Philly Artist in Focus
The Artist in Focus campaign gives us a chance to shine a light on some of Philly’s great artists. Maybe you are already fans of some of the artists or maybe you’ll discover an artist that speaks to you.
How do I get an Artist in Focus Lens Cloth?
Each artist will have their own limited edition cleaning cloth — you will receive one with the purchase of a pair of Philly Eyeworks glasses. A new artist will be introduced every month or so.
Featured Artist
Khon Mask
Also known as “Christina La Aureo”, and “Aureo Cipolla”, Christina Luangrath is a 26 year old Lao-American artist. Raised in both the east side of Oakland, CA and Philadelphia, she is heavily influenced by many different aspects of the cultures she was raised in, most notably highlighting essences of her ethnic background and the urban art culture and history of the Bay Area and Philadelphia. Her love for art sparked at an early age, full-on igniting when she joined the Mural Arts Program of Philadelphia, where she continued on to assist in the design and creation of 4 murals within the city. During her time with the Mural Arts Program, She has been mentored and worked alongside artists Nosego and spoken word duo Catzie Vilayphonh and Michelle Myers of Yellow Rage. One of her many passions is embedded in community and culture, where she now continues her work with community arts organization Laos In The House.
Hypnotic
“Born in Newport News, Virginia, and studied literature at Hollins College (now Hollins University) in Roanoke, VA., it was only after this period, when I lived in Paris for a year, that I committed to becoming an artist, and came to Philadelphia to study at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts.
Major exhibitions over the past years include those at Cerulean Arts (Philadelphia), Goggleworks (Reading, PA), Lake Eustis Museum of Art (Florida), Rosenfeld Gallery (Philadelphia), James Oliver Gallery (Philadelphia), and Arlington Arts Center (Virginia). Selected group and juried shows include the National Liberty Museum (Philadelphia), Art in City Hall (Philadelphia), Emily Harvey Foundation Gallery NYC), and The Philadelphia Foundation (with the Philadelphia Art Alliance).
My studio practice for the past 20 years has focused mainly on social issues (gun violence, politics, death customs), but has always embraced text as image.”
Color Odyssey
“I’m a Filipino-American, Philly-based designer and illustrator. Currently interning at Truth & Consequences, member of Space1026, and recent MFA grad from Tyler School of Art & Architecture for Graphic Design. Vibrant colors, human emotions, and mistakes that happen during the “making” process excite me. I love to explore the intersection of art and design – to me, making art is to eating as designing is to cooking, and I like to eat as I cook. I also screen print and make ceramics (check out my pots).”
Jennifer Williams
Cheetah
Jennifer Williams (b. 1982) is a self-taught artist born and raised in Philadelphia. Jennifer's love for animals, landscapes, supermodels, celebrities, music, and people populates her work. Fantasy rock and punk bands are a significant theme in her art with a special interest in a group of her own creation called The Raven Call. Jennifer’s artwork is simultaneously direct documentation of the world and things she likes and weavings from her imagination. In addition, Jennifer enjoys making hand-drawn t-shirts for others as a way to share her art and love for music. Jennifer is a past member of the band Wonder Abyss and a current member of The Soapbox: Community Print Shop & Zine Library in Philadelphia.
Anthony Coleman
The Pink Panther
Anthony Coleman is a self-taught artist. He was born, raised and lives in Philadelphia. Driven by a desire to create, Anthony began drawing his unique portraits at a young age. Anthony's distinct style combines the color and mood of cartoons and pop art from the 60’s, 70's and 80's. Anthony has a one of a kind eye for portraiture and his art is collected by patrons the globe over. Anthony has shown in many galleries, including Space 1026 and The Galleries at Moore.
Flow
Manuela Guillén is a freelance painter, muralist, and digital illustrator currently living in North Philadelphia. Born in Miami to Cuban and Salvadorian immigrant parents, Manuela has always had a love for art. She has collaborated with local, national, and global art organizations such as PangeaSeed, Fung Collaboratives, and 48 Blocks. Her murals can be found in both the U.S. and Mexico. Inspired by plants, tropical colors, and her cultural upbringing, Manuela aims to bring awareness to art education, sociopolitical and environmental issues. As a Spanish Art teacher, Manuela hopes to inspire her students to be creative as she continues to bring communities closer together through art.
3 STAXXX
Inspired by the delicate intricacies of human anatomy and nature itself, Keturah Benson, Visual Artist, uses her work to allow her audience to connect to her personal passions. Never forgetting her roots, she utilizes influences from her hometown, Prince George's County, MD and her rich Liberian culture in everything she does, while also drawing from her experiences in live music and fashion. Costume Designer and seamstress by trade, Keturah creates impermeable experience for all that interact with her work. After graduating with a BFA in Crafts & Material Studies with a concentration in Fibers and Textile studies from The University of the Arts, Keturah remained in Philadelphia to further bolster her already multifaceted skill set.
Pile no. 1
“Hello! I’m Mat Tonelli and I was born and bred in Worcester, MA and have now been living and working in South Philadelphia since 2012. I attended the Tyler School of Art at Temple University and obtained a Bachelor of Fine Arts in both Painting and Printmaking, as well as a minor in Art History in 2011. I’m also a practicing musician, primarily a guitarist, utilizing modern techniques, looping and other pedal effects to create my work. When I’m not creating art or music, you’ll probably see me walking my dog Leeloo around the East Passyunk/Newbold neighborhood or serving at the infamous Rittenhouse Square steakhouse, Barclay Prime.”
James Dupree
There are No Lambs in the Jungle
James Dupree is a Philly-based American artist, educator, and activist. Dupree's works are included in the permanent collections of the Columbus Museum of Art, the Philadelphia Museum of Art; the African American Museum in Philadelphia; the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts; the Institute of Contemporary Art, Philadelphia at the University of Pennsylvania; the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in New York; and the National Museum of Art in Cardiff, Wales, among others. He has been active in the Philadelphia Mural Arts Program, and was the artist for the mural in honor of poet and teacher Sonia Sanchez near Temple University.
Petroglyph Chic
Christopher Eads is a Philadelphia based designer-illustrator. He works most adeptly with a mechanical pencil and enjoys sketching, concepting and writing in a sketchbook regularly before hopping on to the computer to add finishing touches to work. He is interested and inspired by the rich and always evolving patchwork of cultures, histories and experiences that make up Philadelphia. A graduate of Tyler School of Art, he has been a collaborating artist with the Philadelphia Assembled Exhibition at the Philadelphia Art Museum, worked as a designer of children’s books for local publishing firm Running Press, has displayed work with Giovinetti Studios and designed materials for The Leukemia Lymphoma Society, The American Diabetes Association, grassroots organizations and musical artists among others.
18th ST Day Dreams
Miriam Singer grew up in Buffalo, New York, In 2000 she received her BA in Sociology and Studio Art from Brandeis University, and in 2003 her MFA in Painting from Massachusetts College of Art. Since moving to Philadelphia in 2004; Miriam Singer has exhibited at LG Tripp Gallery, Woodmere Art Museum, Space 1026, Friends of the Print and Picture Collection, Art in the Airport, James Oliver Gallery, Gallery Siano, Inliquid at Painted Bride, Art in City Hall, Topstitch, Spector Gallery, Gallery at Minnow, and Padlock Gallery.Singer uses a combination of printmaking and drawing media to create her unique works on paper and designs for public art projects. Noted public art projects with The Philadelphia Mural Arts Program include; Southeast by Southeast, 2013, Under The Clothespin, 2012, and Take Me to the River, 2010. Singers accumulated imagery becomes layered and busy with impressions of the cityscape. Singer currently teaches printmaking part-time at Fleisher Art Memorial and is a member of the artist collective, Space 1026.
Component #9
“From Cranbrook Academy of Art to a stint in Mexico, I have worked as a graphic designer, art instructor, master printer, and artist for over 20 years. I was a Master Printer and Project Manager at The Fabric Workshop and Museum in Philadelphia from 2009-2015 and he’s called Philly home ever since. I spend most days working in my low-waste, sustainable studio bringing my vibrant designs to life in the form of bags and apparel. My art is represented by Pentimenti Gallery in Old City, Philadelphia.”
Ghost
With an aesthetic that captures elements of mass-market horror and neo-expressionism, David Schmuckler’s work is uniquely accessible. Using source imagery culled from Google image searches for phrases like “Halloween Scary Mask Costume,” “Bloodscream,” and “Krampus Horror,” which yield images from the horror genre from around the world, Schmuckler develops singular characters using bold design elements and color schemes. Below the figure he incorporates the often-randomized text (sometimes in other languages, from Russian to Italian) from the search results into his compositions, supplying them with equally macabre captions.