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Our Teaching Artists
TBA
Marta Blair
Marta Blair is a Colombian artist based in NYC since1997. She has a Fine Arts degree from the National University of Colombia and a BFA in Graphic Design. She has worked in visual arts and textile design for over 15 years. Blair has been a member of Cornerstone Studios since 2015, a collective of artists from northern Manhattan who are based in Washington Heights. She enjoys large format painting. Marta has had several shows in NY and a few commissions for public art installations.
Marisol Diaz
Marisol Díaz (Puerto Rican) was born and raised in the Bronx, NY. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree in photography from City College, City University of New York (2002), and an Associate's degree in Advertising Arts from Bronx Community College (1993).
Her accomplishments also include working for En Foco from 1999 to 2010, coordinating and curating its Touring Gallery program, New Works exhibitions, and conducting artistic development workshops; teaching photography at the Bronx International High School, Bronx River Art Center, IS 123 (Middle School), the Millbrook Community Center, Wave Hill, Pelham Hutchinson Elementary, the Bronx Museum of the Arts, the Bronx Council on the Arts, Pepatián, all in The Bronx; Pelham Hutchinson Elementary and Pelham Art Center, in New York.
Díaz has served as a panelist for The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, the Bronx Council on the Arts, Bronx Net, Coca Cola’s Art in Harmony program and The New York State Council on The Arts (NYSCA). She has also served as a photo reviewer at FotoWeek DC (2008).
Her personal work has been exhibited in several galleries and alternative spaces in New York, including George Eastman House in Rochester and El Taller Boricua Gallery in NYC, Bronx Art Space, Pregones Theater, Haven Art Gallery, Casa del Sol, Longwood Art Gallery, Casita Maria, all in The Bronx.. She was also commissioned by the George Eastman House in 2008 to photograph landscapes in Puerto Rico. Díaz is a recipient of the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs Art Fund through the Bronx Council on the Arts (2009), three BRIO Awards from the Bronx Council on the Arts (2004, 2007, 2009), a Citation of Merit from the Bronx Borough President Adolfo Carrión (2007), and the NY State Senate Award for her contribution to the arts in her community (2002).
As a freelance photographer and the sole proprietor of Marisol Díaz Photography, her clients have included the Associated Press, Bronx Overall Economic Development Corporation (BOEDC), Bronx Academy of Arts and Dance (BAAD), The New Bronx News, The Bronx Times, Bronx Council on the Arts, The Bronx Museum of the Arts, Bronx Opera Company, Bronx Net, The Office of the Bronx Borough President, Coca-Cola, Denham Wolf, El Diario la Prensa, Montefiore Hospital, Patch.com, Pepatián, The New York Mets, Norwood News, Salsa Catering, and Sun and Moon Marketing.
Maria Ferrari
Maria Ferrari, born in Brooklyn, NY graduate of Syracuse University has been a still life photographer working in New York City’s photo district for the past 30 years. Her clients vary from advertising agencies to design firms, book publishers, pharmaceutical companies, major corporations, non-profit organizations, consumer magazines and trade journals.
She is known for her attention to detail and for her relentless dedication to the craft of photography & lighting. Still life has always been her driving passion.
Maria also enjoys teaching. She has been helping others grasp the power and creativity of digital imaging through Photoshop. Her patience and ability to communicate and simplify the complex is remarkable. Her energy and enthusiasm becomes contagious for all things creative.
To see more of her work, check out her website at www.mariaferrari.com.
Michael Ferris
Michael Ferris lives and works in Bronx, NY. He received a B.F.A. in painting from the Kansas City Art Institute in 1991 and a M.F.A. in painting from Indiana University Bloomington in 1996. He has attended residencies at RAIR, Roswell Artists-in-Residence, Roswell NM; Sculpture Space, Utica, NY; Henry Street Settlement, NYC; Saltonstall Residency, Ithaca, NY; and The Walsh-Walentas Space Program, NYC.
He produces figurative sculpture with a colorful surface ornament of inlaid patterns by employing reclaimed wood and a self-invented wood overlay technique. His work is informed by his own Lebanese heritage, especially Middle-Eastern inlaid backgammon tables that were present in his childhood home in Chicago.
Through his sculpture, made from reclaimed wood, Michael addresses the issues of environmentalism and waste of our consumerism-oriented society. His desire is to transform previously discarded material into ornate, beautiful and penetrating works of art.
Ferris has lectured at many institutions including: The Elmhurst Art Museum, IL: Lehman College, Bronx, NY; The New York Academy of Art, New York, NY; and The New York Studio Residency Program, Brooklyn, NY. Michael has also served on the Artists’ Advisory Committee for the New York Foundation for the Arts, NYC.
His work has been exhibited widely throughout the nation at notable institutions including: The Elmhurst Art Museum, IL, The Bronx Museum, NY; The Queens Museum of Art, NY; ATM Gallery, New York, NY; Katonah Art Museum, NY; Stefen Stux Gallery, New York, NY; de Young Museum, San Francisco, CA; and The Illinois State Museums, IL.
Michael has received awards from numerous organizations including: The New York Foundation for the Arts (2009), The George Sugarman Foundation (2005), The American Craft Council (2002).
Ferris’ work can be found in public collections, such as the de Young Museum, San Francisco, CA; Illinois State Museum, Springfield IL; and Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Bentonville, AR.
His exhibitions have received reviews from: The New York Times, The New York Daily News, and The Chicago Tribune. His work is included in the recent book, “The Figure, Painting, Drawing and Sculpture”, published by Rizzoli International.
Xavier Figueroa
Xavier Figueroa is a Bronx-based visual artist working in installation, painting, sculpture, and other media to create "Experiences". With a background in architecture, carpentry, graffiti, and fine art, he creates work that invokes a familiarity to urban environments, using his roots and personal memories. The result is a three-dimensional illustration of his memory for others to explore.
Rosemarie Fiore
Rosemarie Fiore lives and works in Bronx, NY. She typically produces artwork out of the actions of mechanisms by converting popular technology such as lawn mowers, cars, waffle irons, floor polishers, pinball machines, fireworks and amusement park rides into painting machines.
Fiore received her BA and BFA from the University of Virginia, Charlottesville and MFA from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago. She has attended residencies at Art Omi International Artists Residency Program, Ghent, NY, Yaddo, Saratoga, NY, Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture, Skowhegan, ME, The MacDowell Colony, Peterborough, NH, Roswell Foundation AIR Program, Roswell, NM, Sculpture Space, Utica, NY, and the Bronx Museum (AIM Program), Bronx, NY.
She has received awards through The New York Foundation for the Arts, Brooklyn, NY, The New York State Council for the Arts, New York, NY, The Sally and Milton Avery Foundation, The Bronx Council on the Arts, Bronx, NY, The Walentas-Sharpe Foundation, Brooklyn, NY, The Lower East Side Print Shop, New York, NY, The NYC Department of Cultural Affairs and The Dieu Donne Paper Mill, New York, NY.
Her solo and group exhibitions include: The Weatherspoon Art Museum, Greensboro, NC, The SCAD Museum of Art, Savannah, GA, Von Lintel Gallery, Los Angeles, CA, Winkleman Gallery, New York, NY, The Anderson Gallery VCUarts, Richmond, VA, Grand Arts, Kansas City, MO, The Bronx Museum, Bronx, NY, The Queens Museum of Art, Flushing, NY, Socrates Sculpture Park, Long Island City, NY, Anderson Museum of Contemporary Art, Roswell, NM and The Franklin Institute of Science, Philadelphia, PA.
She has been reviewed by The New York Times, New York Magazine, Art in America, Artforum, The Village Voice, NY Arts Magazine, FLAUNT Magazine, Art Papers Magazine, The Washington Post, Art on Paper, Artcritical.com and Art Ltd. Magazine.
Her work is included in many public collections including UBS Art Collection, Zurich, Switzerland, Fidelity Corporate Art Collection, Boston, MA, Weatherspoon Art Museum, Greensboro, NC, The Cosmopolitan Hotel, Las Vegas, NV, Neuberger Berman, New York, NY, The Aspen Collection, New York, NY, Capital One, Richmond, VA and The Franklin Institute of Science, Philadelphia, PA.
Fiore is represented by Von Lintel Gallery, Los Angeles, CA.
BOM5 from the Rock Steady Crew & The Bronx Boys
Kathie Halfin
Kathie Halfin is an interdisciplinary artist, independent curator and educator based in New York. She received her MFA in Fine Arts from the School Of Visual Arts in New York. Kathie works within mediums of sculptural installation, fiber art and performance. Her work reflects on personal and politically charged experiences of immigration, labor and gender identity.
Kathie Halfin exhibited her work at the Woodstock Artists Association and Museum 2019, NARS Foundation 2019, White Box Performance Series 2019, Immigrant Artist Biennial: Soft Launch at the Assembly Room 2019, Itinerant Performance Festival: Smack Mellon 2019, Knockdown Center: Sunday Series 2018, Art In Odd Places: BODY Performance Festival 2018, Starlight Park 2018 in the Bronx, Clemente Soto Velez Cultural Center 2018, Bronx Museum AIM Biennial 2017, and the A.I.R. Gallery among others.
Hosea Johnson
Hosea Johnson images erupt from a great eye. Through the spectacular images seen through his eye and fixated by his lens, Hosea Johnson has captured wonderful celebrity images of superstars like queen of hip-hop soul Mary J. Blige, renowned funkmaster George Clinton, pop diva Beyoncé, and hip-hop prince Bow Wow, and presented their pictures to our world with unflinching grace, style and grand artistry. Perhaps two of his most well-known celebrity portraits are the debut album covers of both Brandy and neo-soul vocalist Amel Larrieux. In addition to photographing celebrities, Hosea Johnson also worked his magic high-fiving covers for such notable business magazines as Black Enterprise, and Network Journal. Hip Hop magazines Right On! and Word Up. Ttravel magazine, Odyessey Couleur. Fitness magazine Heart and Soul. And many hair and beauty magazines.
Johnson, a graduate of Southern Illinois University’s prestigious photography program, moved to the soulfully creative epicenter of Harlem, New York and set-up shop. It is in his New York studio and at various high-fiving locales around the country that he has photographed some of the most beautiful women in entertainment: Grammy-Award winner - Lauryn Hill, R&B singer and film star - Mya, wife of Russell Simmons and Creative Director of Baby Phat - Kimora Lee Simmons, television’s resident black beauty - Michael Michele and the late singer/actress - Aaliyah.
Not to leave the fellas out, Johnson was requested by Savoy Magazine to photograph legendary actor Harry Belafonte. Publishing companies were so enamored with Johnson’s talent that they commissioned him to photograph international hip-hop star Wyclef Jean, R and B’s Brian McKnight former presidential candidate Al Sharpton and Congressman Harold E. Ford Jr. In addition, if you flip through the awe-inspiring books Soul Style and Hair Story, you will see Johnson’s photographs prominently displayed.
When Johnson is not high-fiving celebrities or photojournalism pieces, he can be found teaching photography to youth, most recently at the Harlem School of the Arts. Johnson’s work is truly noteworthy and he has been the subject of many articles in publications such as The New York Beacon, Sister2Sister, The Harlem Times, Liberty Star News, Rolling Out Urbanstyle Weekly and New York Trend
Reuben King
Reuben King has been a ceramic artist and art teacher for over 25 years. He was born and raised on the Caribbean island of Dominica, where his art education began at Marigot Arts and Crafts Institute. He studied at the Jamaica School of Art, the Caribbean’s only formal arts institution. His fine work and command of the material won him a scholarship to study design at the State Institute of Art in Naples and Florence, Italy. He has also taken several professional development courses at New York University, Lincoln Center, and several museums.
In his early career in pottery, Reuben was the manager of Baldwin Pottery, the only studio school in the country to train young artists and potters. He oversaw the daily operations of the center and spent nine years as a Ceramics Instructor, teaching all levels. For over ten years, he worked with Ceramic Supply of New York and New Jersey, New York City’s only ceramic supply store. He then went on to manage his own company, Kubuli House Designs/RTK Ceramic Arts, designing, producing, and selling his artwork and doing ceramic consulting and repair. Reuben has also worked as a mold maker and special assistant to glass artists Chistopher Cosma and Denise Amsess, where his expertise was vital to create a 30x10 foot cast glass crystal sculpture commissioned by the Rockefeller Group, which was installed and is on display at Rockefeller Center.
For the past 12 years, King has taught pottery and sculpture, as well as a variety of other media, to children and adults across New York City. He has worked with several local institutions, including the Museum of Art and Design, Bronx River Art Center, School of Visual Arts, and New York City Housing Authority. He has done numerous radio and television interviews related to his work as an artist and teacher and has been recognized by his contemporaries as a Master Potter. In 2002, Reuben was selected as Afterschool Teacher of the Year by his students and peers. He is an advocate for teaching and promoting environmental awareness, sustainability, and social justice through the arts. He teaches his students how to find their voice and make art using materials that are readily available to them, through his recycling and repurposing curricula.
Reuben maintains a studio in Brooklyn and has produced art and craft exhibitions locally and participated in many art exhibitions in New York City and internationally. He has demonstrated and exhibited at the New York City Historical Society and at other major institutions in the U.S. His work is usually functional, yet artistically formed and designed. The complex richness of his glazes engages the viewer in the relationship between color, texture, form, and function.
Arthur Kvarnstrom
Arthur Kvarnstrom is a landscape painter whose work has been exhibited in galleries and museums throughout the United States, including Trahern Gallery at Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, TN and the Noyes Museum in Oceanville, NJ. In New York, his paintings have been exhibited in solo shows at the Prince Street Gallery, where he has been a member for ten years. New York group exhibitions include the George Billis Gallery and the Kouros Gallery. Recently, Kvarnstrom was awarded an artist's residency by the Heliker-LaHotan Foundation on Cranberry Island Maine. He has an MFA from Kent State and currently lives in Manhattan.
Painting outside onsite offers a set of experiences completely different from studio painting. Being outside, immersed in the sights, sounds, and smells that are an inevitable part of the environment, provides sensory input not available in the studio. Kvarnstrom likes to think that these ephemeral and peripheral experiences somehow become part of the final work and are subsequently communicated to the art audience. While there are some distinct disadvantages to painting outside, with each season providing its own unique inventory of miseries, the positives offset the negatives. Working directly from nature encourages freedom from formula. Since everything changes quickly, it also supports the cultivation of simplicity of means, boldness, directness, and a reliance on intuition.
Christopher López
Christopher López (b.1984), a Puerto Rican-American Photographer and Arts Educator, was born in The Bronx and was raised between New York and Northern New Jersey. He has been working as a visual artist since 2005. To date, many of his works have been made on the island of Puerto Rico. Often by exploring diminishing histories, his photographs celebrate the richness of culture as well as portray the complexities of identity both on and off the island. His work was most notably exhibited in the exhibition, “Caribbean; Crossroads of the World” which spanned three museums in New York City and showcased over 100 years of Caribbean art from the region's most prominent artists.
As a teaching artist, Christopher has piloted and developed programs for the Aperture Foundation in New York City as well as developed curriculum and facilitated a youth art intensive through The Center for Urban Pedagogy City Studies program at the International Community High School in The South Bronx.
Tiffany Miller
Tiffany Miller is a multi-disciplined, experimental artist from The Bronx. She is primarily a self-taught artist, though she studied briefly at The Arts Students League. Tiffany’s paintings are surreal, expressionistic, mournful, and darkly humorous. Many of the bright colors she uses invoke the Caribbean Carnival tradition. She is a poet and storyteller who experiments with visual storytelling methods to explore themes of colonialism, spirituality, colorism, death, transformation, and carnival. Her work was featured in France and Brazil as part of the Street Art without Borders Project and at various galleries in the New York Area, most recently at the Corridor Gallery in Harlem.
Devon Purkiss
Devon Purkiss (a.k.a D3) is a NYC-based artist. His interest in art began early on during childhood, thanks in part to the action-packed, whimsical cartoons of the 1980s.
Eventually, D3 was introduced to comic books, Anime, classical art, and experimental modern art and decided that he desired a career in the arts.
D3 attended the School of Visual Arts, where he attained his B.F.A in illustration. He is currently a freelance illustrator, storyboard artist, humorist, optimist, and cartoonist working from his studio in the Bronx, always sketching his way to the top.
Amy Sinclair
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Amy Sinclair is an artist working in installation, performance, collage and mixed media. She also uses photographic images and writing as both documents and art objects. She is currently working on a four-part project called “Alter Texts”, which entwines her various practices. “Alter Texts” is a play on words referring to both change and ritual repetition. The artist has been engaged in philosophical and practical examinations of place, time and consciousness for many years. She has exhibited work and been awarded residencies in New York and Internationally. She currently lives and works in New York City.
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