Hsin-Hsi Chen

Hsin-Hsi Chen is known for her exquisite, illusionary pencil drawings on unique complex constructed 3D forms of paper and wood. Chen’s initial mission was to use only these basic materials and see how far they would take her. Her recent work has evolved beyond 3D drawings to include a variety of scales, two/three-dimensional work, large-scale/full-room installation, and collaborations using 3D modeling/printing and interactive digital projection.

Alyscia Cunningham

Alyscia Cunningham is an entrepreneur, author, filmmaker and photographer who has contributed to the Smithsonian, National Geographic, Discovery Channel and AOL. After the success of her first book, Feminine Transitions, Cunningham published her second photography book and produced the documentary film, I Am More Than My Hair which brings awareness to female hair loss and redefines beauty standards. Alyscia creates these, and future projects, with the consideration of art for social-change.

Hedieh Javanshir Ilchi

Hedieh Javanshir Ilchi explores the notion of duality, which is closely related to her multifaceted identity as an Iranian American immigrant. Her paintings function as metaphors for the complexities that emanate from such polarized cultural experiences and reflect an interest in the fusion of visual conventions of Western abstraction and Persian Art.

Shana Kohnstamm

Shana Kohnstamm departed from a formal arts education, as she pursued a variety of creative careers including stained glass design and fabrication, bead and jewelry making, theatrical painting and even briefly apprenticed as an ocularist before turning her attention once again to fine art making. Her passion for felted soft sculpture began in 2010. Since then, her work has been published in books and magazines worldwide, garnered awards, and been included in exhibitions at the Mobile Museum of Art (Mobile, AL) and Creative Crafts Council Biennial Exhibition (Bethesda, MD).

Mariama McCarthy

Mariama McCarthy was born into the nomadic Tuareg tribe, located in Tchin-Tabaraden She is a self-taught artist and has been painting self-expressionist artwork for just under twenty years, since her stroke in 2000. Her work explores the aftermath of child marriage, poverty, and the life of African women in general, albeit with a modern twist. Making use of unique tribal symbolism, she hides subtle wisdom in plain sight, basing her works off of true stories of various African women, such as herself.

Arpitha Parthasarathy, PhD

Arpitha Parthasarathy, PhD, is a trained artist and jewelry designer, skilled in hand embroidery and fabric painting. Her passion has been painting, using various media, since the age of three. Trained in watercolor and oil canvas painting from India, she learned the ancient form of traditional India art (Mysore art/Tranjore art). Currently, Arpitha specializes in scratchboard art, portraying wildlife and human portraits. 

Nicole Salimbene

Nicole Salimbene works at the intersection of poetics, psychology, environmentalism and contemplative practice. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Northern Colorado, and has worked in the social service fields and as an arts administrator in the performing arts. Nicole’s work has been exhibited in various venues around the world, including Nogent sur Oise and Montataire, France, New Orleans Photo Alliance, (e)merge Art Fair (D.C.), and the Arlington Arts Center (VA). She has also received recognition for her work from The Art Newspaper (London), Washington Post, Al Tashkeel (Dubai), and Sculpture Magazine.

Rosa Vera

Rosa Vera is Peruvian-born, but grew up in Washington, D.C. and in Latin America. She is an award-winning artist who paints in acrylics, encaustics, watercolor, mixed media and oils. She currently lives between Bethesda, Maryland and Lima, Peru. Rosa has exhibited in national shows including the National Arts Club, the National Watercolor Society Show, International Society for Experimental  Artists (ISEA), Watercolor USA, and The Art League of Alexandria.