Chomingo Rivas was born in Suchitoto, El Salvador, and his academic formation is rooted in the community. In connecting with the soft eyes of abuelas and the strong backs of the people in the campo where he grew up, his home inspires his work. Having earned a degree in Visual Arts from the National Center for Arts (CENAR) in 2012, Chomingo continues to fill his community with color. His work is exhibited in San Salvador’s Museo MARTE, as well as in other galleries around El Salvador. Chomingo’s murals highlight the prevention of violence, the empowerment of women, homages to war veterans, and the importance of elders.
Keisha Finnie's work explores the journey of evolution as not only an artist but as a woman of color. Interpreting my personal experiences and observations. Nurturing and visualizing her determination and resilience through touch and a strong vibrant color palette. Keisha has been artistic since she could remember in her first art class at Ross Elementary School where her 2020 mural “Nurture Your Mind” resides. She’s had work displayed all over Lancaster City from galleries, murals, pianos, food trucks and so much more; this is only the beginning.
Christiane David ~ With a personality as vibrant as her paintings, Belgium born artist Christiane David has taken art to a new level in Lancaster County. Walking into her Lancaster gallery on Prince Street is like walking into an enchanted world of color. Filled with an eclectic array of watercolors, acrylic, and oil paintings, it is no doubt one of the most vibrant colorful galleries you’ll find anywhere. Regardless of the medium or the subject matter, every painting large or small is a dramatization of color, texture, and dimension.
Freiman Stoltzfus is a native of Lancaster County He was born into an Amish-Mennonite family, the youngest of six children. From an early age, his artistic ability was recognized and encouraged, in particular by his mother. He began depicting the people and landscapes of the Amish community.
Freiman studied at The National Academy and Arts Students League, both in New York City. He is proficient in a variety of media, including oil and acrylic paint, pastel, drawing, watercolor, printmaking, photography, collage, and sculpture. His work is inspired by personal interests, including music, the four seasons, poetry, Amish quilts, Gothic architecture, and geometry.
Cassandra Aaron uses mixed media abstract drawings to explore how she can elevate the mundane. Using carefully selected color palettes and videos from their everyday life, Cassandra finds the moments that others would glance over, and creates abstract drawings filled with movement and repetition. She is inspired by automatism, as well as artists from the abstract expressionist movement. Her thesis is a constant exploration of how color and mark-making can uplift these normal experiences, and how she can create a visual puzzle within her works. Cassandra exhibited at the Demuth Museum in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, as well as curio. Gallery & Creative Supply in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. She completed her BFA in Fine Arts at the Pennsylvania College of Art & Design in spring of 2022.
Callie Morton ~ Through thick paint application and expressive mark making I am able to create emotionally provoking art. I often use myself as my subject matter because the story I tell is that of my own. Using different application techniques other than brushes allows me to use a wider range of marks within my paintings. I use scrapers, razors, and most often palette knives to create different surface textures in my work. The perspective of the viewer for my work is simple; see me, but also see yourself. I want the viewer to experience empathy first hand when viewing my work, I want them to walk away feeling something and questioning what was really in front of them.
Kellie Pederson ~ I love to paint, specifically in oils. I am a trained chef, which may explain why I am often drawn to painting what ever is in season at the local farmers market. I also love to paint animals and people. I've been fortunate to have many great teachers: my parents, my sisters, and many others; several I've paid for their lessons and countless others I have learned from through their kind generosity. I am beyond inspired by and grateful to all of them! All the world is a painting to me, every photo I take is with this in mind. I daydream in brush strokes as I observe my surroundings. Crazy? Maybe.