Harmony
Jason Shih was born in 1972 in Lukang Town, Taiwan, renowned for its traditional crafts. He relocated to Taipei City during his school years and attended art classes at Minzu Elementary School, Minglun Junior High School, and Zhongzheng High School. In 1991, Jason enrolled in the Fine Arts Department of the National Taipei University of the Arts, studying sculpture under Professor Lee Kuang-yu and graduating in 1996. Following his military service, he pursued further education at the Rochester Institute of Technology in New York, USA, studying metal sculpture under Leonard A. Urso at the School for American Crafts, where he earned his MFA degree in 2001. Subsequently, he served as an assistant to renowned New York metal sculptor Albert Paley, gaining valuable experience in metal crafts and large-scale public arts.
Returning to Taiwan in 2002, Jason embarked on a prolific career in public art. Over the next two decades, he completed over 80 large-scale public art projects in Taiwan. His international engagements included residencies at the Wangsan Kaitian Festival in South Korea (2003), JamFactory Contemporary Craft and Design in Adelaide, Australia (2004), and as the inaugural artist-in-residence at the New Taipei City Gold Museum (2008).
Alongside his creative endeavors, Jason pursued advanced studies in art theory, earning his Ph.D. from the China Academy of Art in 2015 and an MBA from National Taiwan Normal University in 2022. With a diverse cultural background spanning Taiwan, the United States, and mainland China, and extensive professional training in fine arts, crafts, public art, and management, Jason decided in 2022 to refocus on his sculpture creations. He currently resides in Taoyuan City, Taiwan, continuing to explore the diverse realms of sculpture and public art.
Jason Shih’s artistic vision is shaped by a diverse array of influences, from contemporary dance to avant-garde fashion. He cites German choreographer Pina Bausch and British designer Alexander McQueen as significant inspirations. Bausch’s explorations of time and space resonate with Shih’s interest in sculpture’s capacity to embody kinetic energy and spatial imagination. McQueen’s innovative approach to contemporary imagery and themes provides Shih with a broad canvas for creative expression.
Shih’s work is also influenced by the aesthetic principles of Futurism and Constructivism, movements that emphasize dynamic energy and continuous motion. These influences are evident in his pursuit of capturing the beauty of movement and the elegant restraint of natural forces. Shih’s sculptures often depict moments of defying gravity, capturing the fleeting beauty of motion in a static form.
As a professional sculptor, Jason likes to experience the taste of life with perceptual observation in the subtle moments and also likes the ever-changing situation of game shapes in the poetic imaginary space. For Jason, art creation is to share various moods and stories in daily life.
Hat Trick 2
I hold a BA in art from the University of Arkansas, with additional studies at Oklahoma State Technical University.
A professional graphic artist with 39 years of experience, I have been a Senior Art Director for a major US corporation, and owned my own art design business since 1997, working with companies across the United States and the world.
After focusing on graphic art for most of my professional career, I have begun to explore my fine art side, trying new mediums to see where they will take me. It has been a joyous new chapter in my life, as I have found there are always new things to learn and experience.
“Quiet” or “reserved” people are so very often ignored in our very loud society. We cast adoration on personalities that “light up a room” or are the center of attention. In media, social settings, and business, we are drawn to people who burn brightly, and we love those who are aggressive and “take charge” – even if they are boorish and incompetent. It’s the show that matters.
We scorn the meek and castigate the timid. Society considers their voice weak and without merit – if they are considered at all.
“Hat Trick 2” is representative of the inner self that a reserved or “quiet” person wishes the world could see. Behind the cruel, locked door of incredibly painful shyness, there is a wellspring of humor, intense emotion, ideas, and thoughts that the hopelessly bashful so desperately wants the world to know exist. But there is deep trauma, insecurity, or an association of negative consequences holding the key to the doorway of uninhibited expression.
Haunted
I was born in the USSR, grew up in Ukraine, lived in Ireland, and now call California my home.
I was painting sets for Shoestring Theater and Arte Flamenco De San Jose, creating panels, and decorating the Haunted House for the Village School Carnival. My paintings were showing at the AZ gallery in Downtown Willow Glen. My artwork was accepted for the SVVA Exhibit at Burlingame Library, Spotlight Exhibit at CSMA, 2025 Salon at the Triton Museum, The Coastal Art League Museum, and several online juried shows.
My main interest is a fusion of visual art and poetry, but I also devote my time to photography, digital art, and spray painting. I created a series of graphic poems reflecting my experience with wildfires in California, as well as several collections of visual poetry. In August 2024, I joined the Alameda Artworks artists community, took part in creating a mural at Memory Care Facility.
I’m constantly searching for new ways to express myself and polishing existing techniques, finding joy and inspiration in unexpected spaces.
I enjoy using bright, striking colors in order to express strong emotions and depict abstract concepts. During the pandemic, my art supplies were limited, so I moved to digital art and discovered a whole new realm of freedom. I am still exploring the possibilities, developing new ways of sharing the world of my imagination with others.
The main feature of abstract art, in my opinion, is being open to interpretation. It is mostly an instrument for exploring the mind of the viewer. I am always astonished by the variety of thoughts and associations it evokes. By providing a description, I direct the viewer to see what was in my mind, not what comes to theirs. Changing the perception in that way is very limiting, not only to the viewer but to the artwork as well.
Below is the description. Please, give yourself ample time to explore your thoughts before reading them.
When I was going through a harsh time, I noticed that annoying feeling of always missing something important, some forgotten thought that just keeps eluding me, haunting me, and creating a lot of anxiety. I wanted to convey the emotional disturbance brought by that experience. Sharp contrast between purple, black, and yellow colors reflects oscillations between moments of high energy and feeling down at the same time. Small black tear drop represents the missing part, the elusive thought that is still there, but just out of reach and impossible to formulate. It still haunts me, but I am trying to bring peace to my mind by simply acknowledging the existence of that black hole in my thoughts.
I hope this work will provoke a lot of feelings familiar to anyone who was haunted by an escaped thought or a lost memory, desperately trying to pinpoint what they are trying to remember. I wonder what else will come to your mind?
Have Castle Need King
Karen Sachs has captivated audiences with her artful vision since she was young. Her passion for painting and creative expression allows her to explore the beauty of what home means to her – from its tranquil safety to its vibrant colors that live within each unique castle, body, or place to hang out. Creativity floods from her fingertips as she transforms emotions into something tangible on the canvas, revealing more truths than words ever can. Her masterpieces have earned countless awards for her sparkling vision and determination. With art as her inner home, Karen confidently speaks true nature with stunning truthfulness!
Home is where my heart is, and art is my inner home – it’s a place where I can express my soul in all its creative glory. For many years, I have channeled all sorts of emotions, feelings, and experiences into each piece I make. Whether with a brushstroke or a palette knife, the skill I bring to life as an artist is always extraordinary! My paintings take viewers on a journey through my inner world – every piece providing insight into the depths of my imagination, giving them a glimpse of the unknown. As someone who has found great success exhibiting shows all across the US and winning awards to recognize my talent, I strive to continue making art that inspires others to explore their own unique inner home.
Haven
I have been drawing since I could hold a crayon. My work titled “Points Unknown” was awarded the 2021 Mercer County Artist Exhibition Purchase Award by the Mercer County Cultural & Heritage Commission.
My ethereal expressions have been seen in exhibitions throughout New Jersey and parts of Pennsylvania including The Gallery at Mercer County Community College, The New Hope Art Center, Alfa Art Gallery, D&R Greenway Land Trust, Artists of Yardley, The Arts Council of Princeton and a one-man show at Small World Coffee, Princeton, NJ. Coming in September 2023, a group of my works will once again be on display at Alfa Art Gallery, New Brunswick, NJ. I’ve also exhibited on the online portal, exhibizone.com, and currently have a work on view in relation to their current theme of “Time” and a solo exhibit later down the line.
Other venues showing my work include Ceres Gallery in New York City, River Oaks Art Center/Bolton Davis Gallery, Alexandria, LA, bG Gallery, Santa Monica, California • Cape Fear Gallery, Fayetteville, NC, and the Crooked Tree Art Center, MI.
Decades ago, I had a spot illustration in The Village Voice (1993) and various cartoons and comics published in the magazine World War III Illustrated (1992-93). I was a finalist in The Artist’s Magazine All-Media Art Competition in the category of pen and ink in 1994 for my drawing, “The Subway”.
I create imaginary realms in veiled and muted tones. I seek to evoke a sense of vastness and space suggesting other worlds or dimensions with distant formations half seen in the mist–what could they be? I’m inspired by astronomy, sci-fi, ancient monuments, and nature itself. I use pastels to achieve ethereal effects, combined at times with other media, including oil pastel, graphite, china marker, and watercolor… I’m always experimenting. Once upon a time, my sixth-grade teacher assigned me to create an image of our solar system in color chalk across the classroom blackboard, cosmic images in pigmented dust, I continue that way today.
Having Fun
Brigitte currently lives in Switzerland. She is a self-taught photographer inspired by her grandfather as a child; thus, she chose to bear his name as an artist to honour him. Travelling the globe with an analog camera in her twenties, she gained experience in landscape, travel, and street life photography. Nowadays, she is also experimenting with other approaches, like abstract, and is shooting digitally. Her work has been published in several art magazines. Two of which are special editions about her artwork at Docu Magazine. Her photography was exhibited physically and virtually at galleries in the UK, the USA, the EU, Switzerland, Canada, the West Indies, and more. One of her main exhibitions was at Artexpo New York in April 2025, at ArtBasel in June, and at SpectrumMiami.
Her photography has been distinguished with honourable mentions, merit awards, a bronze award at Pispa, a first prize from HMVC Gallery NY, and a nomination at the 1839 Awards in the urban category.
Currently, she is working on three long-term projects; the aim is to have them published.
My favourite photographic approaches are landscape, street life, and abstract photography. Landscape and Abstract as moments of peace of mind, my eyes are amazed by the beauty of nature. Soothing my soul. Street life was moments of exhilaration, being ready at any minute to shoot a scene that caught my eye. A scene of life, of youth, of the ordinary, of joy,(of despair sometimes). A scene I am drawn to by my emotions, thus mostly candid. My photographs tell a story; the point is to share it with the viewer.
2025, what a year.A year of learning, of growing, of gratitude.Gratitude to HMVC gallery, which has supported me all along.
Two highlights were the discovery of Cornwall, where I took the first photograph titled ´The Boy’. A silhouette at Golden Hour at the Beach. Time of peace.
And a photograph taken while travelling titled ´On the Road’ represents the moves I was on in 2025.
2026 Fun in Progress is the first open call for me with HMVC this year.
I chose to submit two photographs of people having fun. Photographing fun or joy might be the most rewarding, as it is transmitted to the photographer. It certainly made my day. Then what is more rewarding than to be able to make this emotion be felt by the viewer?
Hawaiian Shore Break
Born on Maui, and grew up with a deep love for the ocean and the natural landscapes of Hawaii. Early art education began in Washington state through an art academy program, with regular participation in art competitions throughout the school years. Received the Citizenship Award at Kihei Charter School while continuing to develop artistic skills and experiment with new techniques. Specializes in airbrush, abstract acrylic pours, and mixed media, blending abstract realism with an island fusion. Artwork has been featured in Surf Art Gallery and Wyland Gallery on Front Street in Lahaina. Currently an artist in residence at Sheraton Maui and Martin & MacArthur in Wailea, and exhibiting at Maui Hands Gallery in Makawao. Participated in the Art Maui 12×12 panel exhibition representing Lahaina. Work continues to grow in both gallery spaces and private collections, sharing a deep connection to Hawaiian culture and marine life.
My inspiration comes from the raw beauty and power of nature, especially the ocean and wildlife of Hawaii. Growing up on Maui, my summers were filled with fishing, diving, and playing in the waves with friends and family. Hawaiian Shore Break captures the energy of a summer swell on the south side of the Hawaiian Islands, where the ocean comes alive. Using airbrush and mixed media, I focus on movement, light, and texture to express the ocean’s rhythm and power. Through my work, I hope to share the joy, freedom, and deep respect I feel for the sea and to inspire others to appreciate the beauty and fragility of the world around us.
Head In The Clouds
Kylo-Patrick Hart is an award-winning photographer and chair of the Department of Film, Television, and Digital Media at Texas Christian University (Fort Worth, Texas, USA). He received his formal training in digital media arts while a student at the University of Michigan and Wayne State University, with additional instruction provided by offerings of the Maine Media Workshops and Santa Fe Workshops. His photographs have been exhibited in numerous cities throughout the United States and in several countries abroad.
Photography has been my passion since early childhood. My motivation is to discover and capture the beauty, even when it is not always readily self-evident, that surrounds us continuously in all areas of our everyday lives. I believe the finest images are those that are serious yet playful, aesthetically appealing yet a bit quirky. As both an artist and an admirer, my favorite photographs tend to be ones whose contents speak loudly for themselves — even when it is not immediately clear exactly what they are saying. They seek to inspire their viewers to wrestle with their intriguing content and, as a result, ponder various aspects of our surrounding world in new and unique ways.
Healing 2023
Nishida Tadashi is a contemporary artist hailing from the picturesque city of Iga, Mie Prefecture, Japan. Born in 1962, his artistic journey has taken him on a remarkable odyssey, one that has been marked by an unwavering dedication to his craft.
In 1988, Nishida Tadashi graduated from Tokyo Zokei University, where he majored in Painting within the Department of Art. Following his formal education, he embarked on a career that saw him harness his creative talents in the realms of TV art and stage art, illuminating screens and stages with his unique artistic vision.
While his career in television and stage art thrived, Nishida Tadashi’s passion for fine art never waned. His creative prowess found a new canvas through which to express itself, leading to his participation in a series of group exhibitions that have earned him acclaim both in his native Japan and on the international stage.
In 2022, Nishida Tadashi’s work took center stage at the “M.A.D.S. ART GALLERY” in Milan, Italy, as well as in the enchanting landscapes of Fuerteventura, Spain. His presence resonated further in the art world with exhibitions like “NFT: NEW FREEDOM THINK,” “LIQUID ARSENAL,” “INTERNATIONAL CONTEMPORARY ART FAIR MONACO” at VAN GOGH ART GALLERY in Madrid, Spain, and the “INTERNATIONAL DIGITAL ART EXHIBITION MADRID.”
Continuing to captivate art enthusiasts worldwide, Nishida Tadashi’s artistic journey extends into 2023 with his participation in the “CAOS” exhibition at the “M.A.D.S. ART GALLERY” in Milan, Italy, and Fuerteventura, Spain. His works continue to push boundaries and challenge perceptions, inviting viewers to explore the intriguing intersections of his creative imagination.
Nishida Tadashi’s artistic narrative is a testament to the fusion of tradition and innovation, showcasing his ability to adapt and evolve while staying true to his artistic roots. His creative exploration is an ever-evolving journey that transcends boundaries and invites audiences to experience the world through his unique perspective. With a career spanning decades and an evolving portfolio that continues to push artistic boundaries, Nishida Tadashi stands as a testament to the enduring power of creativity and the boundless possibilities of contemporary art.
When I walk in the sun as I please, various natural phenomena catch my eye. I continue to photograph and record these phenomena. Forgotten objects on street corners and things that fade away with the passage of time. The parts of things that are in the shadows and not easily noticed by people, the flaws, stains, and blemishes, and their conditions. There are also those that make us want to turn away from them. I photograph things that are seemingly destined to disappear.
The most important time for me is when I take these images home and process them. The approach to the images leads to a dialogue between the conscious and subconscious minds. There are moments when I connect with my subconscious mind as I observe the changes in the various images that suddenly appear before my eyes. It is a kind of meditation. Currently, I believe that the realization of the subconscious mind is important in the creative process.
I hope to continue to be an observer who has time to talk with the subconscious and reawaken the deepest memories as I follow the changes in each image.