Natalie Cruz is a queer multimedia artist based in Silver Spring, MD. Born in Los Angeles, CA, to Salvadoran immigrants, she pays homage to the bright, vivacious technicolor of animation she loved as a kid while weaving them into her own stories. As the star of her own movie, Natalie incorporates fantastical escapism in color and line to portray her process of dealing with trauma and depression. She contemplates her relationships with herself, her family, the world, and divinity, retaining a distinct style through portrait, abstract, and 3D elements. As a passionate environmentalist, Natalie incorporates found materials such as discarded wire decoration, cellophane, and takeout bags to highlight the effects of human over-consumption on the environment and the individual psyche. She loves the metamorphosis of turning unassuming ingredients into splendid, impactful images.

 Lillian Jacobson is a figure painter based in Baltimore, Maryland, whose works explore themes of identity, introspection, and the interplay of personal and collective narratives. Born in Bogotá, Colombia, and growing up in Maryland, Lillian brings a rich cultural background and a unique blend of perspectives to her artistic practice. Lillian earned a BFA in painting at the Maryland Institute College of Art. Lillian's work has been recognized and celebrated in various group exhibitions across Maryland. With each exhibition, Lillian expands her reach and sparks meaningful conversations as viewers are invited to embark on their own introspective journeys.

DEZ’s current works are all across the spectrum. Some pieces are centered around a mix of traditional layer building using knife and brush techniques accompanied by contemporary elements such as airbrush and spray paint. The idea is to combine the old world with the new to create impactful, stunning pieces using well known, popular subjects, ie; actors, models, superstars. The artwork is meant to ‘move’ and ‘jump’ off the canvas. Another current focus is a form of pop art. These works include the use of traditional super heroes combined with popular modern fashion symbols in a form of mockery to the importance placed in today’s social media driven ‘hype’. The style is clean and to the point. The look is very pop, comic strip. But the message is clear.

My name is Edgar David Nazario. I am a multidisciplinary artist, musician, photographer, and filmmaker from Puerto Rico.

My oil work is a celebration of Latin American folklore, a rich tapestry of stories, traditions, and vibrant experiences. Through the vivid colors and playful brushstrokes, I seek to capture the essence of this cultural legacy, inviting viewers to immerse themselves in the colorful glory and spirited movement of my pieces. Each stroke and hue is deliberately chosen to evoke a sense of nostalgia, transporting the audience to a place where memories and traditions intermingle.

My art explores the human experience, especially in relation to music, and how it has the ability to foster a sense of connectedness. My involvement in the DMV electronic music scene as well as experiences growing up in the subtropics have shaped my uniquely vibrant personal aesthetic. Listening to music is often the jumping-off point in the studio that induces a trance-like focus on mark-making and color layering, where the hand is directed through painting to interact with different performative mythologies (rituals) and healing practices. My work speaks to the viewer through the symbolic language of color, memory, ancestral connection, and hieroglyphics.

Maria Paula Rodriguez is a multi-disciplinary artist born in El Salvador in 1998. When she was 15 years old, she and her mother moved to The U.S to pursue a better life. She started painting at a young age, and continued to do so all throughout highschool. She attended The Savannah College of Art and Design, and earned a B.F.A in Fashion Design in 2021. After college she moved back to Maryland, where she is now based and works as a Print Designer. Maria loves blending her painting skills with fashion. Her art ranges from paintings, to clothing, to pottery; all focusing on themes of identity, emotions, and storytelling. Maria’s artwork inspiration roots from her childhood in El Salvador, losing her sister to gang violence at an early age and her life as an immigrant. She paints with acrylics, and makes use of bright bold colors that symbolize hope and courage in her life. Painting has helped Maria heal her inner child and hopes that her artworks provide happiness and comfort to the people who see them.

Camila Leão is a visual artist specializing in illustration, painting, public art, and graphic design. Originally from Brazil, Camila recently moved to Baltimore and has been active in the local art community, participating in a number of projects. Her art style features vibrant colors, mixed textures and fluid elements. Most recently, she was featured in Baltimore Magazine and designed the artwork for the largest sculpture in the city of Essex, Maryland. Camila's art depicts her connection to the surrounding nature and world, as is inspired by her South American origins. Her work is featured on various surfaces, including canvases and street/ city structures.

Aynex was born in 1978 in Puerto Rico and now lives in USA. She came to the US in 1996 to go to the University of Massachusetts in Amherst. In 1997 had a car accident and suffered a spinal cord injury. Before the accident, Aynex was right-handed and after the accident, she couldn't control her right hand very well so she learned to be left-handed. Some people say that that left-handed people are more artistic. Aynex was creative before the accident but now she is very interested in art. She has been self-taught in her art and works intuitively.

Aynex moved to Frederick, MD in 2008 to start a new stage in her life and re-invented herself. Went back to school obtained a degree in Digital Design. Now she is a web designer and developer at the National Institutes of Health.

Internationally acclaimed artist Jesse Raudales was the first Latino artist to be commissioned to commemorate the US Olympic team in 2006. Since then, his work and career have continued to grow exponentially, and he has been using his influence to ensure that he will not be the last. Jesse’s work is highly socially and politically relevant, painting a picture specifically about the struggles of being part of a minority group in the United States. His work can be found in museums, galleries, and private collections across the country and around the world.

Growing up in the Middle East and additionally traveling extensively in Europe, Najla Alradwan was afforded the opportunity to be exposed to a vast array of historic artistic styles from an early age. As a teenager her interest in learning and working with different forms of Islamic geometric designs was awakened. After spending many years of her adult life as a lawyer in Kuwait and the U.S., Najla longed for artistic expression. She obtained her associates degree from Corcoran College of Art and Design in the fields of ceramics, sculpture and graphic design. This is where she discovered her passion: tile making. She continued to research Islamic art and history for inspiration and developed NAR Creation, her home-based studio specializing in Islamic handmade tiles. 

Meet the inspiring individual behind the scenes! With a lifelong love for dance and singing, Lauren Lowell found her purpose in teaching and directing theater. Hailing from Maine, she now calls Baltimore home along with their family and playful cats. Guided by mentors in her youth, Lauren went on to lead CAC's CAC’s Musical Theatre program, nurturing young talents and offering guidance the way she was. Her advice to aspiring theater enthusiasts: embrace all aspects of the craft. Recently, Lauren wrapped up production of "The Prom" with the STAR Ltd. Young Adult program, and "Finding Nemo Jr.".

Janelle Washington is a paper-cut and silhouette artist from Richmond, VA. Using paper as a medium, Washington unearths forgotten or untold stories that highlights the struggles and perseverance of Black people in America. She explores themes of history, identity, family, and feminine beauty in Black culture.