"Dad's 1978 Passport Photo: Guy Pigott 1955-2023" Painting

Aja Terwilliger is a pop folk artist based in Atlanta, Georgia. Born in Springfield, Massachusetts and raised in the suburbs of Atlanta, she later relocated to Los Angeles in 2012 where she lived and worked for over a decade before returning to Atlanta. Though she studied fine art in college, Aja is largely self-taught; she had early inspiration from her grandparents, both artists, who encouraged her creative expression from a young age.

After stepping away from painting to pursue a career in healthcare as an acupuncturist, Aja experienced a profound personal loss in 2023 that led her back to her artistic practice with renewed clarity and purpose. Today, she balances her work as an acupuncturist with her studio practice, viewing both as interconnected forms of healing and expression.

Her work is influenced by pop artists such as Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein and is defined by bold color palettes, graphic patterning and stylized portraiture. Through her use of vibrant hues and rhythmic backgrounds, Aja creates playful yet emotionally resonant pieces that explore identity, connection and memory.