Don Lisy: “Follow Your Own Vision”

Artist name: Don Lisy Featured Work 1:  “Politically Transmitted Disease,” Oil, Charcoal on Paper Don Lisy’s works capture a  unique interaction between an artist and his medium during a single painting session. Bold, vivid brushstrokes weave and tangle positive and negative space, building striking, emotive compositions. The final pieces are guttural and vulnerable, offering viewers an intimate…

Jungho Lee: “Art is the Potential to Arouse Human Inner Strength.”

Artist name: Jungho Lee Featured Work 1: “Ernest Miller Hemingway” from the picture book, Promenade Illustrator Jungho Lee speaks to the soul of the book lover. In his pale, twilight-hued works, books are understood in many forms; as buildings, vehicles, totems, spells, landscapes, desserts, universes, gateways and undefinable mysteries. As a loyal book devotee, it’s no surprise…

Noah Buchanan: “It’s Important for Artists, From Fledgling to Veteran, to Remain True to Their Vision and Instincts in Making Art.”

Artist name: Noah Buchanan Featured Work 1: I.Crow X Oil on Panel, 12″ x 12″, 2016 Noah Buchanan draws the viewer deep into relationship with his paintings’ subjects. Within both intimate scenes and mythic narratives, each figure’s personal vulnerability and strength; unique physical form; and lush momentary presence is conveyed with a classical sensibility. Buchanan has exhibited internationally, received numerous…

Sophie Argetsinger: “A Way to Understand and Hold onto the World”

Artist name: Sophie Argetsinger Featured Work 1: “Protector No. 5: The Wild” Sophie Argetsinger‘s drawings and illustrations are graceful, poignant and full of life. She conveys mysterious, novel, playful and somber narratives with great detail and sensitivity. She illustrated the wonderful zine, “OMG I’M GAY,” a collaboration between Autostraddle and Everyone is Gay. Her recent series of “Protectors” addresses…

Nargis Naqvi and MY Voice Canada: “Let’s All Work Together to Give Youth a Voice.”

Artist name: Nargis Naqvi and MY Voice Canada Featured Work 1: MY Voice YouTube promo video MY Voice Canada is a non-profit media initiative founded by Nargis Naqvi, which  provides Muslim youth with empowering opportunities for self-expression in written, visual, video, performance and multi-media formats. This largely youth-run organization strives to create a safe, supportive and innovative space for Muslim…

Una: “The Thing That Helps Propel Me Forward Through My Life”

Artist name: Una Featured Work 1: Becoming/Unbecoming Becoming/Unbecoming is the incredible illustrated narrative of one individual’s life as a girl and woman who experiences abuse, misogyny, wonder and growth. The book-length comic is interlaced with meticulous, poignant illustrations as well as deeply personal and lucid reflections on the painful and beautiful experience of surviving and evolving. Featured Works Slideshow:…

Yuge Zhou: “An Essential Rhythm”

Artist name: Yuge Zhou Featured Work 1: Soft Plots Through her video and installation works, Yuge Zhou provides her audience with an opportunity to reimagine human relationships to various environments by presenting them in familiar but transformed dimensions and formats. By fluidly altering the scale, textures and solidity of scenes and individuals, she invites viewers to reconsider their understanding of permanence, movement and…

Tank and the Bangas: “The Hope of the Memories I Haven’t Made Yet”

Artist name: Tank and the Bangas Featured Work 1: Tiny Desk Concert on NPR (2017 Winners!) When Tank and the Bangas show up, you will be treated to a soulful, surprising, funky musical experience rich with organic, flowing beats and lyrics both playful and poignant. This band’s unique style is truly captivating and they don’t shy away from…

Smrita Jain: “A Beautiful, Indispensable Obsession”

Artist name: Smrita Jain Featured Work 1: “Creating Durga’s Head Close Up” Smrita Jain is a multi-media artist, designer, photographer, author, public speaker and university professor. Her works include designs with rich palettes and interlocking symbols and photographs documenting traditional idol making. She also shares reflections on her personal history and on violence against women and undertakes a…

Steve Lyons: “The Best Art is That Which is Organic to the Person Creating It.”

Artist name: Steve Lyons Featured Work 1: “At the Mudflats” (Acrylic, 24″ X 36″) Artist Steve Lyons explores and conveys the textures and layers of both the natural world and human experience. Lyons uses rich color and poignant gestural marks to create tangible landscapes, expressive figures and balanced, abstracted works. He also sometimes ventures further into three-dimensional realms with found object incorporation and assemblage sculpture. Lyons is…

Travis Lawrence: “Appreciate More.”

Artist name: Travis Lawrence Featured Work 1: Secret Master (19″ x 6″ relief print, water color and tea, edition of 28) Print maker Travis Lawrence honors and preserves archetypal symbols while re-imagining them within unique, esoteric mythologies. The viewer is transported into striking, balanced and textured scenes imbued with beautiful muted hues and the quiet tension of…

Kurt Gohde and Kremena Todorova: “Unlearn Fear + Hate”

Artists names: Kurt Gohde and Kremena Todorova Featured Work 1: Unlearn Fear + Hate Kurt Gohde and Kremena Todorova are an innovative and fiercely artistic pair who devote their skills to teaching, making and coordinating meaningful community actions. Unlearn Fear + Hate is a participatory, interactive art initiative that encourages connection, open-mindedness, inner disarmament and creative expression…