Table of contents for Issue 43 in Create! Magazine

connect on Instagram @ createmagazine Fur, Friendship, and Fine Art Dear Reader, Welcome to issue #43! In this edition, we celebrate artists who find inspiration in their furry companions. As a proud pomeranian parent myself, I'm continuously inspired by my dog and curious to see how others express their connection to their animal friends through art. Throughout art history, animals have frequently graced the canvases, ceramics, and photography of artists worldwide, and in this issue, we explore this enduring motif. For art enthusiasts and collectors, we've included expert tips from Liz Lidgett and Magnus Resch on navigating galleries, collecting, and other professional advice to enrich your journey. TJ Walsh contributes a compelling essay titled “From Myth to Mastery: Embracing the Truths of the Artistic Process,“ offering insights to ponder. Enjoy…

ARTIST INTERVIEWS LA-based artist Jane Margarette's work is full of beautifully contrasting elements: industrial and fragile, wildness and entrapment, freedom and limitation. With clay, she forms wall-pieces of winged creatures that are typically seen as wild and free, such as birds and butterflies. However, her butterflies contain mechanics like locks and chains, and her birds are within complex cages. There is a sense of safety with these locks and cages—but at what cost? Is their freedom in safety, or is it another means of confinement? Psychologically complex and gorgeously constructed, the artist's work is not easily forgotten. Margarette had an interest in ceramics from a very young age, coming back to it at university after originally planning to study graphic design. In this conversation, the artist tells us about the…

TJ Walsh, MA LPC CCTP Clini-Coach® The world often romanticizes the life of an artist, portraying the creative process as a mysterious, almost magical journey where inspiration strikes like lightning, and masterpieces just manifest into existence. But, let's face it, you and I both know the reality of being an artist is far from the enchanted story that those on the outside envision. Let's take a few minutes to explore the common misconception surrounding the artistic process and how it can impact your studio practice. I'll also provide tips for you to shift your perspective away from the notion of magic and mystery, focusing instead on the elements of hard work, consistency, trust, faith and self-belief. The Myth of the Magical Muse The idea of the artist as a conduit…

ARTIST INTERVIEWS In the work of Angela Fang Zirbes, there is an air of the eerie. A shadow, a hand, eyes in the dark—there is a sense of foreboding that seeps from each scene the artist renders. Through her haunted, stylized paintings, she explores moments from her childhood in Iowa. For the artist, these Midwest scenes in her work harken back to memories of being (one of) the only biracial person(s) in her small town, allowing her to unpack and explore her identity, cultural roots and upbringing. In this conversation, Fang Zirbes tells us about how cartoons have influenced her style and how her recent work acts as an extension of herself, and of her often conflicting feelings toward old, rotting farmhouses. How did your experience growing up affect your…

Tegan Brozyna Roberts is a mixed media artist living and working in Brooklyn, NY. She received a MFA from Brooklyn College where she was a Graduate Teaching Fellow and recipient of the Dean's Award. Brozyna Roberts has exhibited nationally and internationally including group shows at Heather Gaudio Fine Art in New Canaan, CT, Textile Arts Center in Brooklyn, NY, Ground Floor Gallery in Brooklyn, NY, and Icelandic Textile Center in Blönduós, Iceland. Solo exhibitions include those at Established Gallery in Brooklyn, Material Exhibitions in Chicago, and the Philadelphia International Airport. Her work has been displayed at Art on Paper New York, Art Miami and Seattle Art Fair. In 2019, Brozyna Roberts participated in Meta Open Arts (formerly Facebook AIR), which culminated in a permanent installation at Facebook's New York office.…

I am proud to redefine what it means to be a Cambodian-American woman, and I aspire to break barriers and inspire meaningful impact on a global scale. As the daughter of parents who survived the Khmer Rouge, I knew that the path I had to carve was one that was steeped in my ancestors' will, freedom, and future. For my ancestors, creating was dangerous, and being oneself was a crime. As a first-generation Cambodian American, my upbringing was like any other immigrant story, where I grew up balancing the urge to rebel and the whispers of struggle. My life's work is driven by an unwavering passion for education and a profound love for creating art. My illustrations portray scenes of struggle and tension between lines and gravity, which I have…

Jes Moran (b. 1983, Santa Clara, CA) is a Colorado abstract painter, with an emphasis on acrylic stain painting on raw canvas. She creates saturated and vivid abstract paintings by pouring, staining and brushing multiple layers of thinned acrylic pigments onto raw canvas. She then cuts and sews the canvas back together into new compositions. The final step in her process involves adding layers of gradient acrylic paint and windows like shapes, resulting in multidimensional and vibrant worlds. Moran is constantly engaged in the pursuit of capturing moments of being present and establishing a profound connection to her environment; from this she is immersed in the interplay of light, shadows, and color. Jes then translates these moments into her paintings. Her techniques and aesthetics are influenced by her interest in…

My paintings are sensitive. I'm interested in quiet moments, compelling light and shadow, and intimate, candid depictions of my subjects. I seek to expose a hidden self. My work explores the texture of the everyday. Annabelle Buck was born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania and currently lives and works in Philadelphia, PA. Her work has appeared in New American Paintings, and has been included in numerous exhibitions in and around Philadelphia. Website: www.annabellebuck.com ARTIST INTERVIEW How has the environment you grew up in affected your art practice? No one ever really discouraged me from being an artist, so it's kind of all I've ever known. If your artwork was a mirror, what would it reflect? I think art always reflects the viewer. What is the most difficult part (or your least favorite…

CURATED SECTION Justin N. Kim is a Korean born painter who currently lives and works in Los Angeles, California. Kim paints color field paintings, maps and circuit boards visualizing melded relationships and connections found within man made subject matters and surroundings. Kim was published in Friend of the Artist Volume 15 in 2022. Kim earned his MFA degree from California State University, Northridge in 2018. Website: www.jnkim.org ARTIST STATEMENT After years of painting hard edge abstract paintings, I have recently begun an entirely different series painting more representational work. While my method of painting hasn't changed, as I have been using tape and a palette knife for as long as I can remember, the imagery in this new series has shifted into a new direction. Seeing the clean edges when…

Debora Koo (b. 1990 in Seoul, Korea) is an oil painter based in Charlotte, North Carolina. Her interest in art began at Smith College where she studied Studio Art. Afterwards she continued her studies at Ewha Womans University in Seoul where she got her MFA in Western Painting. Currently she is a member of Goodyear Arts Collective in Charlotte, NC, as well as an art professor at Rowan-Cabarrus Community College. She has shown locally in Charlotte, NC at Goodyear Arts, LaCa Projects, Sozo Gallery and The Mint Museum Randolph. Out-of-state and international shows include Lorin Gallery in Los Angeles, Tchotchke Gallery in New York and Open Call and Four Year Anniversary Shows at Delphian Gallery in London. ARTIST STATEMENT My oil paintings encompass a wide range of subject matters and…

ARTIST STATEMENT My art serves as a visceral exploration of the relationship between trauma and healing, a journey rooted in my personal experience with childhood trauma and c-PTSD. This body of work represents the interplay between the mind and body in their capacity to mend and adapt. The techniques I employ with paint and canvas embody a post-trauma liminal experience, straddling the past, present, and future while blurring the boundaries of painting, sculpture, collage, and drawing. It achieves this by taking on forms reminiscent of the body's own healing processes; paint scabs peeled from the mixing palette, paint blisters formed from puffy paint, and other painterly references to bodily elements such as tears, scars, cuts, guts, and blood. All this while a toxic color palette elicits a state of hyperarousal…

Katie is a visual artist and graphic designer based in Sausalito, California. With a BFA from Pratt Institute, she founded Shion Studio in 2017 after spending a decade as a Design Director at some of the nation's largest advertising agencies. She has a design-forward approach, specializing in branding and digital design for clients, and developing simple yet more organic works in oil paint. In her art practice, Katie aspires to illuminate the joy inherent in the ordinary. Drawing inspiration from the humor and intrigue found in the simplicity of her surroundings, she transforms these elements through the prism of her unique perspective. She's shown her work in galleries from New York to California since 2009, and was previously interviewed for her work on an exterior mural project in San Francisco.…

Gianna Putrino received her BFA from the State University of New York at Oswego (2014) and her Masters in Fine Arts from the New York Academy of Art (2017). She has exhibited her work in group shows and solo exhibitions throughout the Southern Tier of New York as well as New York City. She is the recipient of the Fredrick R Xlander Emerging Artist Award and has received two consecutive grants from the Elizabeth Greenshields Foundation. Currently residing in Brooklyn, NY, her work is a response to the nostalgia and desire for an idealized world, a space between memory and reality. Website: www.giannaputrinoart.com ARTIST INTERVIEW How has the environment you grew up in affected your art practice? I grew up in a small town in upstate NY surrounded by hills,…

Step into the vibrant world of art and creative entrepreneurship with our fresh article and interview section. Explore behind-the-scenes insights from global artists and leaders, get expert tips on art collecting, and delve into thought-provoking discussions on the creative process. From intimate interviews with artists like Harriet Lowther and Jane Margarette to expert advice from Magnus Resch and Liz Lidgett, our section offers engaging content for artists and art enthusiasts of all levels.…

ARTIST INTERVIEWS Magnus Resch is a leading art-market economist, serial entrepreneur, and best-selling book author. His latest book, “How to Collect Art“, (Phaidon) is a valuable resource for both newcomers to the art market and seasoned collectors. The book provides essential insights into various facets of contemporary art collecting, from collaborating with galleries and art advisors to navigating art fairs and auctions. Written by an art-world insider, the “How to Collect Art” incorporates guidance from seasoned experts in the field, including David Mugrabi, an Andy Warhol collector, art advisor Amy Cappellazzo, gallerist Jeffrey Deitch, and Christie's CEO, Guillaume Cerutti. In keeping with Resch's previous Phaidon releases, “Management of Art Galleries“ (2016) and “How to Become a Successful Artist“ (2021), “How to Collect Art“ maintains a balance between rigorous research and…

Hard Work and Consistency Embrace the idea that art, like any other profession, requires hard work and consistent effort. Establish a routine, create habits, set goals and dedicate focused time to your practice. Break down larger projects into smaller, manageable tasks to make progress more achievable. Skill Development Recognize that artistic skill is not solely an innate gift but something that can be developed through practice and learning. Invest time in honing your craft, whether it's through formal education, workshops or self-directed study. Continuous improvement is key to artistic growth. Trust the Process Shift your focus from waiting for inspiration to trusting the process of creation. Understand that not every work will be a masterpiece, and that's okay. Allow yourself the freedom to explore and make mistakes. Each piece contributes…

Danym Kwon's paintings embody warmth, extending comfort and soft beauty to their viewers. Plant life has its roots in almost every painting, offering tender calmness—a constant reminder of the steadiness and life that nature provides. For the artist, nature is a salve, a comfort during a time of needed healing. Kwon's practice focuses on the seemingly small moments in life—which in turn often become the most intimate. Sometimes the smallest things are the most powerful. In our conversation, Kwon shares how nature has brought her strength in times of illness, the inspiration she receives from her mother and her recent solo show at Hashimoto Contemporary. The plant life and lush scenery in your paintings create such a warm atmosphere. Are you inspired by the passing of the seasons and/or plants…

If you love bold color, patterns and maximalism, then Mary Finlayson's work is definitely for you! Each of her works brings to life the objects in her home. For the artist, objects contain history—and so does each plant, book, bowl and knickknack in her paintings. Through Finlayson's brush, her personal items become full of energy, each having their own unique spirit and personality. The artist's domestic scenes blurs with life (and color!), leaving us wanting to see even more of her corner of the universe. Join us in conversation as Finlayson tells us about how artist Henri Matisse influences her work, the inspiration she finds in textile patterns, her background in art therapy and the life she's built in San Francisco. Has your artwork always focused in still-life-esque objects and…

Hallie Packard is inspired by miraculous moments in nature that might seem mundane at first glance, but that sparkle with enchantment, seen or unseen. Growing up with the woods as her playground, she felt a kinship with the natural environment and a deep-seated belief in its magic; a recognition of beauty amidst chaos. Packard's artworks serve as a reminder of the wonder that abounds and the respect and care it deserves. ARTIST STATEMENT My work explores a world beyond the existence of humans, where the natural world once again rules and thrives. Traces of human existence remain, however, often taking on lives of their own or interacting in new ways with the natural world. I'm fascinated by light and natural phenomena and often find myself daydreaming about how these might…

Lucy Ray is a Melbourne artist raised in Yeppoon, on the traditional land of the Darumbal People of Central Queensland, living between Australia and Abu Dhabi, UAE. She began her career by completing a diploma in fine arts at TAFE Queensland and later receiving her bachelor's degree in interior design & built environment. From there, Lucy worked as an illustrator, digital artist and textile designer before returning to pursue fine art again in 2017 Since moving part-time to Abu Dhabi in 2019, she has actively pursued the art community in Australia and internationally, exhibiting and hosting a workshop with Black and White Diary's travelling gallery in Dubai and Melbourne through invitational group shows and collectives. In 2022, she had her second solo show in Melbourne, Australia. Was a finalist in…

Loc Huynh (b. 1992, Austin, TX) graduated with a BFA from Texas State University in 2016 and an MFA from the University of North Texas in 2020. Huynh has held solo exhibitions at the Museum of the Southwest (Midland, TX), Martha's Contemporary (Austin, TX), Inman Gallery (Houston, TX) and New Release Gallery (New York). Select group exhibitions include presentations at the Orlando Museum of Art, Zona Maco (Mexico City) with Rusha & Co. (Los Angeles), Stiltsville (Miami) with Half Gallery (New York), Hashimoto Contemporary (Los Angeles), and Brooklyn Academy of Music among others. His work has been featured in New American Paintings, Juxtapoz, Dallas Morning News, and Southwest Contemporary, as well as other publications. Huynh has also participated in the Vermont Studio Center Residency (Johnson, VT), Wassaic Project (Wassaic, NY)…

CURATED SECTION Xinran Guan was born in Beijing, China and she now lives and works in Brooklyn, New York. Xinran received her BA from Bard College and BS from Columbia University in 2016 and her MFA from LeRoy E. Hoffberger School of Art at Maryland Institute College of Art in 2019. Xinran Guan is a painter who works primarily with oil on canvas, in which she constructs a collection of imaginary and mythical landscape and space that features a wide range of imagery and abstraction. She applies organic forms and vivid colors to create rhythmic movements that weave into intricate images. Website: www.xinranguan.com ARTIST STATEMENT I've always been scared of darkness. Nevertheless, I love gazing through my window at night. The darkness is both daunting and thrilling, as it hides…

Jesse Zuo is a Chinese New York-based figurative painter. She earned her BFA and MFA from the School of Visual Arts, forming the foundation for a deep commitment to being a fine artist. Her art delves into the exploration of womanhood, the sensory experience of our bodies, and the tumultuous journey of emotions. Jesse adheres to the roots of traditional realism, yet injects a modern twist with chromatic colors, providing the audience with greater freedom to interpret the time and place of the depicted moments. Her artistic expressions can be likened to a personal diary, a reflection of life as a young woman navigating the complexities of a foreign environment. The canvas serves as a capturing medium for the highs and lows, the challenges and triumphs of her journey. Each…

Katelyn Chapman received an MFA in Painting and Drawing from the University of Georgia in 2018 and a BFA with an emphasis in Drawing from Clemson University in 2014. Her work is inspired by her deeply rooted familial and rural ties to the American South. She has exhibited both nationally and locally and has been featured in international publications like Manifest Gallery's INDA #12 and most recently, Issue IV of Women United Art Magazine. Chapman is a three-time Elizabeth Greenshields Foundation Grantee ('19,'21 and '24), a finalist for the 2023 Women United Art Prize, and has been awarded residency fellowships to attend Vermont Studio Center, The Hambidge Center, and Chateau Orquevaux in France. Most recently she attended artist residencies at Farwell House and Virginia Center for Creative Arts. She exhibits…

Michelle Mullet paints Soviet Bus Stops. She is a self-taught artist and her work combines Brutalist Architecture with a French countryside palette. She is the winner of the Denis Diderot AIR Award 2023 and started painting this new series of work as an artist-in-residence at one of the 10 Most Beautiful Artist Residencies in the World, Chateau Orqueveaux. Michelle is the recipient of a Mass Cultural Council Recovery Grant 2023. She has traveled to several international artist residencies including Arquetopia in Mexico and Can Serrat in Barcelona. She is currently under consideration for The Galerie Heimat Art Prize in France as well as the NG Art Creative Residency in Maussane-les-Alpilles. Website: www.artworkarchive.com/profile/michelle-mullet ARTIST STATEMENT This new body of work illustrates joy in a darkened landscape. I found a photography book…

ARTIST INTERVIEWS Harriet Lowther is a Wiltshire-based artist and illustrator, whose subjects range from animals to plants and interiors. But what's the four-legged creature that appears time and time again in her art? Dogs! Harriet creates quirky, expressive illustrated pups in watercolor, pen and ink, crayon and on ceramics and enjoys experimenting with pattern and color. Working out of a cozy garden studio, she not only produces original drawings, but also prints, homewares and more. In this interview, we discuss how she decides on what new products to make, finding the right hires to manage and grow her business and her muse-companions, aka studio pets Doughnut (dog) and Sean Connery (cat). How did you first get into drawing and illustration? I studied fine art photography at the Glasgow School of…

Simone Brewster (@simonebrewster_london) is an artist, designer, educator and cultural change-maker. Strongly grounded in craft, Simone Brewster uses her creative outputs as her voice, celebrating and sharing windows into varied Black female narratives and histories. Born and based in London, the threads that flow throughout her work display a balance of function with beauty, a re-purposing of the “ethnic” and the “western” and a continuous playing with scale, materiality and architectural form. Simone's work is in the permanent collections of the Victoria & Albert Museum, The Museum of London and The Smithsonian, Washington, DC. She is a regular public speaker on the subjects of contemporary design and writes on the subjects of craft, design and jewelry. ARTIST STATEMENT When starting my creative journey in architecture, I would not have predicted…

We know approaching a gallery can be intimidating. Who is the right person to reach out to? How do galleries operate? Where do you even begin? With many galleries being opaque in how they work, it can feel overwhelming. If only you could reach out to a gallerist directly and ask your questions … which is exactly what gallerist Liz Lidgett aims to do in this new column: “Ask a Gallerist!” “The art world can be so full of joy, but also difficult to navigate,” says Liz. “Within my role as a gallery owner, I speak daily with both clients and artists. It gives me a unique perspective on what issues and questions are on many people's minds.” Liz is the owner and founder of Liz Lidgett Gallery and Design.…

The work of Gina M. Contreras offers a look into the artist's personal journey with heartbreak. Deeply psychological, each painting is an intimate snapshot of a relationship. By looking in, we become a fly on the wall to her most personal, intimate and vulnerable moments. These are the moments that have shaped her. By painting herself as the subject, she gives herself permission to be bold, to take up space, to celebrate herself. Join us in conversation as the artist and I discuss her Mexican-Catholic upbringing, her routines within the studio and her aim to invite viewers to cast off shame. What initially drew you to creating art? Was there a moment where you consciously decided to pursue it as a career? I started drawing when I was in high…

“The most rewarding aspect of being an artist is having a skill set that allows me to bring other people's creative visions to life. Kristin Elizabeth Fiorvanti Introducing our finalists carefully handpicked by Guest Curator Jennifer Rizzo for the vibrant Issue #43! Hailing from Brooklyn, Jennifer Rizzo brings her keen eye as a curator, writer, and Partner at Hashimoto Contemporary to our pages. With notable projects like World Wide Walls Vol. 1: 10 Years of International Street Art under her belt, along with insightful contributions such as an interview for Scott Albrecht's monograph IN TIME, Rizzo's selections promise an exciting exploration of contemporary artistry.…

CURATED SECTION Kristin Fiorvanti is a multimedia artist born in Fairfax, Virginia in 1998. At 20 years old, she won an international art competition held by her art academy, Accademia Riaci, which allowed her to study abroad in Florence, Italy for 7 months. Her style is realistic and impressionistic, using traditional painting techniques from studying Renaissance and Impressionist painters. During COVID-19, Kristin built an online creative community on social media and expanded her studies in the applauded art program at Virginia Commonwealth University. She now studies Media and Communications at John Cabot University in Rome where she has joined a film company as a Production Designer and Art Director on various projects that emphasize diversity in the media. She is passionate about careful brush strokes, excavating stories untold, and exploring…

Carrie Lederer is a painter, sculptor and installation artist who exhibits her nature-inspired work across the United States. She is a recipient of the prestigious Fleishhacker Foundation Eureka Award and has completed public art commissions for Facebook, the cities of Palo Alto and Menlo Park, Hudson Valley Seed Company and Imagery Winery. Her work has also been commissioned by UCSF Medical Center, Art Source and private collections Lederer has built site-specific installations for Turtle Bay Museum, di Rosa Center for Contemporary Art, San Jose Institute of Contemporary Art, and many others. Her work can be found in private collections that include Oakland Museum of California, Stanford Medical Center, First Western Trust Bank, and Prudential Insurance Co., NY. Lederer's work has been widely reviewed in publications that include MUSES, Michigan State…

CURATED SECTION Xiangjie Rebecca Wu (b. 1998. Jiangyin, Jiangsu, China) is an artist based in Brooklyn. Her artistic practice exploring mourning of personal memory. By integrating the traditional technique of glazing with cinematic composition, she searches ways to visualize and memorialize the lost time and land. She has been commissioned for the President Portrait for the College of Wooster in 2022. She attended Pratt M.F.A. in Painting/Drawing in 2022. She received a degree of B.A. with double major in Studio Art and Philosophy. Her works have been collected by College of Wooster Art Museum in 2022. Instagram: www.instagram.com/rebeccawuuuu ARTIST STATEMENT I make figurative paintings for the momentary mourning of the loss. Painting memories becomes a way to understand the past as well as discover myself in the present. By incorporating…

Anna Jekel is an artist living in New York City. From Newton, MA, she grew up in a creative household where she was frequently drawing, crafting, taking photographs, and playing dress up. She graduated from Northeastern University with a B.S. in Theatre Production. After graduation Anna held various positions as a costume designer, but started painting during pandemic lockdown. She has since shifted focus entirely to painting and currently maintains a studio practice in Bushwick, Brooklyn. Her work reflects her struggle with depression and explores gender, sexuality, and love as well as human connection to the natural world. Website: www.annajekel.com ARTIST STATEMENT My paintings are maps of my inner world where landscapes of naïveté clash with despair and desire. Innocent fascination with plants, animals, the sun, moon, and stars, are…

Scott Troxel (b. 1971, Philadelphia, PA) draws on the aesthetics of bygone technology and the forward-looking designs of the Atomic Age and midcentury modernism to make dynamic, retro-futurist wooden sculptures that evoke nostalgia for the past as much as they look to the future. Fascinated by the way pieces of technology, culture, and design reveal their age, Scott aims to make works that cannot be pinned to a specific era. Scott has exhibited his work at numerous fairs and exhibitions across the United States, including The Other Art Fair New York, Texas Contemporary, SCOPE Miami, SOFA Chicago and Art Wynwood. Scott was a industrial designer and product developer, graphic artist and brand manager prior to transitioning to a full-time artist in his early 40s. His background in commercial products, graphics,…

I'm a realist painter. I was born in Iran, and from the first moment I can remember, I've been painting. I was eighteen when my father took me to a very well-respected artist, someone he had total faith in, Aydin Aghdashloo, for apprenticeship; and so I started to paint in a professional manner. Over the years I've had many other exceptional instructors. Basically, painting is my one and only skill in life. Painting is my best friend, my life companion, my soul savior. No matter where I am in the world, as long as I have my favorite music and my work apparatus, I'll quickly achieve peace; And I don't need much else other than that in life. It's been ten years since I started to paint on plates; porcelain…

Anastasia Greer is an artist living and working in Marquette, Michigan. Anastasia takes a multimedia approach to painting through the incorporation of textiles which she hand prints, sews, and stretches. Eliciting a graphic representation of language, Anastasia's work functions as a humorous and playful set of runes provoking curiosity and wonder. Anastasia received her Master of Fine Arts in Visual Studies at Pacific Northwest College of Art in Portland, OR in 2016. Her work has been featured at the Oregon Museum of Contemporary Craft, Oregon Contemporary, Food52, Sight Unseen, and Nationale, among others and is currently represented by Uprise Art. Website: www.anastasiagreer.com Instagram: @anastasiavlasta ARTIST STATEMENT My work focuses on creating abstract visual stories with humorous titles based on mundane day-to-day activities, interactions, and the surrounding space that stay on…

CURATED SECTION Erika Navarrete was born and raised in Visalia, California. She was influenced by her Hispanic heritage, family dynamics, as well as the unique cultural atmosphere of being in one of the most productive agricultural areas in the world. She attended community college at College of the Sequoias in Visalia where she found her path to pursuing art as a lifelong commitment. She went on to receive her BFA in Painting and Art History from the Kansas City Art Institute in 2003 and her MFA from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 2008. Navarrete is currently an instructor at the University of Evansville and the University of Southern Indiana in Evansville, IN. She maintains an active studio practice investigating relationships between people, the structure of the home and the natural…

Michele Montalbano, a multi media artist, was born in Los Angeles, California, and is based in the Washington DC area where she received an MFA in painting from the George Washington University. Her inspiration for paintings, prints and installations comes from nature, memory and imagination. Montalbano's work has been exhibited in numerous group and solo shows in the DC area including McLean Project for the Arts, Hillyer Art Space, Arlington Arts Center and the Workhouse Arts Center. Artist residencies include the Vermont Studio School and La Baldi Residency in Tuscany. She has been a finalist of the Trawick Prize and the Bethesda Painting Awards and received the Strauss Fellowship. Her work is part of numerous private collections as well as the Art Bank collection of the DC Commission on the…

Joaquin Lemaitre (*1985) alias FORTUNE HUNTER is a visual artist, born in Dortmund, Germany and raised in La Paz, Bolivia. He moved to Montreal, Canada for his undergraduate studies at Concordia University, where he graduated with a degree in mechanical engineering but is self-taught in oil painting. Lemaitre has displayed his work internationally, including France, Spain, Germany, Lebanon, and South Korea, and has been showcased in different contemporary art publications such as Create! Magazine and Friend of The Artist. He currently resides in Esslingen and works in Stuttgart, Germany. ARTIST STATEMENT I like to think that my art practice is a way of engaging with an uncharted reality of the self, which lingers back and forth between the physical world and the subconscious. I am interested in finding a common…

Jordan Buschur is an artist, educator, and curator based in Toledo, Ohio. Buschur received an M.F.A. in Painting from Brooklyn College, the City University of New York. Her work has been shown in numerous locations, including exhibitions with the Urban Institute for Contemporary Arts (Grand Rapids, MI), the Center for Book Arts (NY), and Field Projects (NY). She participated in residencies at the Wassaic Project, Chashama North, the Kimmel Harding Nelson Center for the Arts, and the Vermont Studio Center. Awards include the Ohio Arts Council Individual Excellence Award, the Kimmel Foundation Artist Award and the Charles Shaw Painting Award. Her work has been featured in print in New American Paintings and UPPERCASE Magazine, and online on The Jealous Curator, Young Space, and BOOOOOOOM, among others. She is a co-founder…