Meet the 2025 diversity gallery artist

Anjenette Britton

Norfolk, Virginia native Anjenette Renae is a visual artist specializing in oil painting and fashion design. She discovered her passion for fashion at the age of eight, when she and her sister would make clothing for their handmade paperdolls. Overtime, Anjenette began sketching Fashion Designs for friends and eventually learning to sew. While majoring in Fashion and Retail Management at The Art Institute of Virginia Beach, she discovered her passion for painting. Anjenette has helped young girls between the ages of 7-17 sketch and sew their own garments at the “Sketching Dreams Fashion Design & Arts Academy”. In her paintings, Anjenette skillfully uses oil paint with highly saturated colors to intensify her work. Anjenette’s fashion designs include custom gowns, coats and jackets. Anjenette’s inspiration derives from the works of costume designer Ruth Carter, specifically the costumes of Marvel’s Black Panther due to their likeness to traditional African garments. Anjenette’s paintings are heavily influenced by Amy Sherald, who is known for depicting her subjects in everyday settings.

Joi Hicks

Norfolk, Virginia based artist, Joi Hicks, has been sharpening her skill in painting and graphic design for the past several years. Mixing childhood nostalgia, her love of films, music, and influences of Frida Kahlo’s surrealist melancholy and Claude Monet’s floral sanctuaries, a harmony of surrealism and impressionism flows together into perplexing avant garde pieces that shows a “circus mirror” reflection of her absurd reality.

Ronald Delizo

Hello, my name is Ronald Delizo. Originally from the Philippines, I moved to America in 2011 and settled in Hampton Roads in 2013 due to military orders. Although I transitioned into nursing in 2022, my true passion has always been photography. Traveling is one of my greatest joys, and my camera is my constant companion on these journeys. The images I’m showcasing are a series of captures from a road trip from Winthrop, WA to Glacier National Park. During this expedition, we encountered mesmerizing landscapes that I aimed to capture through my lens. These photographs aim to highlight the subtle nuances that photographers perceive—those unique details and fleeting moments often overlooked by the casual observer. Each frame is a testament to the way I see the world: as a place of profound beauty and endless possibility, waiting to be explored and immortalized through photography.

Nai Turner

Nai Turner, is an Artist whose humble, soft-spoken demeanor is a stark contrast to the statements she presents to the world through her work. A self- taught painter who classifies her style as a hybrid of realism, pop and street art, she began painting in 2016 following a stint the army. The craft that served as a coping mechanism for post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), has helped Turner connect with her thoughts on what’s happening in the world, sharing it by way of creative expression in her work. — Whether Turner’s art takes you down memory lane or raises your awareness, her brilliant body of work certainly gets you thinking.

Lee E Bond Jr

Photography is my media of expression that gives life to my emotions which are birthed by my experiences.

Tracy Pouncie

I am a self taught artist until a couple of years when I decided to pursue a degree in Art. I currently work with clay but also work with glass oils, and cloth.

L. Prenell

Lprenell is a figure sculptor and painter known specifically for his meticulous and realistic works exploring a variety of subjects, from historical figures to natures beauty. Born in Chesapeake in 1960, Lprenell received his BA and MFA from Norfolk State University’s Department of Fine Art, where he became influenced by various art styles from realism to abstraction. His art features a realistic, and sometimes stylized approach to his subject. He has received several awards and exhibited in multiple galleries in the area, and in 2017, his life-size sculpture titled: “Hester’s Achilles Heel” was published in the Arthritis Research Foundation’s magazine; likewise, in 2023, his ceramic sculpture “Riaba” was featured in the Chrysler Museum of Fine Art’s e-magazine. Prenell’s work continues to inspire and invoke a spirit of curiosity and creativity within every viewer.

Deb Branch

Deb is a Native of Norfolk, VA.

She received a B.A in fine Arts from Norfolk State University. Upon graduation Deb exhibited in outdoor shows including Norfolk’s Ghent Arts Festival, Portsmouth’s Umoja Festival, Norfolk’s Afr’Am Festival at Town Point Park, the 1619 African American Commemoration at Fort Monroe in Hampton, Va. Indoor Exhibits include Ukwensi Gallery on 21st St. Norfolk, Norfolk’s Prime Plus Senior Art Shows. Norfolk Botanical Gardens, Bishop Sullivan Catholic School. Deb’s interests also include digital photography, making wire wrapped jewelry, and paper Collages, and doing Portraits from customers photos in various mediums. Abstract Art is my newest exploration that I find to be both playful and energizing.

deborah-branch.fineartamerica.com

Riel Gustave

Riel Gustave / pikozumo (b.1995; Hollywood, FL) is an illustrator and pop-artist raised in and residing in Virginia. Their work synthesizes the Artists’ memories of childhood pop-culture media with a modern, super saturated approach and design, which establishes work that invokes a feeling of false-nostalgia.

Michael Logan

Michael Logan, originally from Norfolk, Virginia, cultivated his artistic talent through educational experiences at the Governor’s School for the Arts. Logan graduated from The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art in New York, refining his skills in Visual Art. Upon graduating, he returned home to embark on his teaching career at Ingleside Elementary School and later the Governor’s School for the Arts as a Visual Arts educator and staff member. Michael Logan is presently employed as the Director of Education art Aspire Art Gallery in Norfolk,Virginia. He is also an art teacher within the Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters’ Hospital School Program, while actively pursuing his professional art career, exhibiting locally and beyond.

Asha Hilliard

Asha Hilliard is a Realism Fine Artist that draws inspiration from icons like Ebony and Jet Magazine and artists such as Kehinde Wiley and Sonya Clark. Her creations reflect her identity as a Black woman, celebrating the richness of Black culture and its various creative expressions. Through her Digital Media works, Hilliard aims to evoke nostalgia and admiration, inviting viewers to envision her art as a vibrant addition to their homes.

Briana Ariel

Briana Ariel (b. 1991) is a multidisciplinary artist specializing in contemporary textile art based in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Her work encourages women to bloom in every way. Briana Ariel’s art is poetry in visual form. Each art piece strings together poetic words in a unique way. Her message is one of hope, courage, and faith. Through her art practice, she hopes viewers see themselves as strong, beautiful, more than enough, highly capable, and deeply loved.

Roy Fleming

Roy Fleming retired as a Senior Chief after 20 years of service in the U.S. Navy. Roy (ArtByRFleming) is a visionary creator based in Hampton Roads. Roy’s artwork projects a distinctive voice that blends techniques, colors, mediums and elements with his love for culture and expressive creations. His pieces often reflect underlying messages, challenging audiences to see past the obvious and delve deeper into the story of each piece.

Ka-Son

Born and raised in Brooklyn, NY, I grew up cultivating my natural artistic ability by watching the creative processes of my father (a portrait artist) and eldest brother (a pioneering Graffiti artist). Having received no formal art training, they instead were my artistic teachers and technical advisors. Over the years, I’ve participated in many group and solo exhibitions throughout the northeast region, winning numerous awards. I’ve previously served as co-curator of 1199SEIU Gallery in NYC, have appeared as a guest on the television program “SteelStacks Live!”, was hired as a courtroom sketch artist for the Pocono Record Newspaper, and served as director of ARTSPACE Gallery in Stroudsburg, PA. I’ve also published a volume of poetic verse. Over a year ago I moved to coastal VA and instantly fell in love with the incredibly vibrant, warm, and inviting art scene. I’ve participated in Virginia MOCA’s “Open (C)all 2023 Curious Collections” exhibition, as well as Norfolk Botanical Gardens’ first Diversity Gallery group exhibition last year. It was an incredibly wonderful experience, and I hope to be considered to exhibit again in this year’s Diversity Gallery group exhibition.

David Freeman

My name is David Freeman ,I’m a artist who resides and paints in Norfolk, Virginia I began my artistic journey as a child by comic book characters and drawing outdoor scenic images as I began to develop my imagination. I made my transition of sketching comic books to charcoal drawings and suddenly started completing oil paintings by observing Bob Ross and visiting libraries studying great painters of the past, throughout the years I have traveled and lived in various cities around the The United States showing my work in gift shops, small independent galleries and also flea markets while accepting contracts for public art opportunities in Virginia Beach , Virginia and my attempts today is to have the chance to display in my current city in which I reside.

Rashad Reid

Suffolk native, Rashad Reid formally known as Xpressart is a Fine Arts Major student at the illustrious Norfolk State University. Showing raw artistic talents from a young age, he found himself captivated by teachings centered in African indigenous peoples. His art amplifies African ancestral DNA as well as delivers messages that engage and educate on forms for the black history diaspora along with modern cultural influences. His dedication to his craft and his commitment to exploring the depths of human expression make him a true visionary in the world of art. His visually stunning paintings have graced the walls of galleries and exhibitions across Hampton Roads, captivating viewers with their bold colors and intricate details. Xpressart is an artist whose work leaves an indelible mark on the soul.

M. F. Coelho

M. F. Coelho is a self-taught and published artist from Belo Horizonte, Brazil. Born in 1989, Coelho taught himself how to draw at the age of eight from watching The Simpsons. His major influences on this artistry span from the Southern California Chicano Lowrider culture, the East Coast 90’s Hip Hop scene, and the Swedish-Based Millennium novels by Stieg Larsson. As a teenager he moved to Northeast Tennessee and found the Sin City graphic novels, written and illustrated by Frank Miller, where he discovered the medium for his pen & artistic sensibilities. If it’s one thing Coelho wants to make clear in his art it is that it is 100% to think outside the box and go beyond the cultural expectations of your community and environment. Coelho is also an established photographer and videographer having shot and edited many Quinceaneras, music videos, and fashion shoots not only for the Latino community but the American urban and international communities based in the southeastern states, New York City, and the Bay Area, CA. He is a graduate of East Tennessee State University with a Bachelors of Science in Digital Media and is currently stationed in Virginia Beach serving in the United States Navy.

Michaela Newby

Michaela’s works have often been heavily inspired by her interest in cross-cultural studies; in recent years, her most consistent pieces have featured women with head coverings (ie, hijab, burka, khimar, etc.). As an underrepresented and often vilified (be it racial, ethnic or religious) minority groups, her aim is to give perspective & show beauty in diversity through the female figures she creates.

Iyana Graham

I’m Iyana Graham, a 23-year-old black female artist who focuses on the Black female experience through the lens of womanism. My art uses vibrant colors and expressive forms to convey the richness of identity and resilience within my community. I strive to spark conversations about intersectionality, showcasing how race, gender, and social justice intersect in our lives. By highlighting the unique narratives of Black women, I hope to foster understanding and encourage viewers to reflect on their own identities. With a strong passion for activism, I weave themes of community, heritage, and empowerment into my work. My aim is to create a space where stories can be shared and celebrated, inspiring change and highlighting the importance of embracing diversity in all its forms.

Crespo

Hi, I go by the name of Crespo and I’m a painter. I have always been creative from a young age but I am a self-taught artist. I was born and raised in Brookly, NY but I now live in Virginia Beach and I have been painting for a little over 12 years. I began to explore the creation and reinterpretation of a new mythos surrounding issues of womanhood, motherhood, feminism, power, patriarchy, and socialization around 2012. It was then that I began a series of works that were mixed media in nature and influenced by the art of the Byzantine era, Abstraction, and ancient cave paintings. I feel that we as a society can begin new myths and also true power stories that can impact future generations, drawing from the past but also incorporating the awareness into current works in hopes to address what are some of the imbalances and antiquated hierarchies that still exist to this day.

Deonte

28- Male- Franklin/Norfolk, Virginia Native. Heavy background in the arts through programs such as Governor’s school for the Arts in Norfolk. Currently working for Norfolk Parks and Rec as a Visual Specialist located at TitusTown Visual Arts Center.

Morgan Lonnae

Morgan Lonnae Williams is a native artist born in Chesapeake, Virginia. She specializes in visual design that spans across many mediums. You may see Williams’s design work on the Tide Light Rail or even in local art galleries across Hampton Roads. Her work is often in communication with her own community. Morgan Lonnae Williams graduated from Oscar F. Smith High School in Chesapeake, VA. She earned her B.F.A. in Graphic Design at the University of the Arts (Philadelphia, PA). Williams also obtained her M.A. in Creative Business Leadership from Savannah College of Art & Design (Atlanta, GA). Williams has a passion for making work that explores the eccentricities of humanity in relation to the natural environment that surrounds us.

Kanisha Haskins-Combs

Mother, wife, constant creative, and lover of plants… Since 2012 I have been the hands behind Earthy Child- a Hampton, Virginia based micro business where I give a new life to unwanted yarn, fabric scraps, and plastic grocery store bags by turning them into practical, fun, and functional items.

Simone Couther

As a mixed media artist, I explore the relationship between humanity and the environment, particularly in the context of climate change. My works depict the beauty and radiance that can arise from destruction through our ability to adapt and know that we all can coexist and benefit from natural habitats.

Bobby Baker

Bobby Baker is a multimedia artist passionate about exploring surrealism, diverse cultures, and Indigenous heritage through collage and digital media.

Nile Walker

Nile Walker is a multimedia artist from Middletown, Delaware.Nile hones in on subjects like mental health and feelings he has experienced either from himself or those around him. Artists like Kehinde Wiley, Donatello, and Michelangelo are all people who he looks up to and is inspired by. He aims to make the audience feel the depth of the feelings projected by the figures in each piece. All in an attempt to draw attention to the negative male stereotypes and stigmas that exist within the black community. While these subjects may be uncomfortable or often looked past, his purpose is to showcase to the black community the negative effects that hiding your emotions has with the hopes of creating change in how African-American men express themselves.

Asiko-oluwa Aderin

Asiko-oluwa Aderin is a graduate student studying Fine Arts at Norfolk State University. Using media such as printmaking and ceramics, her works explore the intersectionality of her hyphenated-identity as a Nigerian-American woman raised outside of these respective cultures. Dedicated to her community, Asiko is also a professional teaching artist on a mission to educate, inspire, and empower students throughout the Hampton Roads.

Richard Press, Sr.

Hampton Roads Virginia, artist, Richard C. Press, Sr. began his pursuit of art while attending Northampton County High School in Machipongo, VA. Press received his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Education from Norfolk State University. After retirement from retail management, Press continued to paint, as well as teach art at Booker T. Washington High School. His community volunteer paths are too numerous to site. Press works mostly in acrylics and oils, which includes abstracts, impressionism, realism, and portraits. His works include commissions for murals and private pieces across the Hampton roads area. His most notable murals grace the walls of the First Baptist Church of Hampton, VA and the sanctuaries of the Whiting Funeral Home of Williamsburg, Virginia. Press was the featured artist for the Black Diamond Weekend held in Newport News, VA ,where he displayed his art accompanied by live models that portrayed his works. Richard’s renown painting titled, “Here Today, Gone Tomorrow” is featured in USA Today’s documentary ”1619: Searching for Answers”, an in-depth research of the arrival of the first enslaved Africans in America in 1619.

Ja’Niya

Ja’Niya is a digital artist from Norfolk, Virginia, who specializes in creating vibrant and colorful illustrations. Her work often features themes of empowerment, diversity, and self-expression. Her work has been featured in various art galleries.

Earl

My name is Earl Manning and I am an artist whose medium is photography. I want the viewer to look at my photography and see the stories and emotions that come from the people I randomly meet, as most times they allow me the pleasure of taking a picture of them in sometimes very vulnerable moments. Like my favorite photographer, I feel the subject matter is so much more important than the photographer.

Tyra Billey

Empress Ty, a first-generation Guyanese American woman from Brooklyn, NY, brings her Caribbean roots to life through her art. At 24, she holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Hampton University and is embarking on her MFA journey at Norfolk State University. Her paintings and ceramics serve as vibrant reflections of identity, spirituality, and societal constructs. Through her “God Series,” Empress Ty boldly reimagines Jesus Christ as a black figure, igniting conversations about faith, culture, and justice. Her work serves as a powerful conduit for unity, amplifying often silenced voices and overlooked narratives.

Angel Danyl

I am Angel Danyl, a multimedia artist who creates complex compositions to engage my viewers. As the great-granddaughter and daughter of three important figures within the black Pittsburgh beauty community, I draw inspiration from my experiences as a black woman from Pittsburgh, PA. My focus is on intersectional feminism and the aesthetic of black women, and my connection to the beauty community provides me with a unique perspective on the importance of black women and beauty. I explore various artistic mediums, including photography, graphic design, and mixed-media collage, which showcases my versatility as an artist. I’m inspired by symbolism and contemporary art movements, particularly by artists like Deborah Roberts and Lorna Simpson, whose work on identity and culture resonates with me deeply. Utilizing techniques from symbolic art, I aim to communicate a message by analyzing the symbols within my work. Through my art, I hope that viewers can learn about the aesthetics and beauty of black women or find a sense of familiarity and connection within the culture.

Jazzmyn Ellis

Jazzmyn Ellis, also known as Surreally Real specializes in highlighting people of color as the icons they are while also emphasizing societal and political contradictions including gender roles and sexuality. Her goal is to erase the separation and marginalization of art and what’s socially available for purchase in homes and commercial spaces. Using mostly neon bright acrylic colors to bring a new light to new age pop art. Transforming popular culture with a surreal feel. Dark subjects, Bright Hues.

Theresa A. Brown

Theresa A. Brown is a highly sought-after artist celebrated for her exceptional talent and visionary creations. With a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Virginia State University, she has cultivated a unique style that evokes profound emotions and sparks imagination. Theresa’s artworks transcend traditional norms, offering viewers a glimpse into unseen worlds and inspiring contemplation. Each piece is infused with her passion for life, weaving narratives that resonate deeply with audiences and garnering her numerous awards and accolades within the art community. Her work has been featured in many news media programs, solo exhibitions and art shows. Her enduring dedication to artistic excellence continues to captivate and inspire art enthusiasts worldwide.

Nyeira Shari

Nyeira Shari is a visual artist who focuses on themes of surrealism, afrofuturism, and spirituality. Her works aim to start conversations that allow us to look into ourselves, as the true art piece is the way it moves us into action.

Sonya Z. Phillips

Sonya Z. Phillips is a native of Virginia Beach, VA. and a US Army Veteran. She graduated from Old Dominion University with a BS in Biology and International Business. She has been a cut & sew Fashion Designer for for over 30 years and teaches Sewing Classes. Sonya started her business in 2001 as a self-taught seamstress who learned the basics of sewing in her 7th grade home economics class but has since studied Couture Fashion Design under Marc Jacobs. In 2022 she founded Sustainabili-T, a lifestyle brand focused on sustainable fashion and self-love. Her work raises awareness about water preservation via reducing plastic pollution. In 2018, landfills received 27 million tons of plastic. (https://www.epa.gov/facts-and-figures-about-materials-waste-and-recycling/plastics-material-specific-data) She encourages upcycling and reuse. She teaches people how to mend clothing to extend the life of that garment. She also is Executive Aide to Torgbe Volo Yingor 1st, the Economic Development Chief of Volo, Ghana. You can connect with Sonya Z. Phillips on her website www.sonyazphillips.com

Diana Chappell

Diana Chappell is a documentary and visual arts photographer based in Norfolk, VA. As an Alumnus of Norfolk State University’s Journalism Department, Diana brings a unique blend of journalistic integrity and artistic vision to her work. Specializing in capturing the authentic moments of everyday life, Diana’s photography delves deep into the stories behind the subjects, reflecting her passion for both visual storytelling and social commentary. Her work has been recognized for its compelling narratives and powerful imagery. In addition to her photographic practice, Diana is actively involved in the local arts community, sharing her expertise through workshops and collaborative projects. For her photography is not just about capturing images, but also about connecting with people and inspiring change. When not behind the lens, Diana enjoys traveling to experience the culture and traditions of other peoples, which often serves as a source of inspiration for her creative endeavors.

Chris Green

Chris Green is an accomplished artist based in Norfolk Virginia, renowned for his unique approach to capturing the symbiotic relationship between humanity and the natural world. Through his distinctive style of painting people in vibrant shades of green, he symbolizes the essence of plants, growth, and healing. With each brushstroke, Chris brings to life the interconnectedness of life, seamlessly blending the vitality of nature with the resilience of the human spirit. His captivating artwork serves as a testament to the transformative power of art and the enduring beauty found in the harmony between people and plants.

Short Story

Short Story is a highly skilled mixed media, sketch, collage and screen print artist from Portsmouth, VA. He is unique as an artist, incorporating dying elements of newspaper and pop art schemes to create refreshing new art that still feels vintage. It’s called Glamour and Grit. A mix of fashion/illustration/graffiti and fine art, balanced into compositions on canvas and wood.