Carolyn Phillips is an established artist whose works have appeared in exhibitions and galleries throughout the United States. She is also an associate professor of visual art and department chair at Chowan University, in Murfreesboro, North Carolina.

Primarily a figurative oil painter, her current work employs abstraction and symbolism in order to examine the modern human condition. She also creates two dimensional mixed media compositions which include collage materials, drawing materials, and tempera.

Originally from Virginia, Phillips has also lived in the Midwest, Pacific Northwest, and in Wyoming. Her work reflects a wealth of aesthetic inspiration drawn from her experiences with various communities, and interests in art history, European history, and anthropology.

Phillips lives in southern Virginia with her husband, son, and three cats.