OPEN

Cartoonist

For me, cartoons and comics start with character design. I envision each character with personality and purpose. My art tends to be bright and upbeat. My goal is to show positive expressions with happy emotions.

Website: https://aleroart.com/

Painter Muralist

My paintings seek to raise political, social and environmental awareness, the female figure is very present. As an undocumented migrant woman, I also consider that the stories that migrants have and tell are very important, and leave a record of how much we contribute to this society.

Artist, Painter, Muralist

I am committed to co-creating reality through making, expressing, and sharing art. Expanding awareness through art is an opportunity to grow individually and as a collective supporting the development of humanity. I make art to help open the door for conscious evolution.

Theater Director, Actor, Musician

I am a man of many loves… cats, coffee, video games, writing, singing, performing on stage, nerdy collectables, advocating for youth, living through art. I can be a little introverted with a pinch of extrovert and believe that most humans are wonderfully beautiful miracles of the universe, even on their bad day. We all have something to share or teach on our journey to be.

Filmmaker

I find myself as an observer to all the goings-on in the gallery. While photos capture a singular moment, video captures several! Bringing these moments together in the editing process creates a unique presentation to showcase the unseen creativity in the community.

Jack of all Trades

Activity, creativity, passion and peace. That is the commitment to creating art. It is my greatest hobby.

Journalist and Filmmaker

Previously I had considered myself a journalist, now I see myself simply as a “storyteller.” Though I am beholden to the truth, I gather the information and try to be fair. I’m continuously searching for creativity when telling my stories.

Website: https://barrionews.net/

Executive Director  |  Sculptor

Art is my continuous Journey of Creating without Judgement.

Development Director  |  Culinary Artist

I create to express how I feel, see, and experience the world around me, blending my Mexican culture with the energy of the city. Being able to transform one thing into another, sharing perspectives and telling stories. I am constantly inspired by the people I meet and the experiences I encounter, always learning and growing on this path of endless discovery.

Programs and Outreach Coordinator  |  Theatre Artist, Amateur Photographer

Whether through my own creations or in solidarity with others—»»bread for all, and roses too»»—art is essential to life and inherent in all of us.
I believe that the vitality of our world is rooted in the contributions of marginalized communities, with trans and queer voices at the forefront, bridging differences across race, gender, sexuality, disability, and class. Aesthetics are not separate from the struggles of survival, politics, and labor, but rather their foundation and essence.

Website: https://www.clarabyczkowski.com/

Gallery Coordinator  |  Photographer

As a self taught artist with life as my muse, I frame what I see and accept it as it is.

Creative Coordinator  |  Painter

I am a Chicago based Mexican visual artist. My abstract style is inspired by a desire for tranquility and growth. I create through painting, water colors, collages, face/body art, and props. My focus is on supporting the community, especially youth and children.

Graphic Designer  |  Fine Arts Painter & Muralist

As a self didactic artist, I find in art the way of bringing to light the deepest feelings of the spirit and soul. Art is a cleansing process that exposes the weaknesses and strengths that reside within me.

I believe noble gifts come from a divine source, thus, I leave my subconscious to guide me through the creation of surrealistic metamorphic human figures.

Website: https://royvillalobosdesign.com/

Botanist

Art is a sacred expression of the soul, a bridge between the seen and unseen, embodying the divine energy that flows through all creation. My work is guided by the principles of unity, harmony, Love, and transcendence, seeking to evoke a sense of connection to higher self and the collective consciousness. Through colors, forms, textures, I channel spiritual insight, inviting viewers into a meditative space where they can experience presence, healing, and transformation. Each piece is an offering, a reflection of the infinite, reminding us that creativity is a divine force that illuminates the path of awakening.

Artist

Pairing bright colors, textures and techniques is an everyday thing for me when I cook to nourish my wellbeing. When I’m cookin, I’m in the zone, listening to music and dancing along the way, while looking forward towards what’s to come.

Collector

When I think about art, I think about expression, creation, passion, connection… and «Open» means that it’s for everyone and part of everyone. We are all potential artists and we can all share in and appreciate art. As a lawyer who spends much of her time in policy and advocacy spaces that are often linear and dominated by meetings and dense writing, I search for a warm, welcoming place where I can connect with others to enjoy art, music, food, community, and reflection.

Writer

As the son of immigrants, I grew up listening to stories from my parents’ childhood and experiences in Mexico, which shaped me, yet filled me with questions about my identity. Storytelling has been a medium through which I can share and pass on family history, traditions, and knowledge. It has become a part of who I am and how I am. Sharing stories about ourselves in the good, bad and embarrassing times helps us connect on a deeper human level and help us build stronger, close-knit communities. Like my father and son, I am a storyteller, and that connection will remain long after I am gone, and I am proud to pass on that inheritance. An inheritance that will be shared and enjoyed by descendants who have yet to be born and whom I will never meet, but to whom I will be connected, through stories.