Meet The Artists

 Shari has a deep connection to helping establish an open dialogue between function and narrative in all aspects of artwork. Her focus is expressing Afrocentric art while using different mediums and material she collects on trips and outside. Shari favorite choice of medium is using nature in her art.  Shari sees nature as a symbol of strength, unity and resilience which enlightens the community of being a black woman

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Sonia Leayle Galiber is a grassroots political organizer, farmer, teacher, and artist.  She does policy organizing work focusing on land, food, and environmental justice. Her love for the land led her to eventually become an herbalist and maker of hot sauces & pickles.

Born in Okinawa, Sonia grew up both in Okinawa and the DC area, and has rerooted in Philly for over 12 years. She is an artist of traditional Japanese calligraphy as well as illustration.  Sonia finds inspiration in her Afro and Okinawan roots. She treats artistic expression as a journey with the self, grappling with individual identity and collective consciousness in a minimalist style. Inspired by the metaphysical to the earthly and everything in between, her art aims to come full circle.  

Through her work, Philadelphia based multimedia artist Equinox looks to convey messages that highlight authenticity, self-expression, and creating something from nothing. Her inspiration is drawn from the human experience; particularly human error, the emotions, and the five senses.

I am a visual artist and abstract-surrealist painter currently based in Philadephia. I often use acrylics and watercolors, appreciating the fluidity of water with pigment across a canvas. As my style has developed, I have favored using acrylic paint, for its richness and control. 

I am a self-taught artist, though I favored taking art courses, and sought experiences that would allow me to further develop the skill. 

I have a deep appreciation and fascination with the subtle interplay of the natural world and emotions. Incorporating themes of nature, landscapes, and sensualism in a surrealist expression, has been a recent development in my style. I am inspired by the metaphysical world, and organic body; often including the female form, and allusion to the four elements.

Where I see the future of my art, is in sculpture and casting, while still incorporating paint and more natural pigments.

I am an Indiana-based artist, I have enjoyed making art since I was in first grade and I have been in pursuit of mastering his craft for the past several years. Originally just strictly drew with strictly just graphite. I’ve had an interest in working with other mediums such as oil paint, charcoal, and watercolor. 

I don’t have one specific thing that inspires me and my artwork. I tend to find inspiration from life experiences and try new things that I haven’t before. Some recurring themes in my pieces are I always use African American people as my muse; spiritual and expression of some sort. 

May of 2021, I started working with clay, making Afrocentric Masks. These masks I'd like to think made their way through my fingertips on their own. I never took a class or even watched a youtube channel on how clay works. With this clay, my fingers started forming noses first, then eyes, then mouths, and so on. My masks have their own Series called the "Unseen." What this name meant for me started out very political. People of color in America are present but never actually being seen for the greatness, amazing talents, and overall powerful movement and effect we have in this world. Then my ideas started structuring and creating more tribal-like features, like gauged lips and ears, piercings, and tribal markings combining the two concepts. Each mask is made once with no duplication, making them so special and unique. You can check out in my online store and at local events.

Marla, or Mo, is a photographer based in New York, New Jersey and Philadelphia. Marla’s work has mainly focused on nature and architecture, however, she has been expanding her craft into other areas such as shooting portraits, graduation photos, engagement photos, events and videography. Although she’s experienced in shooting different subjects, her favorite is nature. To her, nature is grounding and mesmerizing, and she enjoys capturing the beauty in what’s already been created by the Universe.

Kris Charlery is a DC-based creative specializing in photography. She got her start as a digital intern for the House Oversight Committee. She then started working as a Digital Assistant/ Photographer at the Senate Democratic Media Center under the leadership of Senator Chuck Schumer. Since her time in politics, she has continued to explore editorial and experimental photography. This series she has on display is a part of her upcoming project “Anderson” a series based loosely on the symmetrically aesthetic found in Wes Anderson films. Enjoy.

I am an emerging fine artist from Philadelphia who’s working
towards breaking the mold.I recently made the decision to sew
into my passion full time. It was certainly a hard one as in
this world money is a strong motivator, but for me it isn’t
enough. I’d be alive yet not living.
Through the use of my voice, art, and any other creative
endeavors pursued, I hope to leave a meaningful impact on the
world - give people something to feel and connect with.

Melissa Dawn (They/Them/Theirs) is a multidisiplinary Queer artist of African Descent born and raised in Lenapehoking (Philadelphia).

Melissa enjoys exploring a variety of mediums to bring their creative visions to life including:

visual art, jewelry making, crafting, makeup artistry, photography, video production, post production editing and more!

Headshot: 

Multimedia Shamanic Artist
Digital Creative

Portrait/muralist 

The mission is to create art works that examine the Black experience throughout the African Diaspora and Raise the level of cultural awareness

I am an Artist.
Gallery: @dtrmodern