Fernando M. Diaz
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Fernando M. Díaz works across Latin America, Europe, and the United States, primarily from his studios in Mexico and Italy. He is a graduate of the historic National School of Painting, Sculpture, and Printmaking “La Esmeralda” of the National Institute of Fine Arts of Mexico (INBA), and pursued advanced studies in drawing at the Atelier Latino in San Francisco, California. He has since taught this discipline at distinguished Mexican academic institutions, including the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), the Ibero-American University (UIA), the University of the Americas, and INBA itself.
He has presented more than 100 solo exhibitions in museums, galleries, and cultural institutions, in addition to participating in group exhibitions worldwide. His most recent exhibitions include “Levviathan”, presented at the Carlos Mérida National Museum of Modern Art, and “Odousia”, held at Galería Rozas Botrán, both in Guatemala City.
Throughout his career, he has received numerous distinctions and honors. In 2017, his hometown of Orizaba, Veracruz, Mexico, honored him with the title of “Distinguished Citizen.” In 1999, he received the United States House of Representatives; in 1998, he was honored for his artistic achievements by the LVII Legislature of the Chamber of Deputies of Mexico; and on February 12, 2024, his name was inscribed in the Golden Book of the Keren Kayemet LeIsrael Mexico and the Hispano-Jewish Foundation (KKL) in Jerusalem, among many other distinctions.
His work is included in the permanent collections of art museums in the United States of America, Romania, Ecuador, and Mexico. His artistic production has been the subject of more than a dozen publications, including “Fernando M. Díaz”, published by Editorial Ariadna (2017), and “Reencuentros”, by poet Dionisio Morales, published by the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) in 1987, among others.
Additionally, his work has been the subject of critical and literary texts by poet Héctor Carreto, painter Fanny Rabel, and Mexican artist José Luis Cuevas, as well as by other distinguished authors.
Tempest Williams
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Tempest Williams is a Houston-based artist and visual storyteller rooted in the rich culture of the Greater Fifth Ward neighborhood. Drawing inspiration from her community and personal experiences, she employs collage and assemblage art as her medium to weave intricate narratives, positioning herself as a modern-day griot. Her work delves into themes of identity,heritage, and resilience, creating visually compelling pieces that resonate deeply with viewers.
Tempest has established herself as a prominent figure in the Houston art scene, showcasing her work in prestigious venues such as the Houston Museum of African American Culture, Summer Street Studios, Hardy and Nance Studios, Winston Contemporary Art Gallery, Project Row Houses, and Emancipation Park. Her artistic reach extends beyond Houston, with exhibitions at 93 Wines in Dallas, Texas, and Café Istanbul in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Her art bridges contemporary expression with cultural heritage, affirming her role as a modern-day griot. Through her storytelling, she preserves the voices of her community and ensures their enduring impact on future generations.
Stephen Starr
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Painting is a moment based on a lived collective culture and communal memories to me. I consume, collect visual items, trinkets, and all paraphernalia from old books to parking valet stubs. My work references modern culture, abstract pop environments, using text, corporate advertising and imagery, song lyrics, literary quotes, history, and cultural icons. Everything that interests me and anything that affects me can go into the work. I believe everything has the capacity to stand for something deeper or different than what is apparent at first glance.
I’m drawn to talking about the process I utilize and the relationships that develop between the elements as I paint. Wanting to read a painting in the literal sense is relegating the work to one dimension. In the sharing culture of today, there is an intense need for viewers to be given the keys to all imagery within a painting, unwilling to be alone with what one sees. I believe painting is part of a lived experience, intimately involved with one’s own perception of life.
My work is an accumulated process of knowledge, memories and perceived experiences. That statement encapsulates the body of my work reflecting the tangible path of my process, exploration, and objectified thought. Thus, the subject of my work may be found in the process which serves as a vehicle for unfolding the path of my artistry through my paint brush. Viewers should bring their lived experiences and perceptions to find their own personal meaning within my work.
Felipe Contreras
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Born in Englewood, NJ from Colombian parents, Felipe Contreras, a first generation American, is a Veteran form the United States Marine Corps. His life travels have exposed him to all three coasts in the United States as well as South America along with the Middle East and Asia.
He brings those life experiences to his work, combining contemporary language, iconic imagery, and a touch of humor. By utilizing common symbols and juxtaposing them with iconography from the past and the present, Felipe brings forward current socioeconomic issues to the forefront.
The product that is the result of said combinations creates an open line of communication and sets the stage for the viewers to engage in civil discourse. In the end, Felipe’s goal is for the viewer to have been visually and intellectually stimulated.