Meet Our Artists of Color
Noland Anderson
Noland Anderson is an emerging artist whose work is a celebration of people of color. Born in NewPort News, Virginia, he later attended the Art Institute of Ft. Lauderdale, where he studied advertising and went on to work as a freelance illustrator in the South Florida television market. Now located in the Tampa Florida area where he works as a fine ar tist and is currently showing in galleries throughout the Southeast, United States.
Follow on Instagram @nolandandersonart
Domonique Brown
Domonique Brown is a Los Angeles - based artist that creates portraits that celebrate diversity. Her artwork is rendered in color palettes ranging from minimalist to vibrant with the purpose of featuring women and men of color who might not otherwise be portrayed or shown at your local museum or store, in the hopes others can see representation of their culture and identity and feel empowered.
Follow on Instagram @snoopdoggydom
Craig Carter
Craig Carter / Craig C. The Artist was born in Houston, Texas in 1981. His works of art vary by using various mediums but predominantly in acrylics and inks. He uses bold line work and vibrant colors to show different emotions and expressions. His work has been shown nationally and internationally including HMAAC, and various galleries.
His work has been featured in various publications such as Taji Magazine and Kapabokone Magazine and others. He also has won international art awards including the Outstanding Artist Award in Segnalati, Rome.
Follow on Instagram @craigctheartist
Ija Charles
Ija Charles is a self-taught painter/entrepreneur from Columbia, South Carolina. Her series range from portraits of ordinary people to a diverse sampling of symbols from our day to day culture. These images are then reimagined and reconstructed in her own unique way. Ija plants an idea for each new work and harvests the positive vibes her very foundation is based upon in every piece once sealed with her signature.
Follow on Instagram @ija_monet
Nick Davis
With the evolution of technology and the rise of self-sufficient creators, Nick Davis is taking the world of digital art by storm.
In 2019, Davis took on digital artistry after epilepsy left him unable to work. Using an iPad gifted to him by his wife, he began to experiment with computer generated artwork. Before long, Davis constructed an entire collection of digital art that portrayed his love for his culture, appropriately titled, “Black Is Beautiful.” Davis and his “Black Is Beautiful” masterpieces soon attracted national and international recognition. Ultimately Davis wants to let his community know that despite the current state of the world, your black remains immeasurably beautiful.
Follow on Instagram @ndartlife
Kaitlin Edwards
Kaitlin Edwards is a full time freelance illustrator and tattoo artist who graduated from the Art Academy of Cincinnati with a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Illustration in 2013.
She says ”I started drawing at an early age and was fueled to draw more with a Sailor Moon obsession. From there, my interests in color, healing, and art with magical girl themes seemed to grow. I love creating works centered around curly, coily, kinky hair with a focus on color therapy and healing imagery."
Follow on Instagram @kaitlin_june
Kwanzaa Edwards
A San Antonio based painter and illustrator, Kwanzaa Edwards has been honing her skills in figurative painting since 2014. Originally an abstract painter, Kwanzaa blended her abstract style with her experience in figurative illustration bringing about a unique marriage of her skills.
Since earning her BFA in Painting from Lamar University in 2014, the meaning behind Kwanzaa’s work evolved as she entered the real working world. Mental health, self acceptance and black female empowerment have been consistent topics in her work. Her characters often present an unapologetic existence in their respective universes. Fantasy plays a key role as her figures often display features that aren’t natural in this world such as colorful galaxy afros, unnatural eye colors and many other characteristics. The fantasy aspects of her work draw in the viewer letting them see not what they are outside but what magical and powerful being resides within.
Follow on Instagram @empty_holiday
Laylie Frazier
Laylie is a digital illustrator from Houston, Texas. She first began drawing when she was ten years old, and has been drawing ever since. She combines texture, color, and pattern to create warm and expressive portraits. She often pulls inspiration from nature, utilizing abstract plant, mountain, and sun motifs in her backgrounds. She has worked with Coca Cola, Disney Plus, and Ulta Beauty to create illustrated content for their social media feeds.
Follow on Instagram @ukelaylie
Mariell Guzman
Mariell Guzman is a mixed media painter, muralist, illustrator and installation artist currently based in Fort Worth, Texas. She was born in Michoacán, Mexico.
She creates exuberant and colorful abstract/surrealistic playgrounds inspired by nature
Follow on Instagram @mariellguzman
Hanifa Abdul Hameed
Hanifa is an Indian American from New Jersey. She was a world traveler in the first few years of her life – from Saudi Arabia, to India, to Canada and finally to New Jersey when she was 10. Currently she's a UI UX designer by day and an illustrator by night. She's inspired by her love for fashion, color, culture, and strong women.
Follow On Instagram @colorofhoney
Emmanuel Ignatius
Emmanuel Ignatius is a digital artist based in Nairobi Kenya. His main goal since starting his art journey has always been to capture the small details of the day to day life experiences of the melaninated community. He feels that there's a part of our history that is missing and has taken on that responsibility as an artist to make sure that does not continue to happen.
Follow on Instagram @_ignatius_arts
Stephanie Littlebird
Steph Littlebird is an artist, writer, curator and registered member of Oregon’s Grand Ronde Confederated Tribes. Steph earned her B.F.A. in Painting and Printmaking from the Pacific Northwest College in Portland, Oregon, she currently lives and works in Las Vegas. Littlebird is known for her vibrant imagery that combines the traditional totem styles of her Indigenous ancestors with contemporary illustration aesthetics.
Her work frequently touches upon issues of contemporary tribal identity, cultural survivance, and responsible land stewardship.
Follow on Instagram @artnerdforever
Aaron Marner
A native Phoenician and a full-time, self taught artist, Aaron, began honing his craft and exhibiting his work in various spaces. While mostly working with acrylics, acrylic pen, oil and spray paint, his approach to portrait and figurative painting, ranges from using collage style, vibrant, colorful hues while often adding geometric shapes and aspects of nature. This gives a sense of abstraction and surrealism. The purpose of his work is to convey his experiences, but also give viewers a sense of power and emotion.
Follow on Instagram @aaronallen1313
Solonge & Aquabah
ASA Books is the manifestation of two women’s alignment.
Solonge Robinson and Aquabah Gonney-Buckner are cousins by blood, but sisters in spirit, who were raised in Brooklyn, NY. They joined forces to create children's books that entertain through engaging artwork while teaching meaningful content.
Solonge’s lifelong love of writing evolved after the birth of her 2 children where she discovered reading bedtime stories each night was a magical adventure, one that would inspire her to author children's books. After a tragic fire destroyed all of her family's possessions, she committed to rebuilding their collection.
Aquabah Gonney-Buckner uses art as a vehicle for self-expression. As a Principal in Chicago, IL, Aquabah champions art as an integral part of her curriculum of change; teaching the importance of art integration into public schools.
Together, their goal is to create something beautiful in the world for children…. and ASA means beautiful.
Bryant Small
Bryant Small is an Award-Winning Alcohol Ink painter who lives in Jersey City, NJ and balances a social marketing and media career in New York City. Bryant has a love of culture, color and all things sparkling. In his art, he loves to tow the line of free abstraction with vibrant color blending and pushing beyond pretty. His Alcohol Ink pieces are free flowing, unpredictable and levitate from the page. Bryant is constantly creating and being inspired and sharing his work daily on Instagram.
Follow on Instagram @Bfly777
Melrick Steele
Chicago artist Melrick Steele is known for his vibrant, colorful abstract pieces. He is a self taught artist that started drawing at the age of 4. His paintings are inspired by various cultures and everyday life to produce some of the most vivid images of his style. Melrick creates a visual of work that is somewhat an urban abstract style.
In addition to painting, Melrick is a talented tattoo artist whose work has been featured in Urban Ink Magazine and in various blogs.
Follow on Instagram @melricktattedup
Joesph Watson
Joseph Watson, also known by his signature “JOEE”, grew up in Gardena, CA. Throughout the years, Joseph had the opportunity to be influenced not only by great creative mentors, but also by the wonderful Los Angeles landscape where everyday life was unique and filled with excitement, danger, culture, and love. Joseph’s goal is to make the world a better place by using his art as a tool for inspiration.
Follow on Instagram @josephwatsonart
Tabitha Whitley
Tabitha Whitley is a Brooklyn based artist with a focus in oil painting and relief printmaking. Tabitha received her BFA in Painting from the Fashion Institute of Technology in 2009, then went on to receive MFA in Painting from the New York Academy of Art in 2011. She is the current President of the Alumni Association of the New York Academy of Art and a serving member of the Board of Trustees. Tabitha has had her work shown in galleries throughout the United States, and has been featuared in the Wall Street Journal.
Follow on Instagram @tabitha_whitley_art
Lauren Younge
Lauren Younge is a St. Louis based artist who creates colorful abstracts with the intent of brightening people’s lives. She received her bachelor’s degree in Art Education in 2016 from Southeast Missouri State University. Lauren is drawn to abstract art because it allows her to express herself more freely. Her acquired sense of style incorporates bold colors, texture and movement. Art is her main outlet for for finding peace, and exploring thoughts and emotions. She loves creating in the moment.
Follow on Instagram @laurenyoungeart