La’Toya Smith

LaToya Creates (Curator)

“My Art is how my soul communicates what it sees and feels to the world without boundaries. It is simply a conversation between the soul and the canvas.” La’Toya S.

La’Toya was born in the Netherlands to a military family and raised across the united states. Her growth and passion as an artist began in New Mexico at age 11 when learning the process of painting from a man from Germany teaching college students out of his home. He saw potential in La’Toya and taught her the technique of oil painting. She then carried this gift and transformed as an artist ever since. It began with landscapes soon pushing towards figure painting as she realized that is where her passion lys. Capturing the beauty and turmoil or reality of life and the people within it.

With 15 years of experience in Art and Design she is now a Published illustrator, award winning artist, instructor and exhibitionist. Currently residing in Houston Texas and freelancing in Graphic Design, Mural Production,  Fine Art, Special Custom Projects, and Promotional Products for small business’s and the every day consumer. 
Creativity has no bounds.

Lloyd G. Wade

Lloyd Gregory Wade has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Southern University A&M College in Baton Rouge, LA, and a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in Chicago, Illinois.

Lloyd describes himself as an artist and storyteller who is interested in showcasing the value of people of color and their place in history. He strives to express the importance of self-love and respect for Black men and women. He aims to visually satisfy viewers with a kaleidoscope of colors, a variety of cultural symbols, patterns, and artistic aesthetics. Lloyd’s artwork spans several different mediums and styles and varies in size.

Lloyd has also been an art educator for thirteen years and currently holds the position of Art Department Chair at Thurgood Marshall High School in Missouri City, Texas. As an educator, he has the opportunity every day to share his gift and artistic experiences with his students and staff. He emphasizes to his students that art is not just a craft but a discipline and a form of self-expression in life.

Rose

Painted by Rose

Melissa Rose Tylinski (she/ella) is a Peruana Americana whose passion lies in bridging the worlds of art and holistic wellness. Her first love of the arts began when she strolled LODA Art Walk, where the vibrant city of Mobile brought together all the creatives and their families for a night of art.

Rose continued to study studio drawing at the University of South Alabama. She picked up painting in Houston, Texas from local and international mentors from Mexico, Cuba, Nigeria, India, and beyond to develop her own style in large sized portraits and surreal subjects.

Her artwork series has been developed over the past few years to include iconic faces and evil eyes as a way to protect their aura and spirits. Inspired by the greats, such as Miles Davis and Selena, she believes their touch on earth has left beautiful traces that also need to be handled delicately. In each portraits powerful gaze, viewers get swept for a moment in their lifetime. While we recount these experiences, we must also keep the deceased images positive and vibrant.

Nicole Durham

The Caulk Artist

Nicole Durham is a Contemporary Neo-Expressionist artist living in Houston, TX, who utilizes caulk as her primary medium. Durham’s exploration into the nontraditional medium has awarded her multiple exhibition opportunities, including “best in show” at The Ardest Gallery in Houston, Texas. She is also a founding member of Tenacious Artists, an all-women’s artist collective, who just completed their first group show, Elements of Contrast.

Creating textured artworks with caulk began as an experimental journey to explore Durham’s neglected cultural and domesticated identities. The nontraditional medium is an industrial, and far more obstinate, material than traditional acrylic products, reconnecting her with ambitious emotions of endurance and sacrifice. The porous material draws out the ambiguity of privileged creating, awarding the viewer with dramatic relief and multi-level linear experiences. 

Caulk has challenged Durham to incorporate and try other mediums including collaging and assemblage practices.  Collaging and assemblage allow Durham to create with objects that represent, honor, and preserve her cultures.

Snater George

Gmaddixx Art

A native of Houston, Tx, Snater George was raised in Missouri city and has been creating professionally for the last 12 years.

His works have been displayed at the Houston Museum of African American Culture, The Buffalo Soldiers Museum, The Houston Library Downtown, and the University Museum at Texas Southern University to name a few. 

We live in an era filled with various images of different artistic currents and popular culture which has had much influence on the work he is currently creating.   Snaters artistic journey began more as a figurative artist, and has now more recently taken an interest at a more contemporary approach to his present line of work.

The works that will be presented still have a cultural reference and tell stories of his life experiences and what he has been exposed to.   Art is ever changing, and evolving, and you will see how the way the messages are communicated have  evolved from canvas paintings to other mixed mediums the public can interact with more.

The ability to create has always been a gift from God that he says he is sharing with the world.  He is passionate about the craft and determined to make his dream a reality.