Carter Taylor Seaton Tribute Exhibit @ The Frame Station WV

Carter Taylor Seaton’s legacy lives on not only through her remarkable accomplishments but also through the people who loved her most. Among them is her grandson, Kris Hillen, who continues that same passion for art and community in Central City. To honor her memory, Kris invites you to The Frame Station for a special tribute exhibition celebrating her life and work. While visiting, take a moment to share stories and memories of a woman whose impact continues to inspire.

Carter was a woman of many talents—an author, artist, potter, and businesswoman—who left an enduring mark on Huntington and beyond. She published nine books and earned numerous awards, including:

• Tamarack Foundation Fellowship Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Arts

• 2014 WVLA Literary Merit Award from the West Virginia Library Association

• 2015 Alumni Award of Distinction from Marshall University’s College of Liberal Arts

• 2016 Governor’s Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Arts

• 2023 Induction into the Huntington Wall of Fame

Beyond her artistic and literary achievements, Carter dedicated herself to community-focused work. From 1971 to 1984, she led a rural Appalachian craft cooperative that empowered low-income women, earning her a nomination for Ladies' Home Journal’s “Woman of the Year” award in 1975.

A proud Marshall University graduate (Class of 1982), Carter earned a degree in English and Business. Her career took her across the country—working in hospitality marketing in Columbus, Georgia, then launching her own special events business in Atlanta. While in Georgia, she took up running and, after turning 50, completed several marathons, including the Atlanta, Marine Corps, and New York City Marathons.

In 1995, Huntington—and her growing family—called her home. She became the marketing director for Goodwill Industries of KYOWVA Area, Inc., a role she held until her retirement in 2013, when she turned her focus to writing full-time.

Carter’s influence remains woven into the fabric of this community, and through Kris’s passion for art and storytelling, her spirit continues to thrive.

Read more about Carter Taylor Seaton's legacy