Ackenpucky

Ackenpucky is a business with the mission of “embracing Appalachian culture and developing communities through regional art.” The goal of Ackenpucky is to change the stereotype of Appalachia, and more specifically West Virginia, through the arts. Artist and designer husband and wife team, David Seth Cyfers and Jill Renee LaFear founded Ackenpucky as a creative resource firm and have artists and artisans, who work contractually with Ackenpucky on many projects.  Through collaboration, Ackenpucky is able to offer a distinct and original design unlike any other, and create an experience where the variety of individual projects and challenges mutually influence every creative task.
David Seth Cyfers has been a resident of Huntington, WV for 13 years. He received his BFA from Marshall University College of Art & Design with a dual-emphasis in graphic design and printmaking. An interdisciplinary approach to creating work has given way to a variety of experiences that have allowed the artist a unique perspective. David’s primary body of work is rooted in painting and sculpture, though business interests and collaboration have allowed him to expand his design sensibility into other segments of arts and design.
Jill Renee LaFear grew up in Huntington, WV, where she spent her youth immersed in the arts and classical piano prior to attending both Marshall University and Wheeling Jesuit University, focusing on Philosophy and Business.  The lessons learned from these fields have provided Jill an understanding of how significant art and design are within society, and the ability to communicate this to others.  Since the inception of Ackenpucky, Jill has worked within a supportive network and community on numerous design and arts related projects.
Jointly, as Ackenpucky, David and Jill have worked within the fields of historical preservation, hotel design and décor, urban renewal and revitalization, urban design, atmospheric design, community arts, restaurant design, residential design, the furniture arts, art direction, and graphic design among others. What David and Jill create together is what has shaped Ackenpucky into the business it is today, proving that art and design are more than just a frivolous pretty thing.  It is purposeful.