17-art

A “Kunik,” also called an Eskimo kiss, nose kiss, or nose rub, is the act of pressing one’s nose against another. In various Indigenous cultures, it is usually interpreted as a form of greeting and affection. 

This piece showcases two Inuit women sharing a ‘Kunik’, symbolizing profound love and strength. Like mountains, they stand resilient, their nurturing spirits akin to the enduring peaks—steadfast, forgiving, and strong, embracing unwavering love and fortitude.

My name is Hiokit Lao. I am a 29-year-old self-taught artist based in NYC. I aim to create art that ignites conversations and celebrates life, encouraging viewers to explore different narratives within the artwork. Each piece is a homage to cultural diversity, intertwining social narratives and my artistic vision. Through surreal, abstract, and vibrant elements, I aim to create meaningful art that instills hope and positivity.

Artist Statement: In my paintings, I primarily use acrylic paint, latex paints, inks, papers and charcoal. My images contain many diverse layers of meaning, from the universal to the specific and personal. Many of my works are abstract. I am frequently interested in pattern and/or creating a rich sensual surface by making layer upon layer of marks. There is often an unseen history within these layers as images are obscured and revealed.

My Prints are frequently made with SafetyKut, a softer type of linoleum, I often print on unconventional surfaces, like plaster and wall paper.

Karissa Ho is a writer and artist from Los Angeles. Her poems and paintings have appeared or are forthcoming in JMWW, Red Ogre Review, Radar Poetry, and Flash Frog. She studies English literature and economics at the University of California, Berkeley, and she is a very fast walker.

Artist Statement: My art basis is on abstract expressionism, depth of visual texture and structure. Most based on traditional media and techniques, such as canvas, acrylic and mixed media. TikTok: ghetto.gallery

Artist Statement: From Montreal to Northern Virginia, my lifelong passion for art has been fueled by masters like Rousseau, Cézanne, and O’Keeffe. In my studio, acrylics become my voice, each stroke a balance of intuition and intention. My paintings blend reality and imagination, inviting viewers into a dialogue with the canvas, capturing existence one stroke at a time. Join me in exploring the boundless expressions of emotion through art. www.roviart.com

Britnie graduated from Goucher College with a bachelors in studio art. Inspired by nature; she depicts the absence of human presence, liberation (“set free”), and freedom (“being free”) through light and vibrant colors. Capturing the beauty of nature, Britnie blends boundaries between reality and abstraction, creating a unique dreamscape atmosphere. Experimental processes such as combining abstract painting with digital manipulation are utilized. Her work’s featured in magazines such as Denver Quarterly, Chestnut Review, and others.

Lizzie Falvey, a New England native and graduate of Massachusetts College of Art and Design, is a professor and artist whose acrylic monoprints are characterized by bold colors, angular lines, and frenetic compositions. She is interested in bringing the attention of the viewer to the present so that they can engage with their own disquietude.