Alexander Martin is a multiracial black and queer artist and performer living and working in Peoria, Illinois.  Born in Hurricane, West Virginia, they completed their BFA at West Virginia University in 2010, then went on to receive their MFA in printmaking from Bradley University in 2017.  In 2015 they co-founded the artist-run project space Project 1612 with Jessica Bingham and Zach Ott, bringing contemporary artists and their practices to Central Illinois in an accessible manner while highlighting the efforts of the Central Illinois arts community. After receiving their MFA, Alexander spent a brief time in residency at T.H.I.Studios in Tottenham North London, then served as resident and program director at the Prairie Center of the Arts.  As a drag queen performing under the name Artemisia VanHo, Alexander was crowned Miss Gay Peoria and Miss Gay Illinois USofA 2019 and often contributes performances to community education events.  Community engagement is a major theme of their studio practice, so they are involved with several organizations and community art planning efforts, for example, the 2020 project ‘Remember Her Peoria’ that commemorated and called attention to the lives of local women lost to violence. Alexander currently works as the peer outreach and marketing coordinator for Central Illinois Friends, doing work with the LGBTQ+ and black community around sexual health and destigmatization.  Their practice is a combination of mixed media work, found objects, performance, ritual, and education. 

Instagram Handles: @xander9210, @artemisiavanho, @project1612

I am a Graphic Designer currently residing in Peoria, IL. I moved to Peoria from Calumet City to attend Bradley University in 2010 before deciding to make it a more permanent arrangement in 2012. I am currently doing freelance design and working in noncreative roles at a few nonprofits in the area. I started an online store to feature and sell original art and explore more art in a personal way. I create works to relate to my life as a Black woman and blerd. I enjoy using my platform to tell my story and raise awareness for issues I care about and am looking to do more fundraising efforts in the future.

IG: www.instagram.com/madhatmo

FB: https://www.facebook.com/MadHatMo

Portfolio: www.bit.ly/MorganMullen

Store: www.madhatmo.com

Chantell Marlow is a midwest-based designer and illustrator with an affinity for all things floral. Inspired by faith, motherhood, and the helpers of the world, she uses art to bring a little beauty and thoughtfulness into our fast-paced world. With a decade of professional graphic design experience, she also offers design services such as brand identity development and packaging design.

A Florida native, Chantell graduated from Flagler College with a Bachelor’s Degree in Graphic Design. Over the years, she’s worked with small boutique agencies, international agencies, interior design houses, advertising firms, and more. She also teaches design courses at Bradley University and runs an online shop with art prints and products available for purchase.

For more information on this artist, visit chantellmarlow.com

Artist, poet, musician, teacher, healer.

A multifaceted wordsmith born of artists, storytellers and scholars, extending an unyielding hand to those who need it.

Like Badu, I have some food in my bag for you.

(The food you eat? No. I have some food for thought.)

Email: Lhooqtie@gmail.com

Midwestern-based photographer Illinois centered in black and white, dark, street, deadpan, documentation, and portrait photography styles in an experimentative context.

I have been shooting photography since 2011 and I love to experiment with what a camera can do. I love doing experiments when shooting and seeing the results of the aftermath. With this, it allows me free-range of my creative process and interprets a vision that differs from another visual outlet.

A camera is a third eye; an eye that freezes time and manipulates it however it wants.

Visual Artist specializing in portraiture - canvas or mural.

Portfolio: https://brendapagan.com/

I’m Kevin J Bradford,31, married with a one-month-old son. I am a traditional and self-teaching digital art... I’ve been a creator for over 15 years. I quit my full-time job in 2017 to invest in myself and work part-time to allow me time to create and complete commissions....you can track my progress from then to now on Facebook and Instagram 

My work started as portraitS only and has evolved into more of a black empowerment narrative and perspective work. The more I matured as a man noticed that how we are perceived as a people has a great deal to do with media and what people see...knowing how filtered an inaccurate and sometimes disrespectful that can be...my career will be dedicated to depicting our beauty, our truth, and strength while serendipitously letting me simply express myself.....

I believe the pandemic has brought an unexpected wave of appreciation for art... I find this interesting....as if the universe actually working in my favor…

Social handles

www.instagram.com/mello4eva 

Facebook.com/mello4eva

I am an artist based in Peoria, IL with my focus being in photography and digital art. From a young age, I have always had a fascination in art. My family made sure to keep me involved in the arts and introduced me to local artists in the community. Growing up, I attended both a magnet arts school and a preparatory school of the arts. I eventually graduated with a BA from Illinois State University.

I’ve noticed that the themes of my art tend to have a question attached to them, the “what if’s and the can I’s”. I’m often interested in the manipulation of my audience, not necessarily in a malicious way, but more as good humor. I believe that while contemporary art is beautiful, it’s also important to have work that makes you feel and is relatable. I usually use this with work that focus on inanimate objects on a macro level. I enjoy the idea of giving life and emotions to items that you normally wouldn’t feel for.

I also love the idea of exaggerating the banality in things, or rather the daily routine of everyday life, but putting in an extra twist.In the majority of my work, you will mostly see myself as the center focus. While I work with other models, I love including myself in my artwork. One reason is because I know how I want the end result to look. However, my main reason is because it’s a representation of myself. In the media of both art and TV, you won’t see many people who look like me, nor one I can relate to fully. I have many different identities as a black, queer, masculine presenting person with a very particular body type. Showcasing my full self provides that intersectionality I wanted to see growing up.

FB: Alexa Cary

IG: thefemalewolf

Artist and sing/songwriter/guitarist born and raised in Peoria, IL to a big family of artists, artisans, musicians, singers, and writers.  I was homeschooled until age 17.  I have been making art since probably when I was able to grasp something to draw.  I remember being very young and practicing writing words and the sort of spark in my brain when I realized I could put words together, write stories, and my own thoughts.  I’ve played the guitar off and on since I was 17 and performed locally in Peoria as a solo act.  My music is folk/soul.  I primarily perform my own lyrics and music. 

 I like using various media to create art.  A lot of what I do is acrylic paintings and graphite drawings.  I also like to create mixed media utilizing collage and paint.  I like creating art out of anything.

I like to experiment and try various techniques used by artists.  I like to mix the new with the old.  I’m always seeking to create an experience that might seem familiar but always has unexpected elements.

Music at https://hannahoffutt.bandcamp.com/releases

Facebook: Hannah Offutt

Instagram: the_magical_realist