Felle Art

With over 25 years of experience in the art world, Felle Art has established himself as a prominent muralist known for creating large-scale works that resonate with communities and celebrities alike. His journey began with a passion for transforming spaces through art, leading him to paint everything from expansive stage backdrops for concerts to towering murals reaching heights of 50 to 60 feet.

Throughout his career, he has had the privilege of collaborating with a diverse array of notable clients, including Beyoncé, Tyler Perry, Missy Elliott, Kanye West, Jay-Z, and Lil Wayne, enhancing their projects with vibrant and impactful visuals. His work has graced concert stages, festivals, and public spaces, leaving an indelible mark on the cultural landscape.

In addition to his work with celebrities, Art is deeply committed to community engagement. He has painted numerous murals in the city of Detroit and worked with various reputable organizations to bring art to life in neighborhoods. His collaborative approach ensures that each mural reflects the unique identity and spirit of the community, fostering a sense of pride and connection among residents.

As he looks forward to future projects, including his contributions to the 2024 NFL, Art remains dedicated to using his artistry as a tool for inspiration, storytelling, and cultural expression. His mission is to create visually stunning works that not only beautify spaces but also celebrate the diverse voices and stories within each community he serves.

Ijania Cortez

Website: https://ijania.com/ 

Ijania Cortez is a fine artist living and working in Detroit, Michigan. A self-taught artist, her practice is centralized around painting but also includes murals as well as works of mixed media. She is known for the color she uses in her portraits as well as the subjects, exclusively depicting black men from the inner city. Influenced by a modest childhood in 90’s Detroit and her love for the residents there, her work serves to create conversations between painting and viewer. In her practice Cortez uses neon color to note the modern era, showing her subjects as natural and central in environments that are unnatural, a reflection of the man-made conditions of the city. Her work interrogates beauty and vulnerability in masculinity, as well as the ability to thrive and existence despite adversity. She hosted her first solo exhibition, A Summer Nativity, in July 2017.

Bill Gosa

Bill Gosa, a native of Detroit, is an artist, activist, historian, documentarian, writer and graphic designer. His art has been featured in numerous publications, album covers, in the collections of various institutions and exhibited internationally. Gosa’s documentary “Barbershop” was selected by PBS to be broadcast on various PBS stations across the country and selected by the African Diaspora Film Festival board in Jamaica for broadcast and invited to lecture.

Academically, his undergrad degrees include: BSEE in Electrical Engineering and BFA in Fine Arts. He continued his pursuit in education and was awarded an MBA. Gosa has that unique capability of using both sides of his brain; scientific and aesthetic. “I am essentially emotional in my expression and analytical in my approach,” stated Gosa. Serving as the president on several artistic organizations, in house guest lectures on America’s classical music – Jazz, and board membership with the Minnesota American Museum, African American Artist Collective, the Miss Black Minnesota Pageant and African American Art Society to name a few. Gosa’s leadership helped to provide a wider appreciation and awareness of African American culture.

Artist Statement

My work is artistically and experientially focused. I am attracted to the simple, the elemental and the natural. My artistic effort acknowledges our specific identities and inspires social ascension without dilution of ethnic, spiritual and cultural values. Life’s growing complexity, is my motivation towards achieving a simple and fundamental artistic perspective.

Jonathan Kimble

Website: https://www.jonathankart.com/

Detroit native and BFA graduate of College for Creative Studies (2020), Jonathan Kimble is a fine artist, art collector, and mentor whose work demonstrates the chaotic yet harmonious complexities of the human soul. Kimble’s style can be characterized as expressive with fun shapes and mark-making through mixed media. Kimble has exhibited work in major notable galleries in metro Detroit area such as MOCAD (Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit), Detroit Historical Museum, Liberal Arts Gallery, and the Baltimore Gallery, and has been featured in multiple local art showcases, and auctions.

Artist Statement

As human beings, we are characterized by unfathomable layers of color, pattern, dimension, and texture, which represent the complexity of the human soul. I am determined to uncover the shroud of human nature by using mixed media to examine the deep beauty of human experiences beyond the surface. As a Detroit native, I am driven to match the city’s rich history of innovation, cultural influence, and artistic heritage. My work embodies Detroit’s values of grit and resilience by revealing moments of joy during times of uncertainty and anguish.

My artistic journey began at the College for Creative Studies majoring in Illustration. There, I learned about the golden era of illustration by studying various late American illustrators such as N.C Wyeth, Dean Cornwell, Norman Rockwell, that together created my fundamental knowledge of picture-making. While I appreciated those traditional artists, I am most fascinated with the revolutionary evocative techniques that emerged in the mid-20th century.  Artists like Robert Peak, Burnie Fuchs, and Mark English who projects raw, simplified rendering capabilities and strong shape design inspires me to own my creative freedom.

Karriem Riggins, Detroit-born, jazz drummer, hip-hop producer, and music trailblazer inspires me to be multi-faceted in my craft. Listening to how Riggins juxtaposes drumming with off-the-grid and heavily sampled beats challenges me to explore my own artistic rhythms, and how I can remix them as a visual mixed media artist. I apply Riggins innovative style to my own practice by sampling contemporary forms of expression, animation, and fashion. I combine gestural drawing techniques blended with paper collage and painting to create a kaleidoscope of playful mark-making with crisp and organic tones. My work evokes pop, vigor, and harmony by bridging the cultural aesthetic I interpret from hip-hop and jazz, even in retrospect. 

My journey with mixed media teaches me to, unapologetically, own every mark, shape, and impression I produce on any surface, no matter the number of materials I use. Instead of viewing my artistic mistakes as a weakness, I embrace the opportunity for creative problem solving. With jazz-like improvisation, I juggle between wet and dry mediums, so I can find the best solution to any picture-making problem. I diligently put my craft and ingenuity to the test by pushing the boundaries of creative expression.

Jennifer K. Maples

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/freckleface_jenn/

Jennifer Maples is a talented artist who uses her unique vision to explore mental health through art. Maples’ was born in 1991 and raised in Detroit, Michigan. She draws inspiration from her personal journey with mental health, which started after a traumatic car accident in 2019. Her experiences led her to create Art is My Therapy, a brand that reflects her healing through art.

Maples’ artworks, spanning mediums like painting, photography, and mixed media, delve into the complexities of mental health with both vulnerability and resilience. Her art tells a captivating visual story, ranging from dark, contemplative pieces depicting despair to vibrant, abstract expressions brimming with hope. Jennifer's work encourages viewers to connect with their own emotional landscapes, fostering empathy and introspection. In a world where mental health is often silenced, Jennifer's art becomes a beacon, shining a light on the shadows and sparking conversations about mental health and societal stigmas.

As an emerging artist, Maples has exhibited her creations at local galleries and art fairs, resonating with art enthusiasts and mental health advocates alike. Most recently, she was selected by the City of Detroit to complete an art installation that will be on display for the month of April to celebrate the 2024 NFL Draft. Her dedication extends beyond the art world – she uses her platform to raise awareness about mental health and break down stigmas. With authenticity and deep empathy, Maples leaves an indelible mark on both the art world and the hearts of those who engage with her transformative creations.

Hubert Massey

Website: https://hubertmasseymurals.net/

Dr. Hubert Massey was born in Flint, Michigan but has lived in Detroit since graduating with a B.A from Grand Valley State University.  Filled with bold, vibrant images, his murals can be spotted throughout the Detroit metropolitan region, appearing in neighborhoods such as Mexicantown, Greektown, Campus Martius and the Cultural Center as well as at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, the Detroit Athletic Club, and numerous other landmark buildings.   Massey studied at the University of London’s Slade Institute of Fine Arts and later learned the centuries-old fresco technique from former assistants of legendary artist Diego Rivera when they performed restoration work on the Detroit Industry Murals at the Detroit Institute of Art. Massey is the only known African American commissioned fresco artist in the United States.  Massey has been awarded the Kresge Foundation Fellowship and an honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts from his alma mater Grand Valley State University where one of his fresco murals graces the halls. Frescoes created by Dr. Massey throughout the state of MI are located at Huntington Place, Detroit MI, the Detroit Athletic Club, Grand Valley State University and the Flint Institute of Arts. Most recently, Massey completed a fresco mural at the Huntington Bank National Headquarters in Downtown Detroit. In December 2023, Massey completed a 1,600 square foot mural that he designed and was commissioned by the Stellantis Corporation. This is the largest mural ever created in the state of Michigan. The mural is located on Beniteau Street in Detroit, along the west border of the Detroit Assembly Complex – Mack Avenue.   Other recent works of art created by Massey include six monolithic tile murals located on the campus of Lawrence Tech; a tile obelisk commissioned by the City of Southfield which was completed in 2023, and a 12ft x 64ft mural in Muskegon commissioned by the Community Foundation for Muskegon County.  

James C. Morris

Website: https://www.jamescharlesmorris.com/

James Charles Morris is a multidisciplinary artist, curator, and art historian recognized for his exceptional ability to blend collage, photography, and painting into his dynamic figurative works. His art delves into a range of themes, such as racial identity, spirituality, familial ties, and community connections.

Born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, Morris's artistic journey took off in his youth when he eagerly engaged in various art projects, drawing inspiration from an array of sources, including movies, television, and literature. The vibrant culture of Detroit has had a profound impact on his artistic style and thematic focus, establishing a unique bond between his creations and their influences.

Throughout his career, Morris has explored various creative paths. In 2008, he took a bold step into creative entrepreneurship by launching Definitive Style Exclusive, an apparel brand designed to inspire meaningful conversations through innovative designs and striking visuals. As a fine artist, Morris constantly pushes the boundaries of his creative expression. In 2019, he ventured into the world of digital art, creating a series of collages that incorporate his own photographs. This new direction has sparked considerable interest within the art community. Morris's genuine approach to this medium sets his work apart and allows it to resonate profoundly with audiences.

His artwork has been exhibited in a variety of venues, including the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History in Detroit, the Detroit Historical Museum, the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, and the Detroit Artists Market.

Joshua Rainer

Website: https://joshuarainer.com/

Joshua Thaddeus Rainer was born in Detroit February of 1996. Rainer began formal art education at the Birmingham Bloomfield Arts Center under the tutelege of Todd Burroughs. Concurrently, Rainer studied fine art under Manal Kadry, Stephen Kade and Anita Bates at Henry Ford Academy: School for Creative Studies before earning a BFA in Illustration at Detroit’s College for Creative Studies in 2018. While at the Detroit’s College for Creative Studies, Rainer studied under and was greatly influenced by Gil Ashby, Robert Schefman and Francis Vallejo. Before beginning a fine art practice full-time near the end of 2020, Rainer joined the Detroit Fine Arts Breakfast Club, finding community in the group's artists and arts advocates. An instructor at the Birmingham Bloomfield Arts Center, Rainer is currently pursuing an MFA in Painting at the Cranbrook Academy of Art.

Artist Statement

I am a hyperrealist oil painter. I carefully apply different colored thin layers of paint the consistency of room temperature butter on top of and beside one another. While the paint remains wet, nudging different colors into one another with dry, fuzzy brushes blurs their boundaries and conceals brush strokes. On the surface, I hide how each painting is made. It is therapeutic. Working this way and thoroughly scrubbing wet paint onto thin layers of dried paint, I piece together an image that can appear more photographic than painted.

I think the world of warm black. I am enthralled by blurry core shadows. I have a penchant for impossibly smooth gradients and simple but unusual shapes like the ball of one’s nose; the veins in one’s hand; the tricep of an extended, twisted arm. In my work, I draw and paint: doubles of a single figure in conflict with one another; like Jacob wrestling himself in lieu of an angel. In my work, I paint my surreal dreams – of carjackings, of being stuck in a runaway elevator – as clearly as I remember them. In my work, I draw and paint the hands of different people caught in moments of embrace, confrontation, and reflection. I am fascinated by the real and imagined boundaries that distinguish the self from both the unconscious and the other. I am fascinated by things’ unknowability and the ubiquity of the unknown. I am interested in Antti Revonsuo’s Threat Simulation Theory, what Helmut Plessner calls “Unfathomability” and what Martin Buber calls the “I-Thou Relationship. My work is at once a meditation on these phenomena, an exercise in self-transparency and an invitation for us better understand ourselves and others.