Light Overcomes Darkness, A Digital Representation
Michelle Lawson is a contemporary International award-winning artist, residing in the Greater Newcastle region of Australia. Although she loved art when she was at school, Michelle spent 3 decades following a different career path as a finance and management professional across numerous global mining companies and top-tier chartered accounting firms. However, after some life-changing family health issues, she decided to semi-retire in early 2021 and now finds work/life balance through creating her artwork and serving on Boards. With a passion for acrylics, textures, mixed media, and abstract, her work is energetic, calming, and whimsical.
“Light Overcomes Darkness, A Digital Representation” was undertaken as an ode to International Women’s Day and is a self-reflection abstract painting portraying my struggles of being a woman working in multiple male-dominated industries. Symbolizing three decades: starting in the top left quadrant, and moving down to the bottom right, displays the many personal challenges I have overcome to climb to the top of my profession, including how I’ve passionately advocated and led Women in Mining groups until I recently semi-retired to enjoy a great work/life balance. The gold highlights receiving several awards at State, National, and International levels for being a role model & champion of change. The digital representation includes an onsite photo of me looking into the light as Diversity & Inclusiveness is being embraced.
Light Up The Psych Ward
Kate Kelleher is a freelance self-taught artist and photographer living in Asheville, NC. Currently represented by Foundation Studios in the River Arts District of Asheville, she has been featured in publications and galleries internationally, including Le Lourve in Paris, France as part of The Exposure Awards. She has had work accepted in several national and international juried exhibits and received Special Recognition from International Galleries Focus Point Gallery and Upstream People Gallery. Kate has had art and photography published in numerous publications and was nominated for Best of the Net Anthology among other honors and features in her thus ten year career. Her dog is a good girl named Journey.
Upon coming across a box of disorganized childhood photographs at my mother’s house on a visit, I reflected on my life up to this point in my 30s. I thought about the things I would want to tell that child version of me, the advice I’d been given over the years, the wisdom I’d gained, or things of which I would want to warn her. I thought about the words of kindness I’d been given at delicate moments in life, how much they meant, even if in their sometimes funny or strange deliveries.
So I put together a project of taking my now vintage childhood photos and writing those quotes alongside my former self. I now have a whole wall in my apartment dedicated to this project and a small girl who can more easily accept kindness.
Lightworker
Debby Dakini, a working Artist, Van Gogh inspired, largely self-taught, I was blessed to have two significant gifted mentors in the last thirty years, both leaving their legacy, just do what you do and not change a thing’. My pieces are described as ‘childlike’ and ‘pure’, free of constraints of learned techniques. London-born, I have exhibited in the UK and Ireland, which I chose as my spiritual home back in 2007. My work is mostly seen as part of Arts Festivals, both individually, jointly, and in groups. Post-COVID, I largely self-promote online and via social media.
I create a daily living, a solitary life on the periphery of the mainstream. My inspiration and spiritual guidance come from a never-ending search within. I studied four Esoteric Sciences nearly 30 years ago, taking a specialty in deep soul-oriented Esoteric Astrology, and am a daily spiritual practitioner of the Mayahana tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. My work is a constant delight to me, be it figurative or abstract. Inspiration comes purely with non-thought mysteriously channeled directly to me from an unnamed and untamable source to beautify our world.
Like A Bird
Lana Matskiv (née Svetlana Galkina) was born in Ukraine and underwent rigorous training in structural drawing and constructivist style of rendering under the instruction of Oleh Nedoshytko, Odesa Ukraine. After the completion of the Fine Art Foundations program at George Brown College, Lana continues to hone the mastery of her craft through the French Atelier method at the Toronto Academy of Realist Art.
Lana is a member of the Ukrainian Association of Visual Artists of Canada and the Women’s Art Association of Canada. Her work is in the permanent collection of the Ukrainian Canadian Art Foundation and on display at the Ukrainian Consulate in Toronto, as well as in private and corporate collections in Canada, the USA, and Ukraine. In 2022, Lana’s work received an honorable mention and was chosen as a selected exhibitor at The Art Preservation Institute. As a Ukrainian-Canadian artist, she auctioned her works at Waddington’s Auctions and donated money to support Ukraine. A figurative symbolist painter, Lana depicts moments of transition in people’s lives, as she believes that these are moments when people defy the gravity of their comfort zone, rebel against conformity, and choose a path that requires courage, integrity, and a sense of adventure.
Last year, my daughter Jackie turned 25, graduated from University, and got engaged, settling in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. I painted her portrait calling it “Like a Bird” as she has left our nest and flown away to establish her own. The richest dowry I could provide her with is our rich Ukrainian traditions and culture, both stalwart and poetic. I depicted her in a traditional Ukrainian folk blouse, embroidered with stripes reminiscent of the ways of a Hoopoe.
Like A Rainbow
My name is Alex Ruiz I was born in New Jersey in 1986 but I am currently living in Miami. My parents are Colombian and feel these roots have influenced deeply the expression of my art. I am a graphic designer at the FIU where everything changes, this place full of creative energy inspired me to continue on this colorful path.
My work explores the intersection between the seen and unseen, blending elements of reality with layers of imagination to create narratives that are both familiar and surreal. Drawing inspiration from nature, human emotions, and the complexities of identity, I am to evoke a sense of curiosity and introspection in the viewer.
Through my paintings, I seek to capture fleeting moments of tension and harmony. Each piece is a meditation on contrast -light and shadow, presence and absence, the physical and the ephemeral. By focusing on these dualities, I invite the viewer to engage with the work on both an emotional and intellectual level, encouraging them to find the personal meaning within the ambiguity.
My art is about connection- between individuals, between worlds, and between the seen and felt. I hope to create spaces, where viewers can pause, reflect and perhaps see something familiar from a new perspective.
Lili Of The Valley
Leticia Valdez is a New York City-based fashion and portrait photographer; her photographic style is painterly, nostalgic, dark, and quiet. She draws inspiration from art history, pictorialism, religion, and solitude. She is moved by dull and dim color palettes; all that is quiet and calm.
Leticia holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Photography from the Fashion Institute of Technology and a Master of Arts in Costume Studies, from Steinhardt, New York University.
My portraiture work features quiet, calm, blue vignettes of illusory subjects imbued in blurred scenes, amid floral motifs, and soft color palettes and garments. Each image exists in a world of its own and it is carefully crafted and stylized with only beauty in mind, devoid of a story. My work allows me to explore, carve and portray fantasy- Its only purpose is to take the viewer on a voyage of play.
Lili, 1882 – 1931
Heather Eck is a creator, mother, and collaborator. With a degree in Interdisciplinary Studies and Art from the University of Delaware, Heather’s deep knowledge of interpersonal systems and their expression are skillfully explored, broken down, and rebuilt in her work. In addition to her successful careers in technology and advertising, Heather now focuses her attention on art and developing healing spaces using original and inspired techniques. Heather fosters a deep connection with creative and spiritual teachers from various backgrounds to better understand and hone her unique voice. Her work has been welcomed into private collections, exhibited in local and regional venues, commissioned by institutions and individuals, and promoted in international publications. Having exchanged the pace of New York for North Carolina, Heather supports the expansion of peace, fun, and human-divine connection in all areas of her life.
Einar Wegener, better known as Lili Elbe, was a gender rebel. A known Danish painter and transgender woman, she was among the early recipients of sex reassignment surgery, transitioning in 1930. Today, transgender people continue to face discrimination, violence, and civil rights threats. Lili is part of an emerging body of work featuring creative, rebellious voices from the past. These paintings are a conversation about vulnerability, courage, great power, and an acknowledgment of their timeless human histories that continue to influence the stories we’re creating today.
Lilikoi Healing Passion
GIPAHO is a self-taught artist whose creative journey unfolds through a commitment to lifelong learning and participation in various art educational workshops. A proud member of the Honolulu Woodturners since 2016, GIPAHO engages in transformative workshops led by esteemed instructor Andy Cole and other mainland woodturners, showcasing her dedication to the craft.
GIPAHO’s artistic education extends beyond woodturning, delving into diverse realms. She immerses herself in the Honolulu Museum of Art School, honing her skills in photography under the guidance of David Ullrich. She further explored the intricate world of metal jewelry through advanced projects at the Honolulu Museum of Art Linekona School.
In the realm of fiber art, GIPAHO made a significant mark with her participation in the Hawaii Craftsmen Biennial juried art exhibition, ”In of or About Fiber” curated by Amos Kotomori at the DAC Honolulu. Undoubtedly, GIPAHO’s commitment to learning is ongoing, evident in her participation in the UH Manoa Kupuna Seed Program, attending classes led by Professor Rick Mills and other distinguished members of the Art Department.
GIPAHO’s artistic prowess has been recognized and celebrated through various juried exhibitions. Her inclusion in exhibitions like ”Surrounded by Water” at the Downtown Art Center, Honolulu, and ”Rebel Rebel” at the HMVC Gallery in New York showcases the depth and diversity of her artistic expression. GIPAHO’s art has also graced esteemed spaces like the HPU Gallery and Cedar Street Gallery, where her miniature artworks captivate audiences. The ongoing representation of her creations at The Arts at Marks Garage and Kahaluʻu Gallery & Gardens Hawaii further exemplifies the enduring impact of her artistic endeavors.
As GIPAHO continues to evolve and explore new artistic horizons, her dedication to lifelong learning and her unique approach to various mediums promise an exciting and enduring artistic journey.
Art, regardless of the chosen medium, possesses a profound healing power for both body and soul. I passionately believe in the therapeutic nature of creation—each stroke, a click of the camera, every mold, and the alchemical dance in the kiln contribute to a holistic rejuvenation of the self. Art, to me, is an ongoing dialogue with the universe, a continuous exploration of the profound and the subtle.
From a young age, I realized the camera’s lens served as my voice, articulating the depths of my being without uttering a single word. Much like those who dance freely, attuned to the soul’s joyful melodies, I sought to perceive the unseen, like the spirits dwelling in our forests and trees. In my art practice, I uncovered the profound connection between my third eye and the camera—a silent confidant enabling the expression of my Higher Self.
My artistic exploration extends beyond the photographic frame. In the alchemy of clay, metal, fabrics, and mixed media, I unearth a realm where materials become conduits for my soul’s expression. Witnessing the transformation of my ceramic pieces through the fiery crucible of the kiln, Raku, or pit firing is akin to greeting old friends. Surviving the flames, they emerge adorned in their most brilliant glazes and forms, each presenting a visual ode to resilience and beauty. The kiln becomes a metaphorical forge, forging not only ceramics but also healing for both my body and soul. In the act of creation, I find solace and a profound connection to the essence of existence.
Lily
Mel started her photography journey in elementary school. Even from that young age, she had the overwhelming need to not only consume stories but to produce them by freezing them forever in a single frame.
Throughout her life, she placed me in jobs that kept the camera and stories close – marketing, advertising, teaching journalism & English, and finally just going all in as a full-time photographer.
She is inspired by bold color and light, nostalgia, nature, and childhood.
Her work has been featured in multiple gallery shows and publications.
I’m generally an anxious person. I tend to consider worst-case scenarios and fret about how my actions have influenced negative outcomes. Photography is my therapy; it guides me out of those negative thoughts and into a place of wonder and appreciation. There are scenes of optimism all around us – the light at the edge of darkness, the subtle curve of a flower petal, and a child’s laughter as they leap through a sprinkler. These seemingly mundane moments, once focused upon and frozen in time, become beautiful reminders of the miracles that surround us. Watching for these moments makes me a better person, and makes me more hopeful and positive as I watch for the joy and inspiration in everyday moments. I hope that my photographs can bring this optimism to my viewers, inspiring them to search for and focus on the everyday beauty in their own lives.