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Art has the power to capture the essence of a moment, a year, a movement—marking time through creativity and expression. Best of 2024 is a celebration of artistic excellence, showcasing the most compelling works created this year by a diverse group of artists from around the world.
This annual group exhibition brings together voices from different cultures, mediums, and perspectives, highlighting the depth and breadth of contemporary art today. Each piece on display represents ideas, emotions, and reflections that have shaped the artists’ creative journeys over the past year.
Best of 2024
"Bounded."
By Mya Correa.
2024
Mixed media sculpture
Late mothers hoarded paperwork, my daughter's old sketchbooks, my old paperwork, and found trash.
Approx 6'x2'x'2
I began my sculptures, with a basic plan in mind, allowing the details to come out over time. I allow my work to reveal itself and there is a push and pull between foresight and the unknown. I began assembling discarded chicken wire and smashing it all together until a shape emerged. Sometimes I am emotionally driven, and I allow my thoughts to take over while I’m working. I then use fabric, plaster, cardboard, or paper clay to cover the chicken wire to create a skin. I use tools to work quickly, sometimes breaking the sculpture apart and then rebuilding it. I use cardboard, fabric, plaster, cords, and wire. I add layers to represent growth and change. I work with a can of insulation foam, collage, or paint to add the layers. Working with the expanding foam previously, I learned air exposure instigates a color change, it expands and moves and things become permanently fixed together when it's used. I can only place the foam and guess how it will react to the space it occupies. I liked the idea of not having a lot of control over some of the media. I utilized this understanding of the material to my advantage. There is a balance between chaos and controlled experiment. This tension reflects the human life experience for me and I enjoy playing with it in my work.
IG@myalcorrea
2024
Mixed media sculpture
Late mothers hoarded paperwork, my daughter's old sketchbooks, my old paperwork, and found trash.
Approx 6'x2'x'2
I began my sculptures, with a basic plan in mind, allowing the details to come out over time. I allow my work to reveal itself and there is a push and pull between foresight and the unknown. I began assembling discarded chicken wire and smashing it all together until a shape emerged. Sometimes I am emotionally driven, and I allow my thoughts to take over while I’m working. I then use fabric, plaster, cardboard, or paper clay to cover the chicken wire to create a skin. I use tools to work quickly, sometimes breaking the sculpture apart and then rebuilding it. I use cardboard, fabric, plaster, cords, and wire. I add layers to represent growth and change. I work with a can of insulation foam, collage, or paint to add the layers. Working with the expanding foam previously, I learned air exposure instigates a color change, it expands and moves and things become permanently fixed together when it's used. I can only place the foam and guess how it will react to the space it occupies. I liked the idea of not having a lot of control over some of the media. I utilized this understanding of the material to my advantage. There is a balance between chaos and controlled experiment. This tension reflects the human life experience for me and I enjoy playing with it in my work.
IG@myalcorrea
"I will whisper my secrets to you."
By Ben Orsack
48h x 36w
Oil on canvas
I grew up in Houston, TX, in a mixed race family, with many Russian immigrants up one side and Colombians up another. I have a large family who stay closeknit with three siblings that have given me more nieces and nephews than I can successfully name. I spent most of my younger years bouncing between Houston and New Orleans, living, working, bringing up a family of my own. I am married to my beautiful partner of 25 years, with whom I have created art and a blessed life. In 2010 we decided to begin life anew near family in New England and have since lived and worked in Massachusetts. We are are happy to call the Berkshires home now.
I've always considered myself an artist, but it is only within the past few years that I have begun working with oils on large canvases.
Our time creating and sharing a studio together has given us the amazing opportunity to explore creatively, trying many disciplines out such as sculpture, photography, water colors, sketching and resin arts. I continue to explore myself through my art, allowing my voice to grow so that some day many people can witness my vision.
Artist statement:
I find that I think in black and white, but when the painting begins I quickly lose myself in the experience and allow color to take control. I work my canvas, with hands and body moving freely, using whatever tools are at hand for my process. Any vision I have to start off with is never what ends up on the canvas as I stack layer upon layer till I'm satisfied. I hope to captivate my viewer and allow them to become lost in the experience before them. If I can make someone stand still and stare into the chaos I put before them, then I feel my task as an artist is fufilled.
You can find me on Instagram and other platforms such as Cara and Bluesky as:
@b3njabunny
48h x 36w
Oil on canvas
I grew up in Houston, TX, in a mixed race family, with many Russian immigrants up one side and Colombians up another. I have a large family who stay closeknit with three siblings that have given me more nieces and nephews than I can successfully name. I spent most of my younger years bouncing between Houston and New Orleans, living, working, bringing up a family of my own. I am married to my beautiful partner of 25 years, with whom I have created art and a blessed life. In 2010 we decided to begin life anew near family in New England and have since lived and worked in Massachusetts. We are are happy to call the Berkshires home now.
I've always considered myself an artist, but it is only within the past few years that I have begun working with oils on large canvases.
Our time creating and sharing a studio together has given us the amazing opportunity to explore creatively, trying many disciplines out such as sculpture, photography, water colors, sketching and resin arts. I continue to explore myself through my art, allowing my voice to grow so that some day many people can witness my vision.
Artist statement:
I find that I think in black and white, but when the painting begins I quickly lose myself in the experience and allow color to take control. I work my canvas, with hands and body moving freely, using whatever tools are at hand for my process. Any vision I have to start off with is never what ends up on the canvas as I stack layer upon layer till I'm satisfied. I hope to captivate my viewer and allow them to become lost in the experience before them. If I can make someone stand still and stare into the chaos I put before them, then I feel my task as an artist is fufilled.
You can find me on Instagram and other platforms such as Cara and Bluesky as:
@b3njabunny
We're all Fucked. Glory to the Whole Atomic Powers
By Bernardo Vallarino
90" x 64" x 64"
Hand-sawn flags with gold leaf designs stretched on hand-made wood door frames.
Bio
Bernardo Vallarino is a Colombian-American mixed-media sculptor and installation artist interested in geopolitical issues of violence and human suffering. His works reflect his observations on the hypocrisy he perceives existing between the rhetoric of human life and the violent behavior of humanity. With his artworks, Vallarino strives to engage his audience visually but also morally and philosophically, finding inspiration in history, the media, his personal experiences, and his lifelong interest in insects and entomology. Vallarino, a NALAC (National Association of Latino Arts and Cultures) fellow, graduated with a BFA in sculpture from Texas Christian University, an MFA in the same field from Texas Woman’s University, and is the current coordinator of the Fort Worth Art Collective and an artist in residence at Love Texas Art. He has exhibited widely at galleries and nonprofit spaces in Texas, Oklahoma, York, England, and Barcelona Spain. Vallarino received the 2020 SMU’s Moss/Chumley North Texas Artist Award from the Meadow’s Museum of Art and has displayed artwork at the Amarillo Museum of Art, San Angelo Museum of Art, Arlington Museum of Art, Brownsville Museum of Fine Arts, and the Nasher Sculpture Center in Dallas.
Statement
Human suffering, violence, abuse of power, politics, control, and hypocrisy are themes I explore in my work. These topics are all part of a larger social commentary regarding the disposable way human life is treated. Around the world, individuals are seen and treated as disposable, expendable, or undesirable, especially in times of social unrest. I describe this disregard for human lives by overlaying concepts regarding the perceived worth of “the others" with metaphors related to vermin a common analogy used throughout history to strip others of their humanity. In addition to this metaphorical association, insects and entomology also inspire elements of anonymity, plurality, scale, presentation, and identification. I design the installations and sculptures to be emotionally immersive and morally engaging with the intent to pay tribute to the victims, bring awareness to their suffering, the issues that affect them, and ultimately inspire action or activism.
"It is part of the human experience to avoid pain and humanity prefers to ignore painful truths rather than to confront them. As an artist addressing social issues, I feel a responsibility to create artworks that evoke questions with respect to our own behaviors towards others"
Follow @bernardovallarinoart
90" x 64" x 64"
Hand-sawn flags with gold leaf designs stretched on hand-made wood door frames.
Bio
Bernardo Vallarino is a Colombian-American mixed-media sculptor and installation artist interested in geopolitical issues of violence and human suffering. His works reflect his observations on the hypocrisy he perceives existing between the rhetoric of human life and the violent behavior of humanity. With his artworks, Vallarino strives to engage his audience visually but also morally and philosophically, finding inspiration in history, the media, his personal experiences, and his lifelong interest in insects and entomology. Vallarino, a NALAC (National Association of Latino Arts and Cultures) fellow, graduated with a BFA in sculpture from Texas Christian University, an MFA in the same field from Texas Woman’s University, and is the current coordinator of the Fort Worth Art Collective and an artist in residence at Love Texas Art. He has exhibited widely at galleries and nonprofit spaces in Texas, Oklahoma, York, England, and Barcelona Spain. Vallarino received the 2020 SMU’s Moss/Chumley North Texas Artist Award from the Meadow’s Museum of Art and has displayed artwork at the Amarillo Museum of Art, San Angelo Museum of Art, Arlington Museum of Art, Brownsville Museum of Fine Arts, and the Nasher Sculpture Center in Dallas.
Statement
Human suffering, violence, abuse of power, politics, control, and hypocrisy are themes I explore in my work. These topics are all part of a larger social commentary regarding the disposable way human life is treated. Around the world, individuals are seen and treated as disposable, expendable, or undesirable, especially in times of social unrest. I describe this disregard for human lives by overlaying concepts regarding the perceived worth of “the others" with metaphors related to vermin a common analogy used throughout history to strip others of their humanity. In addition to this metaphorical association, insects and entomology also inspire elements of anonymity, plurality, scale, presentation, and identification. I design the installations and sculptures to be emotionally immersive and morally engaging with the intent to pay tribute to the victims, bring awareness to their suffering, the issues that affect them, and ultimately inspire action or activism.
"It is part of the human experience to avoid pain and humanity prefers to ignore painful truths rather than to confront them. As an artist addressing social issues, I feel a responsibility to create artworks that evoke questions with respect to our own behaviors towards others"
Follow @bernardovallarinoart
‘It’s A Sign; Emergency Exit’
By Jenny Ink
Mixed Media on repurposed corrugated board/ Lawn Sign,
2024
Jenny Ink new art series in progress : 'Serie de Portraits de Chevreux Bleu’
Jenny Ink’ is a NY based mixed media artist whose work has been shown in galleries and collectives throughout Long Island, Las Vegas, NYC, Miami, London, Milan, Paris and Barcelona. Locally she’s been participating in juried group exhibitions at One Art Space in Tribeca through Artio Gallery as well as salon style ‘All Art + ‘ group exhibitions with Van Der Plas Gallery on the lower east side showcasing emerging artists using instagram as their main artistic platform and utilizing virtual exhibits featured on Artland. After a successful few runs at Hamptons Fine Art Fair Jen has booked a Solo Show with Artifact Gallery NYC in October 2026.
Jen’s work has been shown digitally through both online gallery VR exhibition formats as well as digital carousel style gallery installations inside Le Carrousel du Louvre in Paris, France, & the MEAM Gallery in Barcelona, Spain. After a 2 page feature in Artio Magazine Jenny won an international juried open call with one of her paintings from her ‘Serie de Portraits de Chevereux Bleu’ earning a spot in ‘Inter-Connecting Lines’ an international group exhibition at One Art Space. This led to a representation opportunity and invitation to participate in the Biennale of Women Artists London Edition,2024. The WIA Biennale piggybacked ‘Frieze London and was a life changing experience.
In November ’24, Jenny had the opportunity to participate in an artists workshop with Jason Hackenwerth called ‘Beyond the Medium’ the premise of which was to push the artists to explore new options… push boundaries, develop artist transparency and breakthrough the ‘inner comfort zone’ this being facilitated by the provision of a wide open + well lit studio both enabling & encouraging artists to work on paintings of a much larger scale. Abstract paintings are the basis for much of Jenny’s work, this opportunity afforded her the uninterrupted capacity of exploring, embracing and focusing on new abstract stylings shaping her own body of work within a communal artist setting. This was another life-changing moment in the trajectory shaping Jenny’s emerging art career.
Recent publications and feature articles include ‘Meet Jenny Ink’ available at CanvasRebel.com in both print and digital formats as well as a full length 10 page article in the award winning arts & culture publication; Pepper magazine. “Buy the Ticket, Take the Ride…Who Is Jenny Ink?” , offering a look inside daily studio operations, highlighting pop art contemporary works and influences of assorted icons, and punk rockers. Available in Print Back Issues &/or Digital copies available @hello.peppermagazine Vol. 1 Issue 12. Jenny had work featured again in in their Johnny Cash issue ; Vol. 2 Issue 2.
Recent awards include a Special Merit Award from the International Artist from the 2024 Artists Choice Competition, 2 Honorable Mentions + Awards in the International Juried Portrait Art & Open Art Competition as well as 2 Artistic Recognition Awards in International Abstract Art Competitions from Art and Color 365 Magazine .
Jenny holds a Bachelors Degree in Communications with a concentration in Fine Arts from University at Buffalo & an Associates in Ad Design from FIT. She started her career at UNLV as a Development Director for KUNV Community Radio, working at the Award Winning ‘Rock Avenue’ station she obtained an FCC license and hosted the top rated ‘Jennifah-Oh-Jenny’ morning drive show. Developing a strong penchant for punk rock and a ‘left of the dial’ sensibility that still permeates her work to this day. Since then she has worked in PR, Marketing & Promotions + Event Planning, gave birth, started a family & moved across country back to NY where she has done extensive volunteering for habitat for humanity and became a homeowner herself. She held down a gut-wrenching, soul-crushing sales account executive job became an autism advocate and pivoted into hospitality, managing and tending bar at her family’s Irish Pub. During covid Jen was in a terrible car accident & found herself pivoting into successfully navigating her own arts practice ;Painted Lady Studio, LLC. affording her the capacity to carve her own path making her living as a working artist.
Instagram @PaintedLadyStudioJennyInk
Mixed Media on repurposed corrugated board/ Lawn Sign,
2024
Jenny Ink new art series in progress : 'Serie de Portraits de Chevreux Bleu’
Jenny Ink’ is a NY based mixed media artist whose work has been shown in galleries and collectives throughout Long Island, Las Vegas, NYC, Miami, London, Milan, Paris and Barcelona. Locally she’s been participating in juried group exhibitions at One Art Space in Tribeca through Artio Gallery as well as salon style ‘All Art + ‘ group exhibitions with Van Der Plas Gallery on the lower east side showcasing emerging artists using instagram as their main artistic platform and utilizing virtual exhibits featured on Artland. After a successful few runs at Hamptons Fine Art Fair Jen has booked a Solo Show with Artifact Gallery NYC in October 2026.
Jen’s work has been shown digitally through both online gallery VR exhibition formats as well as digital carousel style gallery installations inside Le Carrousel du Louvre in Paris, France, & the MEAM Gallery in Barcelona, Spain. After a 2 page feature in Artio Magazine Jenny won an international juried open call with one of her paintings from her ‘Serie de Portraits de Chevereux Bleu’ earning a spot in ‘Inter-Connecting Lines’ an international group exhibition at One Art Space. This led to a representation opportunity and invitation to participate in the Biennale of Women Artists London Edition,2024. The WIA Biennale piggybacked ‘Frieze London and was a life changing experience.
In November ’24, Jenny had the opportunity to participate in an artists workshop with Jason Hackenwerth called ‘Beyond the Medium’ the premise of which was to push the artists to explore new options… push boundaries, develop artist transparency and breakthrough the ‘inner comfort zone’ this being facilitated by the provision of a wide open + well lit studio both enabling & encouraging artists to work on paintings of a much larger scale. Abstract paintings are the basis for much of Jenny’s work, this opportunity afforded her the uninterrupted capacity of exploring, embracing and focusing on new abstract stylings shaping her own body of work within a communal artist setting. This was another life-changing moment in the trajectory shaping Jenny’s emerging art career.
Recent publications and feature articles include ‘Meet Jenny Ink’ available at CanvasRebel.com in both print and digital formats as well as a full length 10 page article in the award winning arts & culture publication; Pepper magazine. “Buy the Ticket, Take the Ride…Who Is Jenny Ink?” , offering a look inside daily studio operations, highlighting pop art contemporary works and influences of assorted icons, and punk rockers. Available in Print Back Issues &/or Digital copies available @hello.peppermagazine Vol. 1 Issue 12. Jenny had work featured again in in their Johnny Cash issue ; Vol. 2 Issue 2.
Recent awards include a Special Merit Award from the International Artist from the 2024 Artists Choice Competition, 2 Honorable Mentions + Awards in the International Juried Portrait Art & Open Art Competition as well as 2 Artistic Recognition Awards in International Abstract Art Competitions from Art and Color 365 Magazine .
Jenny holds a Bachelors Degree in Communications with a concentration in Fine Arts from University at Buffalo & an Associates in Ad Design from FIT. She started her career at UNLV as a Development Director for KUNV Community Radio, working at the Award Winning ‘Rock Avenue’ station she obtained an FCC license and hosted the top rated ‘Jennifah-Oh-Jenny’ morning drive show. Developing a strong penchant for punk rock and a ‘left of the dial’ sensibility that still permeates her work to this day. Since then she has worked in PR, Marketing & Promotions + Event Planning, gave birth, started a family & moved across country back to NY where she has done extensive volunteering for habitat for humanity and became a homeowner herself. She held down a gut-wrenching, soul-crushing sales account executive job became an autism advocate and pivoted into hospitality, managing and tending bar at her family’s Irish Pub. During covid Jen was in a terrible car accident & found herself pivoting into successfully navigating her own arts practice ;Painted Lady Studio, LLC. affording her the capacity to carve her own path making her living as a working artist.
Instagram @PaintedLadyStudioJennyInk
“Vespertine”
2024.
By Troy Paolantonio Acrylic/Latex paint on canvas; 3 panels each
48”h x 24”w total 48”h x 72”w; pendulum art
Debuted at Artomatic DC, March 27, 2024 coupled with a performance of Jocelyn Morlock’s “Vespertine” for Alto flute/C flute and harp. The two movements, Twilight and Verdigris, abstractly depicted in the painting. Renowned Canadian composer, Jocelyn Morlock, tragically took her life on March 27, 2023. I was introduced to her music, especially this composition, in fall 2023, and I knew I had to make a painting inspired by the music. My own father took his life in 2007, and I couldn’t help but be immediately connected to her and this composition. During Artomatic DC, I was showing my works and I also put on a performance of music coupled with my paintings, including showing this for the first time, March 27, 2024, one year after Jocelyn’s passing, and in optimistic sentiment going forward, on my birthday, also March 27. My mother came and brought cupcakes for everyone 🧁
Artomatic 2024
Live performance link below.
Bio:
Troy Paolantonio, 44, is a lifelong flutist working professionally in the US Army for the last 15 years, currently active duty with the US Army Field Band at Fort Meade, MD. Art was a burning bright talent at a young age but took a dormant back seat once music pursuits took over. 30 years later, what began as an effort to create original pieces to decorate within his new home in 2021, has exploded into an award winning sought after career in created uniquely personal art through the pendulum.
Over 200 works to date, Troy is taking abstract geometric pendulum art to its most personal and expressive forms. Each piece is carefully crafted in a color palette of personal connection, combined with subtleties of blending, expressive canvas gestures, and being drawn in to the mesmerizing and meditative partnership with gravity and physics in visual form.
Troy has additionally found unique purpose in mental health, capturing grief from loss by suicide, his own hospitalization in 2022, and creating personal paintings together with others while sharing about these experiences. The pendulum process is visually meditative, healing, and the selection of color and configuration of artistic layout harnesses memory, building a place to carry some of the burden in a beautiful piece of art.
Continuing pursuits, include original clothing work (“Sidewalk Couture”), frequent commissions and sales, creation of works paired with musical compositions and performances of these works, and possibilities as far reaching as a gravitational singularity.
IG@artroypaolantonio
By Troy Paolantonio Acrylic/Latex paint on canvas; 3 panels each
48”h x 24”w total 48”h x 72”w; pendulum art
Debuted at Artomatic DC, March 27, 2024 coupled with a performance of Jocelyn Morlock’s “Vespertine” for Alto flute/C flute and harp. The two movements, Twilight and Verdigris, abstractly depicted in the painting. Renowned Canadian composer, Jocelyn Morlock, tragically took her life on March 27, 2023. I was introduced to her music, especially this composition, in fall 2023, and I knew I had to make a painting inspired by the music. My own father took his life in 2007, and I couldn’t help but be immediately connected to her and this composition. During Artomatic DC, I was showing my works and I also put on a performance of music coupled with my paintings, including showing this for the first time, March 27, 2024, one year after Jocelyn’s passing, and in optimistic sentiment going forward, on my birthday, also March 27. My mother came and brought cupcakes for everyone 🧁
Artomatic 2024
Live performance link below.
Bio:
Troy Paolantonio, 44, is a lifelong flutist working professionally in the US Army for the last 15 years, currently active duty with the US Army Field Band at Fort Meade, MD. Art was a burning bright talent at a young age but took a dormant back seat once music pursuits took over. 30 years later, what began as an effort to create original pieces to decorate within his new home in 2021, has exploded into an award winning sought after career in created uniquely personal art through the pendulum.
Over 200 works to date, Troy is taking abstract geometric pendulum art to its most personal and expressive forms. Each piece is carefully crafted in a color palette of personal connection, combined with subtleties of blending, expressive canvas gestures, and being drawn in to the mesmerizing and meditative partnership with gravity and physics in visual form.
Troy has additionally found unique purpose in mental health, capturing grief from loss by suicide, his own hospitalization in 2022, and creating personal paintings together with others while sharing about these experiences. The pendulum process is visually meditative, healing, and the selection of color and configuration of artistic layout harnesses memory, building a place to carry some of the burden in a beautiful piece of art.
Continuing pursuits, include original clothing work (“Sidewalk Couture”), frequent commissions and sales, creation of works paired with musical compositions and performances of these works, and possibilities as far reaching as a gravitational singularity.
IG@artroypaolantonio
"Tiger’s Butt Can Never Be Touched"
By Ruoyu Gong
48” x 36”
Oil on Canvas
2024
Artist Statement
Painting is a means by which I uncover the veiled tensions within my psyche. Through this
distillation process, I navigate the labyrinth of my psychological landscape that often lies
dormant beneath the surface of daily life. Influenced by the Jungian notion of personal and collective unconscious, I aim to connect the depth of my unconscious mind with shared human experiences.
I’m captivated by the process of both seizing and relinquishing control over oil paint. In works
such as Tiger’s Butt Can Never Be Touched, the initial composition is inspired by monotype
printmaking, where less premeditated motifs give rise to amorphous figures that hover on the
edge of entropy. Formal elements such as form, value, and composition are arranged by
unforeseen impulses. To me, this approach is almost like a visualized sequence of “slips of the
tongue”, but instead of creating utter chaos, it serves to elucidate a reality that lies just below the surface of the unconscious. As representational narratives begin to emerge, I continue to develop them through detailed studies and iterations, resulting in a final painting in which the inherent tension between control and serendipity is never fully resolved. This juxtaposition conjures a
dream-like arena where rational and spontaneous elements coalesce, inviting viewers to engage with a sense of foreignness amidst familiar forms.
These methods also reflect my interest in staging allegorical spectacles that oscillate between enigmatic absurdity and comprehensible reality. Irony, a recurring theme in my work, serves as
both a thematic cornerstone and a confrontational attitude toward the dissonance of my fragmented cultural identity. In my journey studying abroad from a young age, I constantly
experience the discordance of cultural hierarchies in America, which in today’s society often manifests as an absurd charade that ironically creates more alienation. I find myself
unconsciously being pulled between cultural assimilation and my desire to reconnect with my Chinese cultural heritage. To investigate this contradiction within my psyche, I draw inspiration from various Chinese art forms to instill the Western medium of oil paint with Chinese cultural relevance. In particular, my paintings often employ the symbolic language of Xiangsheng, traditional Chinese comedy, which often features two performers using vivid body language to bring
characters to life. Similarly, I aim to infuse the figures in my paintings with dynamism through exaggerated gestures, placing them in absurd and improbable situations. Coiling a sense of humor with distress, I seek to uncover the complexity of layered emotions to resonate with a
broader audience.
Ultimately, painting for me is beyond the imitation of appearances. It serves as a revelatory
exploration of my psyche. Through the combination of Jungian psychoanalysis and my Chinese cultural roots, I endeavor to reveal the unconscious tensions that underlie the absurdity of human
interactions. My journey is not merely an act of creation but a continuous process of
self-discovery and reconciliation, striving towards a harmony amidst the complexities of existence.
Ruoyu Gong (b. 1999, Beijing, China) is a New York-based painter. His work delves into the
complexity of the human psyche through figurative narrative in the theme of personal
symbolism. Currently pursuing his MFA in painting at the esteemed New York Academy of Art. Ruoyu earned his BFA with honors in Illustration from the Rhode Island School of Design in 2023. In 2021, he received the certificate of Advanced Painting Seminar at the Central Academy
of Fine Arts in Beijing, China. His work has been featured in exhibitions internationally. Recent
exhibitions include Evolving Identities, Sotheby's Institute of Art, New York, NY (2024); Beyond Boundaries, Artsinsquare, Online (2024); AXA Art Prize, New York Academy of Art, New York, NY (2024); Tribeca Ball, New York Academy of Art, New York, NY (2024); International Contest of Contemporary Art – YICCA 23/24, Matalon Foundation, Milan, Italy (2024); Deck the Walls, New York Academy of Art, New York, NY (2023); Why Do You Do It?, Boomer Gallery,
London, UK (2023); Illustration Senior Invitational, ISB Gallery, Rhode Island School of
Design, Providence, RI (2023); No Longer Transparent, Gelman Gallery, Rhode Island School of Design, Providence, RI (2022). In addition, Ruoyu has won awards including the Patron’s Scholar Award, New York Academy of Art, New York, NY (2024-25); Merit Scholarship, New York Academy of Art, New York, NY (2024-25, 2023-24); 1st Place of the International Contest
of Contemporary Art – YICCA 23/24, Milan, Italy (2023-24).
Instagram: @ruoyugong_fineart
48” x 36”
Oil on Canvas
2024
Artist Statement
Painting is a means by which I uncover the veiled tensions within my psyche. Through this
distillation process, I navigate the labyrinth of my psychological landscape that often lies
dormant beneath the surface of daily life. Influenced by the Jungian notion of personal and collective unconscious, I aim to connect the depth of my unconscious mind with shared human experiences.
I’m captivated by the process of both seizing and relinquishing control over oil paint. In works
such as Tiger’s Butt Can Never Be Touched, the initial composition is inspired by monotype
printmaking, where less premeditated motifs give rise to amorphous figures that hover on the
edge of entropy. Formal elements such as form, value, and composition are arranged by
unforeseen impulses. To me, this approach is almost like a visualized sequence of “slips of the
tongue”, but instead of creating utter chaos, it serves to elucidate a reality that lies just below the surface of the unconscious. As representational narratives begin to emerge, I continue to develop them through detailed studies and iterations, resulting in a final painting in which the inherent tension between control and serendipity is never fully resolved. This juxtaposition conjures a
dream-like arena where rational and spontaneous elements coalesce, inviting viewers to engage with a sense of foreignness amidst familiar forms.
These methods also reflect my interest in staging allegorical spectacles that oscillate between enigmatic absurdity and comprehensible reality. Irony, a recurring theme in my work, serves as
both a thematic cornerstone and a confrontational attitude toward the dissonance of my fragmented cultural identity. In my journey studying abroad from a young age, I constantly
experience the discordance of cultural hierarchies in America, which in today’s society often manifests as an absurd charade that ironically creates more alienation. I find myself
unconsciously being pulled between cultural assimilation and my desire to reconnect with my Chinese cultural heritage. To investigate this contradiction within my psyche, I draw inspiration from various Chinese art forms to instill the Western medium of oil paint with Chinese cultural relevance. In particular, my paintings often employ the symbolic language of Xiangsheng, traditional Chinese comedy, which often features two performers using vivid body language to bring
characters to life. Similarly, I aim to infuse the figures in my paintings with dynamism through exaggerated gestures, placing them in absurd and improbable situations. Coiling a sense of humor with distress, I seek to uncover the complexity of layered emotions to resonate with a
broader audience.
Ultimately, painting for me is beyond the imitation of appearances. It serves as a revelatory
exploration of my psyche. Through the combination of Jungian psychoanalysis and my Chinese cultural roots, I endeavor to reveal the unconscious tensions that underlie the absurdity of human
interactions. My journey is not merely an act of creation but a continuous process of
self-discovery and reconciliation, striving towards a harmony amidst the complexities of existence.
Ruoyu Gong (b. 1999, Beijing, China) is a New York-based painter. His work delves into the
complexity of the human psyche through figurative narrative in the theme of personal
symbolism. Currently pursuing his MFA in painting at the esteemed New York Academy of Art. Ruoyu earned his BFA with honors in Illustration from the Rhode Island School of Design in 2023. In 2021, he received the certificate of Advanced Painting Seminar at the Central Academy
of Fine Arts in Beijing, China. His work has been featured in exhibitions internationally. Recent
exhibitions include Evolving Identities, Sotheby's Institute of Art, New York, NY (2024); Beyond Boundaries, Artsinsquare, Online (2024); AXA Art Prize, New York Academy of Art, New York, NY (2024); Tribeca Ball, New York Academy of Art, New York, NY (2024); International Contest of Contemporary Art – YICCA 23/24, Matalon Foundation, Milan, Italy (2024); Deck the Walls, New York Academy of Art, New York, NY (2023); Why Do You Do It?, Boomer Gallery,
London, UK (2023); Illustration Senior Invitational, ISB Gallery, Rhode Island School of
Design, Providence, RI (2023); No Longer Transparent, Gelman Gallery, Rhode Island School of Design, Providence, RI (2022). In addition, Ruoyu has won awards including the Patron’s Scholar Award, New York Academy of Art, New York, NY (2024-25); Merit Scholarship, New York Academy of Art, New York, NY (2024-25, 2023-24); 1st Place of the International Contest
of Contemporary Art – YICCA 23/24, Milan, Italy (2023-24).
Instagram: @ruoyugong_fineart
"Storm"
By Alex Chystiakov
30x40in
Oil on canvas gallery format
Alex Chystiakov is a freelance artist based in Norristown, Pennsylvania painting with oil. Moved from Ukraine into the USA to study Visual Communication in Hussian Art School, s one year study as Concept Artist in CG Spectrum. Long time painting digital as a hobby, so all those years I tried to find myself in the digital area, but nowadays start using traditional media. I choose paint and methods with expressionism and brushy with hard brush strokes.
Education
CGSpectrum Concept Art and Illustration Expected ,march
16 2023
Hussian College of Art, Philadelphia, PA emphasis in Visual
Communication; 2015
Published and Experience
- MAGIX - 2024 exhibition
- Piuda Art Gallery in Seoul Exhibition August 2024
- Online Exhibition Limitless August 2024
- Exhibizone 2024
- Food Story Group Exhibirion 2024
-The Holy Art - Future Stars Barcelona digital show, Spain 2024
- exhibition at Piuda ArtSpace in Seoul, South Korea, 2024
-Artistcloseup published page magazine
Issued Mar 2024
-The Modern Renaissance Magazine artwork September issue 2024
- Teraverna Honorable Mansion art competition Issued October 2024
- Art Competition Finalist "Animal"Art Competition TERAVARNA 2024
-Teraverna Honorable Mansion art competition
Issued Mar 2024
-Project Smile Feb 2014
My design work was selected to participate in this international exhibition hosted by participating children hospitals from around the world
IG@alex6d12hd
30x40in
Oil on canvas gallery format
Alex Chystiakov is a freelance artist based in Norristown, Pennsylvania painting with oil. Moved from Ukraine into the USA to study Visual Communication in Hussian Art School, s one year study as Concept Artist in CG Spectrum. Long time painting digital as a hobby, so all those years I tried to find myself in the digital area, but nowadays start using traditional media. I choose paint and methods with expressionism and brushy with hard brush strokes.
Education
CGSpectrum Concept Art and Illustration Expected ,march
16 2023
Hussian College of Art, Philadelphia, PA emphasis in Visual
Communication; 2015
Published and Experience
- MAGIX - 2024 exhibition
- Piuda Art Gallery in Seoul Exhibition August 2024
- Online Exhibition Limitless August 2024
- Exhibizone 2024
- Food Story Group Exhibirion 2024
-The Holy Art - Future Stars Barcelona digital show, Spain 2024
- exhibition at Piuda ArtSpace in Seoul, South Korea, 2024
-Artistcloseup published page magazine
Issued Mar 2024
-The Modern Renaissance Magazine artwork September issue 2024
- Teraverna Honorable Mansion art competition Issued October 2024
- Art Competition Finalist "Animal"Art Competition TERAVARNA 2024
-Teraverna Honorable Mansion art competition
Issued Mar 2024
-Project Smile Feb 2014
My design work was selected to participate in this international exhibition hosted by participating children hospitals from around the world
IG@alex6d12hd
"Gaze"
By Julie Anna Freund
Size: 28" x 22"
Medium: Oil on canvas
Julie Anna Freund was born and raised in upstate New York. Ever since Julie can remember she has been drawing and painting. She began riding horses at the age of 8 and entered her first show at 10. After losing her father at a young age Julie found sanctuary being around horses and the barn. She credits the equine and barn environment for her up-bringing, from adolescence into adulthood.
Julie attended Bridgewater College in central Virginia before transferring to Savannah College of Art and Design. She rode on both school’s equestrian teams in addition to showing her privately owned horses throughout the east coast. Julie graduated with a B.F.A in Painting and double minored in Equestrian Studies and Art History.
Upon graduation Julie moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin where she taught both riding lessons and painting classes. Most recently Julie was an Administrative Assistant at Wisconsin Equine Clinic and Hospital before becoming a full time mother in 2020.
Julie is still living in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She balances her time between being a mother and creating art that honors the positive impact horses have had on her life. She hopes to share her love and appreciation for these animals through her artwork. When she isn't mothering or making art Julie rides her horse at Foremost Farm in Delafield, WI.
Artist Statement:
I like to use colors in an unconventional way while still portraying the recognizable. Letting the inner energy of the colors play out on the canvas through the brush.
I use the equine form in my artwork as a tribute to their significance in my life. It's the permanent connection with the horse that sparks my creativity. Horses have an ability to be far greater in size than us, and yet make us feel so comfortable in their presence - a partnership that transcends species. My artwork gives an unique perspective of the equine.
@julieannafreundartist
Size: 28" x 22"
Medium: Oil on canvas
Julie Anna Freund was born and raised in upstate New York. Ever since Julie can remember she has been drawing and painting. She began riding horses at the age of 8 and entered her first show at 10. After losing her father at a young age Julie found sanctuary being around horses and the barn. She credits the equine and barn environment for her up-bringing, from adolescence into adulthood.
Julie attended Bridgewater College in central Virginia before transferring to Savannah College of Art and Design. She rode on both school’s equestrian teams in addition to showing her privately owned horses throughout the east coast. Julie graduated with a B.F.A in Painting and double minored in Equestrian Studies and Art History.
Upon graduation Julie moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin where she taught both riding lessons and painting classes. Most recently Julie was an Administrative Assistant at Wisconsin Equine Clinic and Hospital before becoming a full time mother in 2020.
Julie is still living in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She balances her time between being a mother and creating art that honors the positive impact horses have had on her life. She hopes to share her love and appreciation for these animals through her artwork. When she isn't mothering or making art Julie rides her horse at Foremost Farm in Delafield, WI.
Artist Statement:
I like to use colors in an unconventional way while still portraying the recognizable. Letting the inner energy of the colors play out on the canvas through the brush.
I use the equine form in my artwork as a tribute to their significance in my life. It's the permanent connection with the horse that sparks my creativity. Horses have an ability to be far greater in size than us, and yet make us feel so comfortable in their presence - a partnership that transcends species. My artwork gives an unique perspective of the equine.
@julieannafreundartist
"Road to Golden"
By Phyllis Anderson
30"x40", acrylic & pastel on canvas, $1200
Statement
Like many of us, I am drawn to wilderness areas and the elemental power of mountains. Over the last
several years, I began to focus on the landscapes of Colorado, after painting mostly abstract pieces. My
recent work explores romantic, dreamlike subjects, using vivid, unexpected colors and expressive marks.
The influence of painters such as Edvard Munch, Marsden Hartley and Charles Burchfield can be seen. I like
to approach the landscape tradition with imagination, playfulness, and a touch of surrealism, inviting
viewers to expand their perception of these beloved spaces.
Biography
Phyllis Anderson is an award-winning artist living in Colorado. She earned a BFA in painting at the
University of Texas, where she won a Ford Foundation competition to study art history in Europe. After
college, Phyllis and her musician husband moved to New York, where she worked for a corporate art
consultant and concentrated on developing her own vision. After the birth of a second child, she stopped
practicing art for nearly 15 years. In 2004, now living outside Philadelphia, she returned to the studio, and
over the years, participated in various group and one-man shows in New Jersey and Philadelphia,
including with the Noyes Museum and Novado Gallery in New Jersey; and Twenty-Two Gallery, Artists
Equity and DaVinci Arts Alliance in Philadelphia, among others. In 2020, Phyllis participated in a mural
competition in Fraser, CO, and her mural was purchased for the Cozens Ranch Museum. (A full resume is
posted on her website, www.phyllisandersonart.com).
An enthusiastic skier/hiker, she began spending more time in Colorado, acquiring a second home in the
mountains in 2014, and moved with her husband to the Front Range permanently in 2022. She has been in
numerous juried shows, including at the Foothills Art Center in Golden, and the Center for the Arts in
Evergreen. Her work is sold at Framewerx Gallery in Winter Park, CO, and she has worked with Lewis Art
consulting in Denver. She is a member of Core Arts Space, a co-op gallery in Lakewood, CO. Her work is in private and corporate collections in the US, Canada and Great Britain.
IG @phyllisanderson
30"x40", acrylic & pastel on canvas, $1200
Statement
Like many of us, I am drawn to wilderness areas and the elemental power of mountains. Over the last
several years, I began to focus on the landscapes of Colorado, after painting mostly abstract pieces. My
recent work explores romantic, dreamlike subjects, using vivid, unexpected colors and expressive marks.
The influence of painters such as Edvard Munch, Marsden Hartley and Charles Burchfield can be seen. I like
to approach the landscape tradition with imagination, playfulness, and a touch of surrealism, inviting
viewers to expand their perception of these beloved spaces.
Biography
Phyllis Anderson is an award-winning artist living in Colorado. She earned a BFA in painting at the
University of Texas, where she won a Ford Foundation competition to study art history in Europe. After
college, Phyllis and her musician husband moved to New York, where she worked for a corporate art
consultant and concentrated on developing her own vision. After the birth of a second child, she stopped
practicing art for nearly 15 years. In 2004, now living outside Philadelphia, she returned to the studio, and
over the years, participated in various group and one-man shows in New Jersey and Philadelphia,
including with the Noyes Museum and Novado Gallery in New Jersey; and Twenty-Two Gallery, Artists
Equity and DaVinci Arts Alliance in Philadelphia, among others. In 2020, Phyllis participated in a mural
competition in Fraser, CO, and her mural was purchased for the Cozens Ranch Museum. (A full resume is
posted on her website, www.phyllisandersonart.com).
An enthusiastic skier/hiker, she began spending more time in Colorado, acquiring a second home in the
mountains in 2014, and moved with her husband to the Front Range permanently in 2022. She has been in
numerous juried shows, including at the Foothills Art Center in Golden, and the Center for the Arts in
Evergreen. Her work is sold at Framewerx Gallery in Winter Park, CO, and she has worked with Lewis Art
consulting in Denver. She is a member of Core Arts Space, a co-op gallery in Lakewood, CO. Her work is in private and corporate collections in the US, Canada and Great Britain.
IG @phyllisanderson
"Higher Self/Soulmate"
By Luciana Fabiilli
Medium: Acrylic
Size: 36" x 48"
Artist Statement: My paintings reveal characters of inner beauty, strength, intelligence and feminine energy.
They are Muses of Inspiration that speak of the soul. It is my intent as an artist to inspire and to paint a brighter World.
Luciana earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts Honour's Degree from Toronto Canada.
Her work has been featured in several magazines including The Artist's Magazine, Manhattan Arts, Encyclopedia of Living Arts. She has received many awards and has been selected into jurisdiction shows including the Dallas Critics Choice Awards.
IG@lucccibella
Medium: Acrylic
Size: 36" x 48"
Artist Statement: My paintings reveal characters of inner beauty, strength, intelligence and feminine energy.
They are Muses of Inspiration that speak of the soul. It is my intent as an artist to inspire and to paint a brighter World.
Luciana earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts Honour's Degree from Toronto Canada.
Her work has been featured in several magazines including The Artist's Magazine, Manhattan Arts, Encyclopedia of Living Arts. She has received many awards and has been selected into jurisdiction shows including the Dallas Critics Choice Awards.
IG@lucccibella
"To All The Boys I've Loved Before"
By Sarah Wandzilak
Acrylic on Stretched Canvas
30"x40"
I aim to create a space where the viewer can reflect on their own
experiences, engaging in a visual dialogue with the emotions and narratives embedded in the work. In this, my art is a rumination on the
human experience—an exploration that echoes, mourns, and wallows in
the complexities of existence. Through intricate line-work and labyrinthine patterns, I delve into the dualities of expression, from the weight of emotion to the release of catharsis. My subject matter is rich in symbolism, offering visual representations of the visceral aspects of feelings—both tender and tumultuous.
Influenced by the enchanting aesthetics of Art Nouveau, the raw
emotive force of Van Gogh, and the dark surrealism of H.R. Giger, my work marries whimsy with poignancy. Deeply inspired by bold palettes; color is my language of expression: vibrant yet solemn, communicating states of being that transcend what can be said. While my work is grounded in realism, particularly in my depictions of the female form, it breaks free from rigid structure. My subjects—humans, animals, and objects—are rendered with both technical precision and a
fluid freedom that defies the constraint of what is possible. The female
figure, often a self-portrait, is at the heart of this exploration, serving as a symbol of femininity, identity, and introspective storytelling. I seek not only to capture truth but to evoke a sense of connection to the universal, often unseen, aspects of life.
S.E. Wandz is a painter and visual storyteller based in Grand Junction, Colorado. Known for her ability to evoke deep emotion through bold colors and fluid compositions, her work captures the beauty and complexity of human experiences.
One of her most celebrated works, To All the Boys I've Loved Before, exemplifies her talent for combining striking visuals with poignant themes. Her portfolio spans fine art painting, photography, and illustration, showcasing versatility and a keen eye for detail.
With over eight years as a self-employed artist, Wandz has honed her craft while building a dedicated following. In 2025, she aims to break into prestigious galleries, sharing her work with broader audiences. Her art resonates deeply with women, offering a compelling exploration of love, identity, and personal growth.
S.E. Wandz continues to push boundaries, blending technical skill with raw emotion to create pieces that inspire and connect on a profound level.
IG @s.e.wandz
Acrylic on Stretched Canvas
30"x40"
I aim to create a space where the viewer can reflect on their own
experiences, engaging in a visual dialogue with the emotions and narratives embedded in the work. In this, my art is a rumination on the
human experience—an exploration that echoes, mourns, and wallows in
the complexities of existence. Through intricate line-work and labyrinthine patterns, I delve into the dualities of expression, from the weight of emotion to the release of catharsis. My subject matter is rich in symbolism, offering visual representations of the visceral aspects of feelings—both tender and tumultuous.
Influenced by the enchanting aesthetics of Art Nouveau, the raw
emotive force of Van Gogh, and the dark surrealism of H.R. Giger, my work marries whimsy with poignancy. Deeply inspired by bold palettes; color is my language of expression: vibrant yet solemn, communicating states of being that transcend what can be said. While my work is grounded in realism, particularly in my depictions of the female form, it breaks free from rigid structure. My subjects—humans, animals, and objects—are rendered with both technical precision and a
fluid freedom that defies the constraint of what is possible. The female
figure, often a self-portrait, is at the heart of this exploration, serving as a symbol of femininity, identity, and introspective storytelling. I seek not only to capture truth but to evoke a sense of connection to the universal, often unseen, aspects of life.
S.E. Wandz is a painter and visual storyteller based in Grand Junction, Colorado. Known for her ability to evoke deep emotion through bold colors and fluid compositions, her work captures the beauty and complexity of human experiences.
One of her most celebrated works, To All the Boys I've Loved Before, exemplifies her talent for combining striking visuals with poignant themes. Her portfolio spans fine art painting, photography, and illustration, showcasing versatility and a keen eye for detail.
With over eight years as a self-employed artist, Wandz has honed her craft while building a dedicated following. In 2025, she aims to break into prestigious galleries, sharing her work with broader audiences. Her art resonates deeply with women, offering a compelling exploration of love, identity, and personal growth.
S.E. Wandz continues to push boundaries, blending technical skill with raw emotion to create pieces that inspire and connect on a profound level.
IG @s.e.wandz
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