The Story...

JoAnn began the art of twisting balloons in 2001 during a time when the industry was shifting from balloon twisting basics to elaborate balloon art. At age seventeen, she was considered one of the youngest professional balloon artists at that time. JoAnn started attending conventions all over the world to immerse herself in the inspiration of other artists with the same love for balloons.

JoAnn was attending a balloon convention in her home state of Arizona in 2005 where she met an amazing balloon artist, Mark Verge of Canada. Flipping through his balloon

portfolio, she noticed Mark had created a "balloon dress.” When she did not have anything to wear to the banquet dinner, JoAnn asked Mark to create her the same dress from his portfolio. Unsure at first due to the time involved, Mark finally obliged. Four hours later with a little help, the dress was complete. “The feeling I got when I walked through that banquet door, was unimaginable in my world” states JoAnn. That is when JoAnn realized her passion for balloon fashion.

Next, JoAnn searched the world to collaborate with the best balloon weaver. Her passion leaned towards design & detail rather than the time consuming weaving process. To translate her vision, JoAnn traveled the world having top artists create her a balloon dress over the

next few years to critique their expertise. She eventually chose to team up with Award Winning Balloon Artist Niko Fric of Slovenia, after meeting him in Belgium. As well as her sister also an Award Winning Balloon Artists, Jenna Gray.

JoAnn kept designing & modeling balloon dresses at events over the next few years. Many artists in the industry didn’t agree with her exposing the art of balloon fashion. Industry professionals claimed she could never make a career of it, there was no market for it, and it was a silly dream. JoAnn did not agree!

It wasn’t until 2007 that JoAnn would showcase at an

event in Shanghai, China, attended by top balloon artists of the world. The producer of the event decided to have a balloon fashion show. Each artist created a balloon dress/costume of their own! The photos of these balloons later traveled all the world via the Internet.

While JoAnn was working in Las Vegas she met many people who had come across the balloon dresses on the Internet from Australia to the US to Europe. Mainstream support hit the industry when The Martha Stewart Show was interested in the idea of balloon fashion. At this time many balloon artists (including the ones who discouraged JoAnn) began to create dresses of their own! In JoAnn’s words, "It is wonderful what has come out of all this, with so many artists now believing in the art of balloon fashion.”

Balloon Artists that JoAnn is inspired by are...

Master

Niko Fric, CBA - Slovenia (Weave)

Rie Hosaki - Japan (Design & Weave)

Sofie Vandewyer – Belgium (Design & Weave)

Michael Gjerek - Slovenia (Design & Weave)

Rising

Ori Lively - Israel

Asi Cohen, CBA - Israel

Jenna Gray - USA

Artist: JoAnn Gray | Email: JoAnn@BalloonDresses.com | Phone: 480.430.4729 | Toll Free: 877.430.4729