In addition to being a full time student at the University of Michigan, Nia Mays strives to create art that pulls from her personal experiences to challenge stereotypes in minority representation. She hopes to devote her future to activism and enabling the success of people of color through her studies in technology and art, while adding to the smattering of her public art already on display around downtown Grand Rapids.

Nina Lu is a Chinese born, Grand Rapids raised visual artist. She is a current student at Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York for a BFA in communications design, and a minor in Sustainability Studies. She has designed branding and completed murals around the city, but her independent work mainly investigates the human condition and its interaction with the natural world. Influenced by a passion for environmental science, and an active life in the woods of Michigan, she aims to use art to bridge the gap between emotion and data, thus making the woods a more interconnected, protected and accessible experience for all.

Kristin Zuller is a multidisciplinary artist from Grand Rapids, Michigan. She is driven to investigate what drives us to express ourselves, and how she can continue to elevate and refine her own processes. With over fifteen years of experience in the marketing industry as a visual artist, she has worked in a range of different roles, from technical and detail-oriented production art and product creation to identity and brand building. She has also designed and illustrated print and digital pieces, worked on large-format lettering and murals, and created paper-cut three-dimensional art.

Kendall Redmon is a multifaceted artist who is just as diverse as the art he creates. With a passion for subliminal messaging and using art to break barriers his work is very often meant for deep thought and reflection "I don’t like to say what it means because everyones take away is going to be different" Kendall likes to focus on fundamental themes and present them in ways that cause the viewer to be vigilant when viewing the art. "people don’t care about art anymore because the meanings no longer a secret"

Jamari Taylor is a portrait artist from Battle Creek, Michigan and current resident in the Grand Rapids community. Using charcoal, acrylics, and oils she creates images with character, power, and strength. Through her illustrations, she lovingly seeks to portray a sitter's strength and self-confidence. Jaylei Art is a place to get you inspired and to be at peace with beginning to grow daily with your inner-self. Through Jaylei Art tutoring, portrait time-lapse videos, Jaylei products, murals, and vendor events, it is Jamari's pleasure and a blessing to share her talents with you all!

Jasmine Bruce is a visual artist whose work emphasizes the healing power of creating. Currently based in Grand Rapids, Michigan she obtained her BFA in Illustration from Grand Valley State University. Her work aims to draw out a universal imbalance, restoring harmony and connection with the inner, outer and divine self.

Guillermo 'ASMA SPEEKS' Sotelo is a Grand Rapids native artist and graffiti writer. Practicing the craft for over a decade, he has taught himself how to 'SPEEK' through art and graffiti showing homage to his love for hip hop, science fiction, comic books and other notable nerd-isms. Through graffiti — a uniquely urban language understood by few and spoken by fewer — Guillermo seeks to use his passion for the art form to expand people’s understanding and remove the stigma surrounding the history and culture while simultaneously championing for more public spaces for artists to express themselves.

Bryan Kosciolek is an artist living and practicing in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He was born in Macomb, Michigan in 1994. Growing up Kosciolek was influenced by the manufacturing industry and street culture. Being engaged in the traditional media of drawing and painting from a young age, Kosciolek developed a colorful, figurative aesthetic. In 2017, he received his Bachelor of Fine Art degree in Illustration from Kendall College of Art and Design. Since 2017, Kosciolek has been working in Dinderbeck Studio, on the Westside of Grand Rapids.

Another fun project working with the awesome people who put on Art After Dark. It was a pleasure to work with Hannah Berry, Tyler Grimm, Carbon Stories, Matt Nutile, Lucas Benjamin, Steve Lesko, and many more throughout this production. Looking forward to the events later this year!

With a natural proclivity towards realism, self-taught artist Diane Nguyen only recently found joy in creating quirky illustrations and abstract work after a years-long creative dry spell. A Kalamazoo native, she currently resides in Grand Rapids. She’s inspired by nature (especially flora and fungi), organic shapes, eclectic patterns, and dynamic explorations of color. Her works now vacillate between the realistic, cheeky, and abstract.

It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.

Jay Foy is an artist from St Louis who currently practice in Grand Rapids. He enjoys reading comics, mangas, and watching animation. His work is influenced by merging movement, surrealism, abstract visuals. 

Sarah Jean Anderson is a multidisciplinary visual and performance artist from Grand Rapids, MI. Her whimsical paintings of manic, cartoonish characters have been sold to collectors all over the country for over a decade.