Jónathan Velázquez – a través de performance, escultura y en papel, su trabajo explora las posibilidades de celebridad y el poder de la performance. Cuando Jónathan canta y actúa, se siente seguro y vive el momento. Jonathan crea sus numerosos personajes artísticos basado en músicos y grupos con los que se identifica: su repertorio de artistas incluye a Michael Jackson, así como a Espinosa Paz, Los Tigres Del Norte y Daddy Yankee. El lanzamiento de su EP con baladas en español se encuentra en NIAD Sounds Recordings.    En su práctica de dibujo, a Jónathan le gusta dibujar retratos de Read More …

Jean McElvane is a mixed media artist who primarily works in sculpture, drawing and painting.  Pollinators are a key subject for Jean’s practice, which she has been exploring since 2017.  Jean was commissioned to make about four different pollinator mobiles for a Marin County  Event, who previously purchased a hummingbird mobile at one of the NIAD weekend openings.  Dragonflies & other pollinators came in later, including as brooch pins.   Sharing about the process behind her pollinator works, she says:   “Tin-National-by-3’s or Tinsby-3 (tins-be-3) for short, have three meanings   1 – Tin (all made from tin foil)   2 – National (international)   Read More …

NIAD studio artist Luis Estrada’s practice is rooted in painting, drawing and sculpture. Estrada likes to draw  straight from his head and often explores his experiences living in Richmond, California,  sharing “I’ve been in Richmond a long time, 17 year olds, 16, 15, 14, 13, 12 years old. Long  time. A lot of numbers in my head. Richmond has a lot of noise, too many cars, the noise is  every day, every morning, every afternoon, every night. Richmond has a lot of people.”  A self-described weather man, Estrada is interested in natural disasters and powerful climate  phenomenons like tornadoes and Read More …

Wow, does Shantae Robinson know how to use color! Her abstract paintings and drawings – sometimes based on a grid structure – come alive with color, seeming to emit some sort of life vibrations. While generally abstract, in any discussion of her work Shantae will vigorously draw the viewer’s attention to meaningful symbols (curves that represent “S” for “Shantae”, for example) and figures gleaned from her surroundings. She describes their significance with her signature refrain, “I made that!” // Shantae’s available work //  exhibition history Untangling Webs: A Journey In Abstract Textiles, organized by Alexander Hernandez // NIAD Online Exhibition // Read More …

 With masking tape and paper, Jeremy Burleson has built a flood of highly detailed medical instruments – hyper-realistic and quasi-workable versions of stethoscopes, ventilators and syringes. Burleson also works out his interest in all things medical on paper, often combining figures with rows of bottles, syringes and balloons. It’s unclear where his obsession stems from, but it’s obvious that his focus on medically related subject matter walks a fine line between fascination and repulsion. Also, using paper, but rolling it tightly to create a tube of sorts, Burleson crafts lyrical lamp shapes. Vaguely allegorical, the structures are designed to hang Read More …

Danny Thach is a versatile artist stylistically and materially. He practices primarily in printmaking, painting, ceramics and fiber art. Rather than having a specific chosen medium, Thach likes all materials equally. A meticulous draftsman, his process is precise and methodical. He shares that he works in pencil first and paint second when working on a canvas painting. Screen printing is a focal point for Thach’s attention to detail, a process he uses to create his handmade t-shirts. Thach has been a prolific artist since childhood and has used internet searches and resources to feed into his work at NIAD. Keith Read More …

// Julio’s available work // Julio Del Rio was born in El Tepehuaje, Michoacán, Mexico and immigrated to the United States when he was about 10 years old. He joined NIAD in 2007 when he was just 19 at the recommendation of his neighbor, close friend, and fellow NIAD artist Luis Estrada. Though it is difficult to conceive of, Julio asserts that he had no artistic inclination prior to joining NIAD. Julio’s reserved demeanor belies his playful art practice. Working mostly in ceramics and drawing, he doesn’t arrive at the NIAD studio with a plan in mind, but rather lets Read More …

Karen May is a multi-media artist who practices in collage, ceramics, drawing, painting, poetry and fiber art. Often times the boundaries between mediums and styles commingle in Karen’s work. Karen shares, “Some of the things I’m making are collages, some of them are maps. What I do with the maps is I work on them and then they turn into collages. And the same with with a book.”  Karen likes to work with found text and frequently creates her own poetry throughout her daily life. She is always looking for source material for her work, saying “Like if I see a stop Read More …

The following text is an edited conversation conducted between Peter Harris and NIAD art facilitator Emma Spertus. ES: What kind of art do you like to make at NIAD? PH: I like painting, printmaking, clay, and dance. ES: When you work with clay, how do you feel? PH: Happy, my fingers are excited. In the end, I’m happy about what I made. I like to show my mom [my work]. ES: You have a great sense of color. What do you like about colors? PH: Like the colors. All of them. ES: What is your method, planning ahead or making Read More …

(The following text is an edited excerpt from a conversation conducted between Felicia Griffin and former NIAD art facilitator Lukaza Branfman-Verissimo. The interview, in its entirety, can be found in Issue 6 of New Life Quarterly, published by E.M. Wolfman Books) What would you like us to know about you? Who is Felicia Griffin? Um, well, I like to come here and have fun and I love my friends and I want to do some more pompoms and I like doing my art. What are you working on right now? A pompom. I made two pillows and put pompoms on Read More …

 Mia Mya Dawson’s work is an abstract thing of beauty. Her paintings and drawings, sometimes based on a grid, explore the subtleties of color while using marks to create a vibrant source of movement. While it’s easy to connect her work to 1970s abstractionists like Frank Bowling, it also feels very contemporary.  // Mia Mya’s available work // exhibition history Into the Brightness: Artists from Creativity Explored, Creative Growth & NIAD // Oakland Museum of California // May 2023 Superbloom, organized by Erin McCluskey Wheeler // NIAD Gallery Exhibition // April 2022 Books, Man // organized by Mike Monteiro NIAD Read More …

A monster mash-up would best describe the work of Jon Fukui. Fukui’s drawings and sculptures feature various arrays of creatures and characters seemingly from Japanese manga and anime, but created through the distinct lens of a Japanese American artist. Jon Fukui was a perfectionist, which is an unusual quality for an artist who so enthusiastically ventured into so many different mediums: painting, drawing, and most spectacularly, ceramics. Jon’s themes ranged from biblical to natural to cultural, often referencing his pride in his Japanese heritage. Jon was a truly beloved member of NIAD and his sudden passing at a young age affected the community deeply. Examples Read More …