1- Elizabeth Prindle | Whammy Bar | $350
Mixed-media assemblage
11”W x 24”T
Artist Statement: A whimsical invention: a combination guitar and record player. Music is a common ground that brings people together.
Artist Bio: Beth Prindle’s rediscovery of art began with Covid. Six months before the lockdown, she had returned from 30 years in the Pacific Northwest to live in her home state of Ohio, where she had earned a BA in Design at Kent State. A new home with studio space was key, but so was the fact that garage sales continued as usual. Collecting, as often happens after a loss, turned into an informal, self-directed art therapy; then, into something bigger. After a year of building assemblages, she began showing her work and has since been accepted into many juried exhibitions. Her work has been shown at The Zanesville Museum of Art, the Erie (PA) Museum of Art, and the Butler Institute of American Art, as well as other institutions across the region.
_____________

2- Ricki Dénes | Gourmet Hillbilly | $250
Reduction print mounted on crushed cans
8″ x 10″ x 2″
Artist Statement: This print talks about the importance of how food ties with culture and growing up visiting my family in Southern Ohio/WV, canned vegetables were a staple. It was the most accessible way to eat, and I wanted to create a print that celebrated that part of my dietary upbringing. I incorporated my favorite shade of blue that you see in Appalachia and included different structures (like my grandma’s church) on the top of the can. I tied the piece together by crushing cans of corn that I had eaten over the month.
Artist Bio: Ricki Dénes is an Ohio-based printmaker and illustrator whose work explores themes of health and illness. She holds a B.F.A. in Printmaking and a B.S.ED. in Art Education from Ashland University. They have shown in galleries around Ohio such as Kink Contemporary (Cleveland), 83 Gallery (Columbus), and Tri-C Gallery East (Highland Hills). In addition to her studio practice, Dénes is the printmaking instructor at the Wayne Center for the Arts and is a teaching artist listed on the Ohio Arts Council’s Teaching Artist Roster.
_____________

3- Benjamin Young | One Last Walk With Izzy | $900
Watercolor on cotton paper
20″ x 14″
Artist Statement: The man is myself, the artist, with the blond hair shimmering from the bright autumn sun. The companion by my side is my late Border Collie dog, Izzy. The landscape is inspired by the Ohio Appalachian Plateau hills I grew up with. It’s a memory I never got to have with my faithful family member, before she passed. She was always by my side in her life span, but sometimes time escapes us too quickly, and by the time I was in healthy enough state to hike myself, she had grown too elderly and weary to join me in my long walks of reflection.
Artist Bio: I’m new to painting, as I had just started in December of 2023. With no prior experience in art since 8th grade art class. I mainly paint with watercolor and occasionally oil, working in narrative realism. My objective is to paint the emotions first, aesthetics secondary. If my painting moves someone emotionally, then I have done my job. My style tends to remind a lot of Andrew Wyeth’s work, and honestly I had no idea who he was until people started pointing that out and I had to google him. I’ve just let that style however take hold naturally to my own expression and technique. Much of my works are developed from my own experiences, traumas, and emotions; and I hope I can successfully resonate those in others.
_____________

4- Em Tamulewicz | twice as many stars | $175
Linocut and letterpress type on artist’s handmade cotton and abaca paper, vintage frame
12″ x 15″
Artist Statement: Tamulewicz’s artistic practice thematically embodies a back-and-forth conversation with death. Growing up with autism significantly impacted their mental health as a child and young adult. They experienced a constant feeling of fight-or-flight, consistent with many autistic people’s lived experience. Tamulewicz’s physical practice involves questioning their dark inner monologue, which transforms into a cathartic release that leads to new perspectives on the future, life, and its meaning. For them, the practice of printmaking has become a ritual, where stress responses and overwhelming sensory experiences can fade away. Themes of the macabre, the natural world, Catholicism/religious trauma, and references to medieval artwork are prominent in their work. Using these motifs connect them to their upbringing and passions, as well as play an active role in recontextualizing a childhood that was marked with turmoil. Now, reworked in the present, these motifs hold a new meaning, examining what the future may hold for Tamulewicz; teaching them the desire to live. The transformation that Tamulewicz experiences through their work is something they wish to bestow upon others like them; to embrace the fear and stress responses that often accompany autistic life. Through their work and outreach, Tamulewicz aspires to reconnect with the Autism community, and to act as a catalyst for social change to improve neurodivergent people’s daily lives.
Artist Bio: Em Tamulewicz (b. 2000) is a printmaker, illustrator, and writer originating from Phoenix, AZ. They received their BFA from the University of Michigan – Ann Arbor. They are currently the Artist Opportunities Manager at the Morgan Art of Papermaking Conservatory (Cleveland, OH) and a Shop Artist/intern at Zygote Press (Cleveland, OH). Em’s work has been featured in shows across the United States, from Ohio, to Colorado, internationally in Seoul, South Korea, and is featured in the permanent collection of the Akron’s Children Hospital (Brecksville, OH). Recent residencies include Arts, Letters, and Numbers in Troy, New York. They are also a member of the Southern Graphics Council International and the Mid America Print Council.
_____________

5- Nova Stewart | They Can Not Destroy What Binds Us | NFS
Gouache and colored pencil
9″ x 12″
Artist Statement: The world can often feel as though it is unraveling, with conflict and destruction threatening to sever the threads of our shared humanity. Yet, even in the darkest moments, there is light within us—love that cannot be destroyed or taken. The heaviness of reality from those who threaten our security, livelihoods, and question our very personhoods grows stronger. Danger feels like it is building here in America for those of trans and queer background or any other marginalized origin, all the while we watch as war carries on in the distance – but we must remember that we are strong too, our light will not be diminished. “May I ask for gentleness within this tomb of grief? When the world shatters, will you stay and watch this final sunset with me?” The gentle touch of fingertips, then hands, the warmth of their gaze. There is power in our love for one another. Within this piece, I sought to depict a moment before destruction, or perhaps instead it shows that internal thrill of joy and when two hands first meet —a moment of devastation or hope. The artwork itself is pinned to a board as if it were a fragment miraculously preserved after a blast, a relic of beauty amid ruin. The power of love and community will persist if we put our hands to good work.
Artist Bio: I am an Illustrator, Crafter, Arts Advocate & Educator from NE Ohio. I received my BFA in Illustration, with additional concentrations in Art Education, Design, & Creative Writing from the Cleveland Institute of Art. Currently working towards a MA of Arts & Culture Management from the University of Akron. I want to work to see artists succeed, to help them create their work, and thrive within the frustrating system we find ourselves in. As much as I want to pursue my own work as an artist, this privilege to have space to create is so important and vital to building healthy communities. I run StarFall Creative Collective alongside Ashleigh Byrer, with the goal of supporting local artists, connecting the creative community of any level, and sharing resources. We can all thrive together if we support each other, our communities, and our fellow creatives. Through your success, I will find my own. My Illustration & creative practice, Star Catcher Studio, explores fantastical concepts through a storybook aesthetic. I create prints, zines, design whimsical products like enamel pins, sculpt figurines, and more. Through the various other multimedia approaches to art I explore, my work strives to spark joy through color and whimsy, evoke empathy with thoughtful musings, and seek a sense of catharsis through the art making process. I invite you to enter my world within a dream, darkened by memory, and sparked to life by a falling star.
_____________

6- Anna Mytko | The Resilience of Softness | $80
Block print on wooden canvas
8″ x 11″
Artist Statement: Remaining soft in the face of harshness has been a deeply personal and intentional value of mine. As both a mental health counselor and an artist, my work calls me to show up openly and vulnerably, to witness the world with compassion. This is often challenging—and, in many ways, radical—in a world that feels dominated by harshness.
In this print, the broken bottle and shards of glass symbolize the harshness of contemporary life. The flower, representing softness, grows through and around these obstacles, embodying resilience and tenderness in the face of adversity. The flower, open and reaching toward the sun, depicts how resilient it is and sends the message that the challenges have not changed the flower’s inherent optimism or softness.
Artist Bio: Anna is a Cleveland based somatic-trauma therapist, counselor, and artist. She is largely influenced by nature and symbolism in her art works. Primarily a painter and printmaker, Anna has created community art projects and murals of varying sizes in Portand, OR, Boston, MA, and in Cleveland, OH. She was also selected to participate in the Zone 3, a Harvard-Sparked Initiative Holiday Art Show in Boston, MA in 2020. Most recently, in November 2024, Anna had a print selected for the “I Only Have Eyes for You” exhibition at Understory, in Cleveland, Ohio.
_____________

7- Nick Lee | The Boy Next Door | NFS
Acrylic paint on canvas
16″ x 20″
Artist Statement: As Japanese Americans, we are often not seen as the typical Boy Next Door trope. We are viewed as foreigners even in our own country. This painting depicts someone of Japanese descent as the next door neighbor we could see every day. The figure takes center stage and becomes the main focus of the painting. The subject’s shirt nods at the Japanese cartoon Totoro from Studio Ghibli’s My Neighbor Totoro.
Artist Bio: Nick Lee (b. 1996) is a painter and 2021 Kent State University graduate. Lee lives and works in Akron, Ohio. Lee’s work is inspired by the diversity of the human experience. As a Japanese-American, Lee’s visual art strives to better represent minorities like himself in American portraiture and western art. Another motivation for Lee is self discovery. Lee uses symbolic Japanese objects in his paintings to connect with a culture that was never taught to him growing up. Lee is the 2023 recipient of the Distinguished Citizen for Art Education for the Northeast Ohio region by the OAEA. Lee is also the recipient of the 2024 Arts Alive Emerging Artist award by Summit Artspace.
_____________

8- Ashley Strub | Folderol for the Underwood | NFS
Oil on canvas fitted into vintage partition
40″ x 17.5″
Artist Statement: Folderol for the Underwood is a mysterious and ripe offspring of a painting. The plant-like patterns carved into the dark and storied frame are tender and gentle. The paint has been laid down naively and is inspired by landscapes and the character of light. A “Folderol” is a word used to name a useless yet showy object, while “underwood” refers to the smaller shrubs and trees that grow among larger trees. In a world where nature and softness is more and more undervalued, I see intrinsic things that take up space as a tender resistance.
Artist Bio: Ashley Strub is a painter and an Akron native who makes paintings built on the metaphysical character of home, existence, and painting itself. She has received several accolades for her work and exhibited across Northeast Ohio during her career. Strub recently graduated from the Myers School of Art at the University of Akron with a BFA concentration in Painting and Drawing.
_____________

9- Adiah Mae | Look at Me Just Sitting on the Couch | $1,000
Acrylic paint on canvas
3’x4.5′
Artist Statement: I don’t own a couch. Will I own a couch? Look at Me Just Sitting on the Couch is a persona that I consistently incorporate into the subtleties of my clothing and demeanor. Imagery is wrapped together into skin-like leather that is falling into itself into space, held together inside a border of its own matter. The imagery is blending together in soft wind-like motions. I am interested in the fact that every choice I make carves out and shapes the person I build and become. I grew up in competitive sports. It was a gateway to then enter the weightlifting bodybuilding scene at the start of my late teens. This scene quickly infected my mindset, infesting the tender moments that I valued most growing up and deeming them as a setback for progress. “SPAM” can never properly nourish the cells of a muscle fiber after a 2 hour lift. The same way an evening spent on the couch is not an efficient use of my active rest day. But what can a home cooked “SPAM” sandwich made by my best friend do for other than just my recovery? What can sharing that sandwich together to watch our favorite YouTuber Trisha Peytas on the comfy couch do for my fulfillment? That is, if I allowed myself to fully indulge and accept the behavior that is not improving my fitness. By containing the mass in a border of fleshy leather, the viewer is forced to accept the unexpected happening inside the border; WASHBOARD ABS + COMFY SOFT LEATHER + “SPAM”! “Fruit of the Loom” underwear as the front seat to the viewer’s attention among the highlighted repeated marks are stand-ins for the subtleties that I carefully place into my appearance to remind myself and others of the value I place on occasional indulgence. Look at Me Just Sitting on the Couch reclaims the guilt I feel for residing in a soft space that any other bodybuilder would otherwise likely avoid. I would never ask a bodybuilder their opinion on watching Trisha Peytas – they would likely compare it to “instant gratification” or their ultimate devil.
Artist Bio: Adiah Bonham is a fourth year BFA Painting major at Kent State. Adiah is interested in exploring thoughts that surface in a bodybuilding lifestyle. Pulling imagery from current fashion trends, huge bodybuilding stacks of burgers and food, and even huger bodybuilder muscles act as outlets for displaying what she really finds valuable in life. She is interested in research on the science of awareness versus discipline and mindsets rooted in yoga contrasted with the dramatic hypermasculine media that bodybuilders of all levels consume daily. The juxtaposition of this research informs themes that she explores of value, appreciation, and moderation.
_____________

10- Abby Rambler | On A Bed Where The Moon Has Been Sweating | NFS
Watercolor, oil, and gesso on a bed sheet
48” x 72”
Artist Statement: My work recently has two sides: one concerned with intimacy and bedroom scenes, and the other interested in theatricality and absurd drama. This piece aims to take the gentle sweeping and folding motions of a literal bed sheet, and form it into something reminiscent of a Greek statue or stage backdrop. I want to play in a ghostly or angelic space between real life and the imaginary, between the figure and the abstract. This piece hints at something figurative lost in this space where the soft bed sheet becomes a stiff floating object.
Artist Bio: Abby Rambler (b. 2004) is an artist working mostly in paint and print. She is currently studying to earn a double BFA at The Mary Myers School of Art at the University of Akron, Ohio. Drawn to quick, decisive mark making and vibrant color pallets, she has produced a large body of paintings and prints. In upcoming years, she hopes to further specify her thematic interests, but is currently producing work portraying intimate spaces, relationships, and awkward realities of the body and our personal landscapes. She keeps her sketchbook and watercolors close at hand.
She has had art exhibited in the Emily Davis Gallery (2023), Valley Art Center (2023), the Bounce Innovation Hub (2023), and in The Groundhog Show (2023). Her artwork is also currently on display at the Lockview Restaurant and Project Rise offices in downtown Akron. She currently serves on the executive board of the Akron Student and Drawing League and works as a gallery guard at the Cleveland Museum of Art.
_____________

11- Raymond Oster | groaning. | NFS
Laser printed edited photography
13” x 19”
Artist Statement: I just feel like I’ve been in this pit for a really long time…. Persistance despite monotony.
Artist Bio: Multidisciplinary sculptural artist at Kent looking to explore and communicate ideas on inhabiting experiences as a person through multiple mediums and installations.
_____________

12- Cassie Jeffries | Got stuck staring at the sun | $1,200
Oil paint on panel
36” x 42”
Artist Statement: “Got stuck staring at the sun” was made in a time where I was coping with moments that I will never get back again. Memories that I will never be able to recreate because the person whom I shared them with are no longer near me. I often spend my most personal moments with myself in nature, but for a time, I had another person that shared that same passion. The painting imbues a softness with the relationships I’ve formed, all the shapes fit into one another and mold to their surroundings. When one shape cascades into another, it inverts, exaggerating it and giving you a sense of the form’s complete presence as well as what was lost. It’s a feeling of embrace. There is also an element of change that is inevitable. Nature, while systematic, is occasionally random. There are moments where you think something will happen but then the complete opposite occurs. Though the lines are sharp, the atmosphere and colors I chose while watching the sunset lend a softness to the piece. I wanted to create a space that feels familiar, not in reality, but through the connection that I believe everyone on earth shares. Even though the person I once spent time with are no longer in my life, I still feel connected to them when I watch the sunset, walk along the river, or lie down in the grass.
Artist Bio: Cassie Jeffries is a BFA painting major at Kent State University. She primarily focuses her work on the constant change of the landscape and relates it back to her personal life. The forms in her work mimic systematic processes that she observes. Systems like erosion, decay, and symbiotic relationships. Lines and shapes intersect in naturalistic ways, sometimes obscuring, sometimes inverting, always in some way enacting change. The colors used inform the tone and emotion of each shift. Forms cascade to create cathartic imagery to cope with the inevitability of life.
_____________

13- Ricki Dénes | Reaching for a Promise | $250
Linoleum reduction print with painted details
24″ x 24″ x 2″
Artist Statement: Terminal illness is a profoundly life-altering event, and, like cancer, side effects spread just as ruthlessly to those who love the afflicted person. My artwork is a therapeutic way of exploring the complex emotions surrounding health and illness through the medium of printmaking, with a focus on reduction printing. Throughout the process of creating a reduction print, I spend a lot of time taking reference pictures, sketching the image, and carving the block. Each step gives me time to acknowledge difficult emotions, break through the isolation, and helps simulate a sense of control over a chaotic reality. Because I add colors with a reduction method, I find that there is a calm and steadiness built into the process of creating art. Meanwhile, the blank backgrounds force the viewer to interact with the subject at hand. My intent is to bridge the gap between personal experience and universal understanding. I hope my work encourages viewers to confront their own emotions and experiences with illness, fostering a shared sense of empathy and connection. By inviting contemplation and dialogue, I aim to highlight the humanity that endures amidst the trials of health and life while also celebrating my mother and her strength.
Artist Bio: Ricki Dénes is an Ohio-based printmaker and illustrator whose work explores themes of health and illness. She holds a B.F.A. in Printmaking and a B.S.ED. in Art Education from Ashland University. They have shown in galleries around Ohio such as Kink Contemporary (Cleveland), 83 Gallery (Columbus), and Tri-C Gallery East (Highland Hills). In addition to her studio practice, Dénes is the printmaking instructor at the Wayne Center for the Arts and is a teaching artist listed on the Ohio Arts Council’s Teaching Artist Roster.
_____________

14- Celeste Stauber | I’d like to be a fairy | $300
Marker and graphite on toned paper
9″ x 12″ unframed
Artist Statement: This marker drawing is from the “Drawing Queer People from Life” sessions hosted by Moo at the Hildebrandt Artist Collective. I fell in love with figure drawing in college and haven’t been to any sessions until I learned about the sessions Moo was hosting. The informal and fun vibes that came with celebrating queer bodies and joy has really enriched my practice. Not to mention the many new meaningful friendships I’ve made and the sense of community .
Artist Bio: Celeste Stauber (she/her) is a Cleveland based artist and curator with a B.A. in Studio Art from Baldwin Wallace University. In her work, she draws inspiration from the human form and focuses on drawing. She enjoys exploring different mediums and using her own drawings to create collages. She currently has studio space in the Twist Drill Building in Cleveland. Her work has been exhibited regionally in various galleries such as Valley Art Center, Hoyt Art Center and KINK Contemporary. Celeste spent 2021 co-curating with Jared Gepperth at E11even2 Gallery located in 78th Street Studios. Together Celeste and Jared produced 6 exhibitions featuring NE Ohio artists. In 2024, she curated an interactive exhibition titled “Neverending Cycles: A Laundromat Soap Opera” with collaborator Taylor Clapp. This exhibition featured 25 artists, over 50 works of art, many clothes pins and a laundry themed zine library by Late Night Copies Press. Celeste currently resides in Cleveland, Ohio where she works as the Gallery & Store Manager at the Morgan Papermaking Conservatory. When she is not painting or drawing, you can find Celeste wandering the Cleveland Metroparks or tending to her plant jungle.
_____________

15- Sarah Abshire | Butterfly | NFS
Crocheted wool
48″ x 23″
Artist Statement: This shawlette is hand crocheted from wool yarn sourced from a local thrift store. The eight mini-balls of yarn, each a different color, beckoned to me from the bin of cast-off yarn and demanded that they be put together into a shawl, as textured and colorful as possible. The pattern, “Lost in Time” by Mijo Crochet proved to be exactly what the yarn wanted. Each row is a different color, following a particular order chosen for color flow and contrast until the yardage slowly ran out. This shawlette may be worn around the neck as a scarf, over the shoulders as a shawl, or the red bobbles on the tips may be used as buttons to transform the wings into sleeves. It the embodiment how one’s persons scraps can become another’s display of creativity and skill.
Artist Bio: Sarah Abshire (they/she) learned to crochet in the third grade, and their hands have not been still since. Primarily a fiber artist, she focuses on re-using and up-cycling existing materials instead of buying new. While their main focus is creative mending and repurposing fabrics and yarn, they experiment with many art forms, creating work that ranges from wearable textiles, ornamental collages, journals/sketchbooks, and whatever inspires them in the moment. Her work has been shown in FJKluth Art Gallery Kent, OH and Silo Arts Studio Canton, OH, as well as a boutique in Medina, OH. She loves Northeast Ohio and has enjoyed getting to know members of its art community over the past couple years through the aforementioned exhibitions and local artist friends. This artist may be contacted for commissions at sea.shire5826@gmail.com
_____________

16- Violet Maimbourg | Separating The Head From The Artist | NFS
Silicone, human hair, steel, acrylic, MDF, jewelry, epoxy
11.5″ L x 11.5″ W x 68″ H
Artist Statement: Humans are capable of independent thought and the ability to be self-aware which brings about
feelings of shame and disgust, setting us apart from other animals. My body of work is about the intimate
moments between human beings and the lasting effect it has on our emotional well-being. I examine the
anguish and beauty of being human.
My sculptures have mutilated body parts that are created from silicone. I employ processes used
in Hollywood special effects to create these fleshy, bloody sculptures. Platinum silicone allows for
the replication of human flesh with color and transparency. This softness is sometimes contrasted with strong
carbon steel. Much like the human body, steel can rust, decay, and turn to dust. My animatronic sculptures
reference and pay homage to early automata, and are designed to mimic human movement in an attempt
to capture fleeting memories that converge to create mechanized melancholy in a seemingly endless loop.
My interest in creating kinetic sculptures stems from my early childhood interest in robotics. Human
hands have the incredible ability to create beautiful things and the power to destroy and hurt.
My work examines this delicate balance between creator and monster.
My naked, bloody, and robotic creations are more self-portraits than figments of my imagination,
showing how I have been trained through the consumption of media and rhetoric to view my own
humanity and body. My work comes from an introspective place, focusing on my own feelings and body,
hoping to have my audience face the same introspection. This introspection and sharing of my experience
can help the viewer feel less alone. Taking care of our bodies, our spirits, and our emotional well-being
can transform shame into self-acceptance.
Artist Bio: Violet Maimbourg is a sculpture artist from Cleveland, Ohio. Violet graduated from the Cleveland Institute of Art in 2021 with a BFA in Sculpture and Expanded Media. Violet’s work has been shown nationally and internationally. Violet mainly focused on video art and film for over a decade, originally attending Pratt Institute in Brooklyn New York in 2013, majoring in Film/Video. She is currently working toward receiving an MFA in Sculpture and Expanded Media from Kent State University.
_____________

17- Maddie McSweeney | Moon Belly | NFS
Short film (7:30)
Artist Statement: “Moon Belly” is a self-titled short film created—in conjunction with other works—for McSweeney’s first solo exhibition, “Moon Belly,” in April 2024 at KINK Contemporary (Cleveland, OH). This film explores the evolution of sexual and romantic relationships and what may manifest from growing infatuation. The transitioning seasons of a close connection can leave euphoric and nightmarish imprints. Following two interchangeable characters in a fixed space, viewers are able to place themselves in this charged environment. When posturing is dropped and vulnerability creeps forward, what lies in the underbelly—real or imagined—is unveiled.
Artist Bio: Maddie McSweeney is a multimedia artist and active community member currently based in Akron, OH. Their work delves into deeply personal narratives encompassing childhood, gender, sexuality, and collective intimacy. Silliness through vibrant colors and childlike references are recurring symbols meant to subtly veil conflicts of everyday life and create an opening for introspection or connection. These elements often mirror the artist’s prevailing concerns, inviting viewers into a playfully evocative exploration of the human experience. In their latest work, McSweeney explores the notion of situation-making. They investigate how controlled contexts and blurred boundaries can elicit shared sensibilities between participants and engender dialogues about individual functioning within a broader context. McSweeney graduated from the University of Akron in spring 2024 with dual BA degrees in Studio Art & Media Studies. They featured their first solo exhibition Moon Belly at KINK Contemporary (Cleveland, OH) in April 2024. McSweeney also concluded their honors research thesis Simply Butter (one pat at a time) with the Myers School of Art and Williams Honors College (March 2023—February 2024).
_____________

18- Kimberly Wengerd | Book of Love | NFS
Felt fabric, embroidery thread, and buttons
6.5″ x 6″
Artist Statement: I was drawn to the idea of an artwork made of felt fabric and thread to evoke softness and interactivity. Inspired by a genre of books called ”quiet books”, which are felt books for young children, my work explores the creation of a fantastical bedtime story that will be passed down to the next generation. The book ends in blank pages that offer no answers about what trials await its hero or how the story ends. Instead, though love cannot slay the dragon, it can quell its flames. That love for those who are vulnerable gives us the courage to fight, turn the page on a dark time in history, and write our own destiny.
Artist Bio: Kim Wengerd is a multi-media illustrator and designer based in Akron, Ohio. She graduated with a BFA at The University of Akron in 2020 and is currently a digital designer at Progressive Insurance. Her illustrative work typically focuses on fantasy-based themes and quirky explorations of life
_____________

19- Meryl Engler | When I Become A Tree Aglow/All the Stars in the Sky | NFS
Woodcut, pastel, acrylic ink
48″ x 84″
Artist Statement: When I moved to Akron, Ohio in 2019, I became enamored with a very peculiar tree in the back parking lot of the business next door to where I lived. In my “When I Become A Tree” series, I use this tree as a haven for myself where I can rest before I am ready to reawaken. I was inspired by burial practices where one’s ashes are mixed with seeds in the soil to grow a tree. My self portrait is wrapped in a quilt my mother made me, further solidifying this as my place of refuge, comfort, and safety.
Artist Bio: Meryl Engler is an artist using woodcut and collage to create layered prints that evoke intimate, magical human moments, and the hidden landscapes of the environment. Meryl grew up in Huntington Beach, California, on the shores of the Pacific Ocean. She attended Syracuse University where she studied sculpture, printmaking, religious studies and history, while also competing on the women’s rowing team. Next, she went to graduate school at University of Nebraska-Lincoln for studio art with an emphasis in printmaking. This is where she developed her love of colorful woodcut prints, using layering, pattern and repetition. Meryl moved to Akron, Ohio in fall of 2019 as the Artist-in-residence at Rubber City Prints. The city’s landscape, people and history continue to inspire her. From watching the foliage and greenery take over the barren, urban landscape of Northeast Ohio to gathering with friends around a fire on a summer night, Meryl is always looking for the magical in the every day. In 2022 she started working at the Morgan Conservatory and learned Eastern and Western papermaking techniques, now incorporating papermaking into her print work. She has shown nationally and internationally and seeks to push the limits of printmaking by combining media in new and exciting ways.
_____________

20- James Negron | How To Be Me | NFS
Performance video
(3:07)
Artist Bio: James Negron (he/him) is a Latino mixed media artist from New Jersey. The artist is now based in Cleveland, Ohio where he obtained his BFA in Sculpture and Expanded Media from the Cleveland Institute of Art in 2024. Throughout his time in undergraduate school, he developed a prominent interest in working with fiber and textiles, alongside other media, to communicate themes of memory, mental health, and queer identity. Negron embraces DIY aesthetics within his work to exemplify the affordability and achievability of the techniques he implements in his practice. This has led the artist on a passionate path to art education, where he can facilitate support in making fabrication processes more accessible to children. Negron’s work has been exhibited at the Morgan Conservatory in Cleveland (OH) in 2024, Julia de Burgos Cultural Art Center in Cleveland (OH) in 2024, LGBT Community Center of Greater Cleveland in Cleveland (OH) in 2024,, Hildebrandt Building in Cleveland (OH) in 2023 and 2024, and Valley Arts Center in Chagrin (OH) in 2023 and 2024, among others.
_____________

21- Celeste Stauber | How it ends… | $200
Artist-made translucent abaca paper with lace and ribbon embeddings
16″ x 20″
Artist Statement: The piece of thrifted lace used in this piece was used for my printmaking process in other works. I finally decided I was done using this lace for printing and wanted to “put it to rest”. I created this work by pulling a sheet of translucent abaca paper. While the paper is still wet, I laid down the ribbon and lace. After that, I pulled another sheet of translucent abaca paper and laid down the sheet on top of the ribbon and lace. This encased the ribbon and lace, creating a unique sheet of paper that cannot be replicated. In the end, I was happy to continue the ancient craft of papermaking and a way to showcase lace (a craft in it’s very own) in a textural way.
Artist Bio: Celeste Stauber (she/her) is a Cleveland based artist and curator with a B.A. in Studio Art from Baldwin Wallace University. In her work, she draws inspiration from the human form and focuses on drawing. She enjoys exploring different mediums and using her own drawings to create collages. She currently has studio space in the Twist Drill Building in Cleveland. Her work has been exhibited regionally in various galleries such as Valley Art Center, Hoyt Art Center and KINK Contemporary. Celeste spent 2021 co-curating with Jared Gepperth at E11even2 Gallery located in 78th Street Studios. Together Celeste and Jared produced 6 exhibitions featuring NE Ohio artists. In 2024, she curated an interactive exhibition titled “Neverending Cycles: A Laundromat Soap Opera” with collaborator Taylor Clapp. This exhibition featured 25 artists, over 50 works of art, many clothes pins and a laundry themed zine library by Late Night Copies Press. Celeste currently resides in Cleveland, Ohio where she works as the Gallery & Store Manager at the Morgan Papermaking Conservatory. When she is not painting or drawing, you can find Celeste wandering the Cleveland Metroparks or tending to her plant jungle.
_____________

22- Mo Clay | Pillow Pet | $225
Oil paint on canvas
12″ x 12″
Artist Bio: Mo Clay is an artist from Canton, Ohio, who graduated from the University of Akron with a BFA in Painting and Drawing. He believes it is important to balance raising awareness and fighting for important issues such as LGBTQ+ rights and to also find serenity in the little things. In Mo’s case, the little things are his miniature dachshunds. He is passionate about his dogs and paints them like his muses.
_____________

23- Jess Fijalkovich | unseen worlds | $300
Porcelain clay, glass bead, watercolor, mother of pearl gel, and opal mobile
4.5″ x 7″ x 21″
Artist Statement: This mobile explores the delicate balance between light, movement, and memory, evoking a connection to unseen worlds. Inspired by the protective qualities of Polish folk art pająki, it reflects the way energy flows, offering an opening that bridges the physical and the ephemeral.
Artist Bio: Jess Fijalkovich is a visual artist, curator, and archivist. They merge these practices through memory work, like detective work or archaeology, working backward, searching for clues, unraveling signs and traces, and piecing together reconstructions out of the fragments. From analog photography to hand papermaking and sculpture, each piece is an offering, an opening to connect with the ephemeral through a captured shadow, a flash of refracted light or colors that evoke memory and emotion. Their work invites viewers to look closer, consider the layers of memory, history, and abstraction, and feel the tension between the traces of time and resilience embodied in all organic matter. Fijalkovich has been in exhibitions at Bass & Reiner, the Carnegie Museum of Art Pittsburgh Art Book Fair, Cleveland Print Room, and Troppus Projects. They have been an artist in residence at Curated Storefront, the Sable Project, and the Winslow House Project. Fijalkovich is a 2023 Knight Art + Tech Expansion Fund grantee, with a focus on digitization and archiving, and a 2023 ArtsNow Creative Investment Program grantee.
_____________

24- Max McMillen | Barbie and Her Ragdoll | $1,000
Soft pastels on Canson Mi-Teintes
25″ x 19″
Artist Statement: As an artist existing in the digital age, I find myself drowning in popular culture. From my home, I can see what the world is getting up to. I observe movie stars and musicians at the Met Gala, wearing millions of dollars on their fingers. I watch MTV VMA stage performances meant for one night only. I see it all in the palm of my hand. I wonder about the costumes women wear on these stages, and why are they all in bodysuits? Why did Zendaya wear a tin bodysuit that accentuates the shape of the female body, that she herself could barely fit in? Why did Kim Kardashian squeeze into a dress made for Marilyn Monroe’s body? And why does Britney Spears film Instagram reels of herself dancing in bikinis? I compare these pop culture “norms” of dancers and singers wearing skin-tight bodysuits on every stage to historical paintings depicting the female nude, and I consider the objectification and commodification of a woman’s body for viewing pleasure. I relate myself and my work back into these conversations about the female body, and I wonder when we will stop comparing ourselves to each other. This work asks the viewer to stop and think about pop culture and it’s impact on the female body. It’s impact on how we view women. A light visual joke is made with this piece, as a cat is put on full display with the female nude. The depiction of the woman tries to pull you into disbelief while the background fades to lines and color, reminding you that this is not real, it’s all constructed. The final question I want to pose is, why do we feel so comfortable viewing the female body when there’s a screen between us and the body? For the VMAs and the Met Gala, a camera does the work of allowing us to view whats happening while we sit at home. For a painting, the painter makes the scene come to life, but we know that a real person does not stand before us. We are separated from the real thing with reproductions. It’s like we view everything through a one-sided window. Somehow we have allowed ourselves to be very comfortable with that.
Artist Bio: Max McMillen is a queer visual artist and arts administrator native to Cleveland, Ohio. They currently work as Program Assistant and Social Media Manager at Julia De Burgos Cultural Arts Center. They graduated from the Cleveland Institute of Art (CIA) in early 2021, holding awards such as the Gund Family Scholarship, the Joseph McCullough Scholarship, and the Dorothe L. Neibes Painting Award. Their work has been exhibited at the Hildebrandt Artist Collective for Inside the Closet, the Cleveland LGBT Center for Everywhere, All at Once, Waterloo Arts for the ‘22 CAN Triennial, the 2022 Groundhog Show in Akron, CIA’s annual Student Independent Exhibition (74 and 73), and virtually at EMU’s Fresh Looks 2021, along with work featured in the Cleveland Art Association’s Children’s Collection.
_____________

25- Sarah Kosinski | Lovers Embrace | $100
Photography
24″ x 18″
Artist Statement: In a time where we have fought for both women’s rights and LGBT+ rights and they could be taken away with one law change by the government people are scared and worried. I wanted to capture the comfort of these two women embracing each other both for love and safety. They have both been looking forward to starting a life together with little to no struggle but now they must fear something as simple as their right marriage getting taken away from them, it is truly a fight we will all be supporting everyone in.
Artist Bio: Hello, my name is Sarah I am a professional photographer and my main focuses are portrait and abstract photography. I like to show people in a natural state, showing emotions and vulnerability in any way possible. I was originally unsure of what to submit in this entry but I decided to focus on the struggles that women and the LGBT+ community face everyday.
_____________

26- Alex Heard | Truth Teller | NFS
Cotton textile, foam
 27″ x 30″ x 10″
Artist Statement: This wearable plush headpiece is asking some questions. The two joined heads call to the logic puzzle of a duo who either lie or tell the truth. Unfortunately, not even they are sure who is which, and the wearer is stuck in the middle. How do we know if we are telling the truth? Can we be sure that it’s the same truth for everyone? Who decides what is true in a world where facts no longer matter? These two opposing mouths ponder questions such as these while they sprout from the head of someone who does not have time to consider them. They simply wait for the answers to make themselves known.
Artist Bio: Alex Heard is a soft sculptor and performance artist from Akron, Ohio. Their colorful wearable sculptures engage with a variety of topics such as emotional turmoil, consumption, and queer identity. Alex received a BFA from the Cleveland Institute of Art in 2020, and now supports sculpture classes as studio technician. They exhibit and perform throughout northeast Ohio.
_____________

27- Violet Maimbourg | The Last Time I Ran My Fingers Through Your Hair | NFS
Wood, aluminum, steel pipe, 3D printed parts, mannequin hand, brass and stainless steel hardware
24” x 36” x 9”
Artist Statement: Humans are capable of independent thought and the ability to be self-aware which brings about
feelings of shame and disgust, setting us apart from other animals. My body of work is about the intimate
moments between human beings and the lasting effect it has on our emotional well-being. I examine the
anguish and beauty of being human.
My sculptures have mutilated body parts that are created from silicone. I employ processes used
in Hollywood special effects to create these fleshy, bloody sculptures. Platinum silicone allows for
the replication of human flesh with color and transparency. This softness is sometimes contrasted with strong
carbon steel. Much like the human body, steel can rust, decay, and turn to dust. My animatronic sculptures
reference and pay homage to early automata, and are designed to mimic human movement in an attempt
to capture fleeting memories that converge to create mechanized melancholy in a seemingly endless loop.
My interest in creating kinetic sculptures stems from my early childhood interest in robotics. Human
hands have the incredible ability to create beautiful things and the power to destroy and hurt.
My work examines this delicate balance between creator and monster.
My naked, bloody, and robotic creations are more self-portraits than figments of my imagination,
showing how I have been trained through the consumption of media and rhetoric to view my own
humanity and body. My work comes from an introspective place, focusing on my own feelings and body,
hoping to have my audience face the same introspection. This introspection and sharing of my experience
can help the viewer feel less alone. Taking care of our bodies, our spirits, and our emotional well-being
can transform shame into self-acceptance.
Artist Bio: Violet Maimbourg is a sculpture artist from Cleveland, Ohio. Violet graduated from the Cleveland Institute of Art in 2021 with a BFA in Sculpture and Expanded Media. Violet’s work has been shown nationally and internationally. Violet mainly focused on video art and film for over a decade, originally attending Pratt Institute in Brooklyn New York in 2013, majoring in Film/Video. She is currently working toward receiving an MFA in Sculpture and Expanded Media from Kent State University.
_____________

28- Yael Lee Israeli | Don’t dream it’s over | $1,200
Oil paint on canvas
24” x 36”
Artist Statement: This piece was inspired by the sphinx in Greek mythology. The sphinx is a creature with the body on a lion, the face of a woman, and wings of a bird. She is a protector of a specific place. In the myth, she asks passerby’s a riddle. If the riddle is answered wrong, she kills them. In the painting, the sphinx is sitting in a strange environment. The sand is pink, it is dark, and there is a strange mercury-like entity slithering around. The idea of the sphinx came from a period of my life where I felt like I needed to protect my peace no matter what cost. The sphinx protects her domain in a vicious way. The landscape represents a void that I find in myself. It is vast with no beginning or end. Smooth, detailed brushstrokes convey the softness of her fur. She does not look threatening, but don’t get too close and answer her riddle wrong. Although she may be a violent creature, all she wants to do is protect her environment, the best way she knows how.
Artist Bio: Yael-Lee Israeli is currently a studio art major with a concentration in painting at Kent State University. She has had work displayed in multiple shows including Aggregate II, and Split ends painting exhibition at Kent state. She is interested in painting combinations of objects to create visual metaphors from her own lived experience.
_____________

29- AnneMarie Smith | Security Blanket | $500
Yarn, Polyfil, aluminum wire, buttons
28″ x 45″ x 6″
Artist Statement: The piece was originally inspired by the question ‘what are ways that people protect themselves?’. I wanted to explore how children use baby blankets like protective armor. ‘Security Blanket’ is inspired by my well loved baby blanket. The piece is knitted with colors that are reminiscent of my childhood baby blanket, as well as items that remind me of adolescence, like buttons and pom poms. I arranged the rings into a traditional chainmail pattern to reference the use of protective garments historically.
Artist Bio: AnneMarie Smith (They/Them) is an Ohio-born sculptor and metalsmith. They are currently working towards their BFA in Sculpture with a minor in Jewelry Design and Metalsmithing from the University of Akron’s Myers School of Art. AnneMarie’s current body of work explores their queer identity and religious upbringing. Their work often explores the creation of textiles, the use of found or recycled objects, and body adornment. They often use historical references in their work. AnneMarie Smith’s work has been exhibited in several galleries including The Akron Art Museum, The Emily Davis Gallery, Kink Contemporary, and The Baltimore Jewelry Center.
_____________

30- Jordi Rowe | Beach | $450
Watercolor on paper
4″ x 5″, 10″ x 12″ framed
Artist Statement: Everything moves quickly and is digitally at our fingertips, while these intimate watercolors in bright, shimmering tones remind us to slow down, contemplate and reflect in the safe space of a gallery. Evoking a sense of sanctuary, these works of vast expanse of water and sky, help us contemplate the stillness of the universe, and a shifting of perspectives.
Artist Bio: Jordi Rowe is a painter, pathologist, and mother who spends her time between parenting, practicing medicine and art. Her work primarily focuses on light, sky and water, creating spaces focusing on the sublime. Throughout her work, she often integrates elements of growing up in the Canadian Rockies and Big Sky Country. She is a graduate of the Cleveland Institute of Art, where she majored in painting. Her work has been exhibited in group exhibitions such as the CAN Triennial in Cleveland, Ohio, and in solo exhibitions at Waterloo Arts Gallery, the Cleveland Institute of Art, the Valley Art Center in Chagrin Falls, and Studio M at the Massillon Museum.
_____________

31- Pamela Price | Held In Time | $325
Ceramic, beach shell, and coral
Width 5.5-6″ x Height 5/5-6.5″ x Depth 1/5-1/75″
Artist Statement: In a world marked by relentless cycles of loss, grief, and struggle, my work emerges as a quiet act of care and connection. Through intimate ceramic reliquaries, I honor the resilience of the human spirit and the beauty of being shaped by life’s challenges. Each piece cradles a broken, sea-worn shell—fragments softened by time and the tides—within textured, aged surfaces. These forms, intentionally imperfect, invite viewers into a shared space of reflection.
My process begins with fragments—objects that bear the weight of time and the power to evoke memory. Far from flawed, these fragments hold stories of transformation and endurance, challenging the societal pursuit of perfection. Through their worn edges and irregular shapes, they speak to the shared human journey of being softened, broken, and remade.
This work seeks to cultivate a dialogue about caring for ourselves and one another in the face of hardship. I aim to foster a kindred connection among viewers by creating tactile spaces that spark curiosity and memories, embracing radical softness as resistance and regeneration. These reliquaries are offerings—small sanctuaries of hope, resilience, and the tender beauty in life’s most vulnerable moments.
Artist Bio: Having the opportunity to create with my hands is a gift and essential to my vibrant living. After collegiate study focused in the Fine Arts—earning an MFA from Louisiana State University and a BFA from the Cleveland Institute of Art—I began to teach and inspire students to create from their hearts and to discover not by playing it safe but with an earnest thirst for what’s possible. I spent a decade working and teaching among some of the most talented and inspiring people, who continue to enlighten, embolden, and adorn our world. My fortunate opportunities within academic art communities were followed by a search for a space and place to begin a homestead of my own. At the time, I had some idea about what that looked like; the universe had other intentions for me. Becoming a Yoga Instructor transformed my inner dialogue and connection to my body, mind, heart, and soul. It inspired me to create programs for others to practice and for other teachers to teach. As an E-RYT500, Yoga Nidra Meditation Facilitator, and Rest and Life Coach, I founded TrueBlueSoul Life Coaching in 2018 to support others in discovering balance and growth. My creative journey has recently circled back to working in clay while reflecting on the growth and transformations of my own life. Over the past year, while caring for my elderly mother, I was confronted with the fragility and poetry of life’s seasons. This experience deepened my connection to the themes of resilience and the sacred beauty found in being shaped by time and love.
_____________

32- Kayla Billings | Banished From Eden (But At Least We Still Have Each Other) | $300
Ink
16″ x 14″
Artist Statement: This is the moment after adam and eve’s exile from eden, not as a tale of loss, but as a theme of human connection. After tasting the forbidden fruit, they faced a world filled with pain and mortality, yet their embrace symbolizes resilience and companionship. This piece invites viewers to reflect on the duality of knowledge—how it brings both suffering and intimacy.
Artist Bio: Hailing from Tennessee, Kayla Billings is an artist who holds a BFA in Studio Art from the University of Memphis. Her artistic journey has been shaped by her travels to South Korea and a deep exploration of self-expression. After a long period of disconnection from her art—and herself—Kayla rediscovered her passion in 2023 after moving to Ohio, reigniting her creative voice through pen and ink. Since then, she has been an active member in the local art scene and has exhibited her work at several local galleries, including Summit Art Space, Cuyahoga Valley Art Center, and Pinwheel Gallery. Through her art, Kayla has found a renewed appreciation for her own identity, creating pieces that celebrate resilience, femininity, and the timeless beauty of the human form.
_____________

33- James Schaffer | if you can’t hold me like you used to | NFS
Embroidery on quilt
32″ x 32″
Artist Statement: I found this quilt my grandma made me, dated on the back in faded pen – “for Ava Katherine, Love Mena – March 30, 2003,” and embroidered a letter I wrote to my mom this past year on it. The past and present meld together in an ambiguous amalgamation. Although the quilt holds its original form, it is transformed not only through display but mediation. The hand-stitched embroidery adds onto and changes the history of the object beyond its original intent. This is parallel to being trans, which requires a reassessment of the past, present, and future – time shifts and becomes nonlinear.
Cisheteronormative life stages and markers of development are experienced out of order or not at all; firsts are re-experienced through a new, post-transition body and lens; and the past is not only reassessed, but rectified.
This work is a love letter to my past, present, and future self and to all other trans folks who have had to reexamine and reimagine the timeline of their lives as well.
Artist Bio: James Schaffer is a multifaceted artist currently pursuing a Bachelor of Fines Arts in Drawing and Painting at the Cleveland Institute of Art. His work deals with the reclamation of the body and identity through an unapologetically queer lens, drawing from his own life as transgender. Schaffer’s work has been exhibited at the Truman Brewery for the Visual Art Open in London, UK; the Spiva Center for the Arts in Joplin, MO; the Islip Arts Council in Long Island, NY; and the Valley Art Center in Chagrin Falls, OH. His other honors include the LGBTQ+ Heritage Day Rising Leader Award, People’s Choice Award at the Visual Art Open, the Carl Gaertner ‘24 Memorial Prize, and the Dan Tranberg Memorial Scholarship. He recently curated a group exhibition at the LGBT Community Center of Greater Cleveland called Everywhere, All at Once, featuring 28 transgender artists.
_____________

34- July Edwards | now if i f* this model | $2,000
Oil and glitter on panel
36″ x 48″
Artist Statement: This self-portrait painting depicts myself curled up on a bed, almost in fetal position, cuddled up with soft linens. Saturated and bright pinks contribute to an atmosphere of warmth and comfort, representing the safety one seeks when dealing with the unending torment of a depressive and anxious headspace. Lush brush strokes bring attention to the stretch marks and cellulite present on my body, relating to the physical softness of a larger form and the presence of “excess” skin. The piece also suggests the softness of a bed, which is emblematic of security and coziness. In contrast to the physical appearance and content of the work, the title of the piece references the lyrics of the song “Father Stretch My Hands Pt. 1” by Kanye West. He is someone who has struggled with mental health in the public eye, to much controversy, primarily due to his unfiltered commentary. In particular, the lyrics I referenced as my title were largely criticized for their crude and unabashed content. I find myself relating to him in that way, as I often struggle to control my own impulsive thoughts as they become audible statements, much to the dismay of my peers, coworkers, and authoritative figures. This impulsive action, in turn, leads to depressive episodes and anxiety spirals over the things that I say, and that I feel embarrassment over.
Artist Bio: July Edwards is a recent graduate from Kent State University, having received a Bachelor’s of Fine Arts in painting. Currently, she lives in the Kent-Akron area in Ohio, working primarily in oils. Depicting the figure through lush brush strokes that give the impression of pores and imperfections, her work often tackles themes of depression, body positivity, and feminism. She draws inspiration from art history and recontextualizes the female nude by making works that confront the viewer with visceral honesty and vulnerability.
_____________

35- Emily Corsaro | Yesterday | NFS
Felted wool, cotton yarn, polyester fiberfill, iPod, headphones, charger cord
19” x 26” x 35”
Artist Statement: An artifact of a lost loved one, preserving a memory by giving the soul a body. The bodily visceral meeting the found and “obsolete,” formed into a comfort object meant to encourage interaction.
Artist Bio: Emmy Corsaro is a multimedia three-dimensional artist based in Cleveland Heights, Ohio. Corsaro primarily works with textiles and
found objects to outwardly express the feelings of grief caused by the loss of her brother, with the goal of working toward the acceptance of this loss through her sculptures.
Corsaro’s most recent exhibition was Bespoke in the Ann and Norman Roulet Gallery at her college, the Cleveland Institute of Art. She has received numerous awards including the Pell Grant, Gund Family Scholarship, and the Ohio College Opportunity Grant. Presently, Corsaro is in her third year at the Cleveland Institute of Art, expecting to graduate in 2026 with her BFA in Sculpture and Expanded Media.
_____________

36- Makaylah Clark | Crane and Ribbon | $1,500
Acrylic, glitter , gemstones, faux pearls on canvas
30″ x 40″
Artist Statement: I consider these two works companion pieces, and a entry point to exploration and themes in my other works. My work combines history, culture and fantasy to create a new narrative of positivity. I describe the work I create as an act of resistance through joy. In this piece I chose to highlight a male Asian subject which I feel is an underrepresented group in figurative art. I also wanted to honor the people who’s culture has inspired my art deeply. Specifically the background of my work is inspired by Joseon Dynasty court paintings, which are meant to evoke prosperity and power. I use the background in my work as a way to also convey this meaning to the viewer. I also use birds in many ways in my work each having their own meaning. Behind the subject there is a large crane, which represents happiness, nobility, patience, focus, and wisdom across many cultures. The way i mix culture is deeply influenced by growing up and being around a driver group of people off and online. Ribbon in my work represents connection, and in this pieces specifically it the connections that we choose to create through happiness. In the background of this paining there is a willow which represents Grief and mourning. Despite grief it dose not stop us from create a better happier future, we are not just of grief or hardship. This work also includes a white line that cuts through the foreground. This line is inspired by many cultures who include purposeful “mistakes” in their work. Some examples include Persian rugs and Navajo blankets. This “mistake” in my work allows me to be more mindful of how i create and a nod to so many ancient artist who’s work many not be recognized on the western artworld. My work is also simply filled with things I like, which i also think are easily relatable to the viewer. Starts, Stickers, Glitter and vibrate colors are some of those things.
Artist Bio: Makaylah Clark African American a mixed media figurative painter.Clark is lifelong resident of Akron Ohio and has attended Miller south and Firestone High School for their highly competitive art programs. She continues to broaden her knowledge in her craft through first hand experiences like Artist residencies and local art leagues. Makaylah Seamlessly combines many visual elements to create work centered around themes of identity, American melting pot and fantasy escapism. She describes fantasy escapism as a mix of the Black Joy movement and afrofuturism, which focuses on highlighting Black people in a positive narrative. In addition to these themes showcased in her work, Clark mixes traditional materials like acrylic paint and untraditional Items like stickers and rhinestones. Combining fairy tales, folklore and literature to expand on the depth and meaning of her work. She creates work that is eye catching and deeply impactful. Makaylah is currently working on creating larger and more complex works. First had expenses, research on African American history and in combination with new mediums like lino print.
_____________

37- Carla Wagner | Realms of the Imaginary | $1,595
Acrylic paint on canvas
20.5” x 36”
Artist Statement: What happens when we close our eyes and imagine what is in our dreamlike world? I want to create this space as such, and one that can be appreciated with its finest details and subtleties. Traveling through with the mark of a brush stroke to then entering a whimsical realm in which makes the unknown become known. However, this is only connected through the sense of touch that is seamless in its own capacity.
Artist Bio: My name is Carla Wagner and I am a Senior at Kent State University pursuing my B.F.A. in Studio Art with a Concentration in Painting and a Minor in Drawing. My interests lie in the world of abstracted surrealism and how different elements can be morphed to make new, harmonious connections between one another. I take a lot of inspiration from spaces of natural life, as well as my own life experiences. Within my work, I use my imagination to form the composition and have the decisions of mark making be influenced by one another. Additionally, I use my inspirations as a grounding for my work as these are an important part of my process.
_____________

38- Kayla Weinman | Water Plant | NFS
Ceramic, underglaze, made with coils, pinch pots, and wheel thrown pieces
16″ x 21″ x 11″
Artist Statement: The purpose of this series is to combine function with the world of sculpture. Using bright bold colors to draw in the viewer and disguising its potential use as a way to add a performance element. “Water Plant” at first glance is a seemingly familiar plant that appears to have no role, but when removing the flower it is revealed to be a lidded jar, by use of the remaining elements. The flower itself is lined with glaze to serve as a vase. This work was created with coils, slabs, hyper-smoothing, wheel thrown forms, and underglaze inlay. This inlay was created by using a colored slip base, firing, brushing a darker hue of underglaze on top, and wiping away this coat with a sponge.
Artist Bio: Kayla Weinman grew up in a small village in rural Ohio called Burbank; which has one stop light and an abundance of corn fields and cows. Weinman attended college at the University of Akron, where they got their BFA in ceramics. After graduating, Weinman then moved to Richmond, Virginia where they attended a one-year post-baccalaureate program at Virginia Commonwealth University. After completing their post-baccalaureate program, they moved back to Ohio in 2022 where they found a job teaching ceramic classes at Wayne Center for the Arts, in Wooster Ohio. She then started teaching ceramic classes at The University of Akron in 2023.
_____________