worth a Parting Look”, Fredric Koeppel, The Commercial Appeal (Jan.1993)
 “Art for Life”, Cory Dugan, The Memphis Flyer (June 1992)
 “Bells Excels”, Fredric Koeppel, The Commercial Appeal (March 1989)