Meet Our Team
KIM CARON
Owner of Caron Gallery
Kim is a Tupelo native and has spent the better part of 30 years collecting and enjoying art. In 2010, Kim started the Caron Gallery, and now she represents over 40 artists of all genres. In 2018, the Mississippi Business Journal named her one of the 50 Leading Women in Business. She is currently Chairman of the Board for the Community Development Foundation in Tupelo. Daily, she endeavors to break down the barriers between visual art and the community around her. In the coming years, she hopes to share more of the talent of our Mississippi artists with the world. Kim is constantly growing her faith in God, nurturing her family, and cultivating friendships. She loves to play golf with friends and finds that being outside feeds her soul. She’s learning to embrace her empty nest with more time spent with her husband in the mountains and away from the Mississippi heat. Kim is in the gallery often, but you can also find her on Instagram @carongallery.
LILY TREST
Co-Owner, Manager at Caron Gallery | Laurel, MS
Lily grew up just outside of Laurel, MS, and graduated from Mississippi State University with a degree in Science. She married her husband, artist Adam Trest, which began her love and appreciation for art and artists. She has spent over ten years helping grow her husbands art business and looks forward to helping other artists for our great state grow theirs, too. She is passionate about helping others achieve success in what they are passionate about in a way that represents their unique style. As co-owner and manager at Caron Gallery South, Lily enjoys selling art for Mississippi artists and connecting with customers.
LAURA ZUMWALT
Brand Manager for Caron Gallery | Laurel, MS
Laura Zumwalt, originally from Tupelo, now resides in South Mississippi. She holds a degree in English and professional writing from the University of Memphis. Previously, she worked as a lifestyle and portrait photographer for 17 years. However, she currently finds her job as a brand manager for an art gallery to be exciting. Laura is passionate about bringing art to people and firmly believes in the strength of community, particularly in Mississippi. She also maintains that courage and kindness will take you far. She is an avid baker that loves working with laminated dough. She enjoys time on a pottery wheel, playing with her nieces, nephews, and dogs, Gus and Pete, and traveling the globe with her husband of 14 years, Casey. Find her in both galleries or @laurazumwalt on Instagram.
CARON GALLERY | TUPELO
AMY BLACKMON
Framing Manager at Caron gallery | Tupelo, MS
Amy is the Frame Designer for Caron Gallery. As a child, she designed her 8th-grade yearbook cover and won a 4-H photography contest entitled The Last Wisteria. Before joining the gallery, Amy taught aerobics and trained new teachers to lead. She is keen to bring in new lines of frames for our customers and hopes to get more custom frames in the hands of more people. She has framed just about anything you can think of! Amy believes in integrity and honesty. She loves Bible study, being a wife, mom, and grandmother. She also does triathlons in her free time. Amy’s skills are essential to the Caron Gallery, and you can find her in the gallery creating works of art with frames. Her Instagram is @carongalleryframe.
CINDY MARTIN
Gallery Assistant at Caron Gallery | Tupelo, MS
Cindy Martin is a Kentucky native and has called Tupelo home since 2008. Since joining the Caron Gallery in 2012, Cindy has become a huge part of our team! She oversees the shipping and packaging of our online orders. Cindy says, "It is exciting to see our Mississippi art being shipped all across the US and Canada." Cindy has an eye for details and is especially talented at pairing and arranging artwork for presentation in the gallery. When she's not at the gallery, Cindy is most likely traveling, volunteering or spending time with family, especially her three granddaughters.
KIM BURLESON
Gallery Assistant at Caron Gallery | Tupelo, MS
Kim, also known as ‘Kim B.,’ grew up in Tupelo. She graduated from Mississippi State University with a communications and public relations degree. Kim B. joined the gallery team in 2021 and is a huge help on the sales floor. Kim B. is energized by learning and accomplishing new tasks. She enjoys working with people and has learned that helping customers find art that brings joy into their lives and homes brings her fulfillment. Kim B. says, “People connect with art for different reasons, and it is fun to help make the connection a reality.” She and her husband of 33 years have three daughters, and a grandson. She loves the outdoors, and gardening is her favorite thing to do on a pretty day. Find her in the gallery on weekdays and on Instagram @emcburl.
REAGAN GILREATH
Gallery Assistant at Caron Gallery | Tupelo, MS
Reagan is from Amory, MS. She graduated from Mississippi State University with a BFA and concentration in graphic design. Reagan enjoys connecting with clients, discussing art, answering questions, and sharing her knowledge of each artist's process and any mediums represented in their work. She helps Kim bring her digital vision of Caron Gallery to life—through branding, packaging, web design, and occasionally e-news. Reagan works full-time at Calvary Baptist Church in Visual Communications & Design and serves as a ministry assistant. Outside of the church and the art gallery, you can find her enjoying the fresh air and spending time with her husband and their family. You can connect with her on social media at @reagan.gilreath.
CARON GALLERY | LAUREL
SARAH JACKSON
Gallery Assistant at Caron Gallery | Laurel, MS
Sarah Jackson is originally from Texas and has lived in South Mississippi for a year. She has a Bachelor of Arts in French with a minor in art. She was more drawn to her art classes than the French, and ceramics became her passion. Sarah has her Masters in teaching and curriculum and has taught so many incredible international students in Houston, San Diego, and France! She is a gallery assistant in Laurel and strives to make everyone feel welcome, at home, and excited about art. Her favorite thing is finding the best arrangements for pieces in the gallery. Sarah believes in finding the good and beauty in everything. Her mantra is “work hard and be kind.” She loves learning, yoga, long walks with her dog, “Rocky Larry,” traveling the world, and thrifting with her husband, Timmy.
HANNAH ROBERTSON
Framer and Gallery Assistant at Caron Gallery | Laurel, MS
Hannah Robertson is a talented painter and film photographer originally from Georgia who recently moved to Laurel, MS. With a BFA in Visual Arts from Belhaven University, Hannah brings her passion for art to her work as a gallery assistant and framer at Caron Gallery Laurel. She strives to build relationships with guests and connect them with the art that speaks to them. Hannah's love for people is evident in her belief that everyone is worth getting to know, and she hopes to share love and grace with everyone who visits the gallery. When she's not at work, Hannah enjoys immersing herself in the beauty of nature, spending time with loved ones, and pursuing her artistic endeavors. Follow her on Instagram @hannah.robertson.art to stay up-to-date on her latest work and creative projects.
CHERILON STEVENS
Gallery Assistant at Caron Gallery | Laurel, MS
Cherilon Stevens is from Louisiana but has spent much of her adult life in Laurel, MS. She is a professional calligrapher and does many things in that scope, including watercolor, gilding, and hand engraving. She is a gallery assistant in Laurel and loves making everyone who walks through the door feel as welcome and comfortable as possible. Cherilon’s pillars are her faith and her family. She believes in treating people with kindness and respect and the power of laughter. She’s been married to Rusty for 33 years, and they have two children, a daughter-in-law, and a precious granddaughter named Anne Townsend. She loves being active in her church, spending time with family, going to the beach, watching movies, cooking, and walking. She can be found working on her next art project when she's not at the gallery. Find her on Instagram @cherilonstevenscalligraphy.
AMEY WATSON
Gallery Assistant at Caron Gallery | Laurel, MS
Amey Watson has spent her life in Laurel, MS, working as an educator in various roles. She is a dedicated wife and mother who has raised three wonderful children. Amey is known for her kindness, sense of humor, and consideration for others. She works as a gallery assistant at Caron Gallery Laurel, where she welcomes guests with patience and cheerfulness. You can often find her at the gallery during the week.