FEATURED ARTIST 

Diaja
Diajaposter for the Diaja Exhibition
Ceres Henry Diaja
DiajaConstantly driven by the arts Ceres Dasia Henry pursued her passion at the Fashion Institute of Technology, where she began her studies to prepare for the fashion Industry. In addition to fashion Ceres had an equal love for photography, so she took a course to sharpen her natural skills and educate herself on various photographic techniques. During her education she was inspired and nurtured by mentor Norma Kamali, (F.I.T graduate, and designer featured on the Fashion Walk of Fame​). Ceres later graduated with an Associates degree in Patternmaking, and received her Bachelors in Production Management. With valuable information learned, and hands on experience from internships at Sean John, Norma Kamali, and at Poppington Gallery with her cousin Damon Dash, Ceres was equipped with the necessary tools to be a designer and an entrepreneur. With the help, encouragement, and support from her parents, (whom are both entrepreneurs), they made her dream a reality by co-founding DIAJA, (pronounced Dee-A-Jah), a line featuring quality handbags, and fine apparel. Ceres went on to produce numerous collections which opened doors for her designs to be featured with L'oreal Paris, Pynk Magazine, Lucky Magazine, Her Source (sister magazine to The Source Magazine), and worn by celebrity TV personalities. Years later in the midst of revamping her brand, Ceres decided to fully dedicate herself to photography while maintaining her previous collections strictly for press pulls. She decided to merge her love for fashion, art (painting), and photography to create a brand that would be impossible to ignore. Within 2 year of revamping her work was recognized by Vogue Italia, Huffington Post, and numerous Fashion publications. She was also scouted by an organization called RAW Artists where she was their highlighted artist for their NYC show in 2017. Ceres' photography is known for storytelling through photographic series. These series' are often inspired by current events, Black and African culture, and social disparities. ​ Her goal as a brand is to impact others, give back to her community, and give a voice and presence to those unheard, and overlooked. She prides herself in not only creative photos appealing to the eyes of her audience, but thought provoking photos that may not be as comfortable to view. Ceres' desire is that her photographic bodies of work will be remembered and noted among other great artists of all time. ​ "He can who thinks he can, and he can't who thinks he can't. This is an inexorable law." - Pablo Picasso
DIAJAS GALLERY    

 

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 FEATURED ARTIST 

Shaun O’Rourke 

       

Greetings from Harlem Past is Present

Shaun O’Rourke

click here attend reception   register for free
 

"Greetings from Harlem: The Past is Present"  is a series by Shaun O’Rourke comprised of fine art, mixed media, and limited edition, signed and numbered prints. The show pays tribute to an ever-evolving Harlem through its temporary textures, graffiti, architecture and people. We honor the past, while standing in the present.

As 20+ year Harlem artists and as business owners, Black-Irish has found a continual flow of inspiration in the sights and materials found in Harlem , enriching Black-Irish’s ongoing archive of fine art and limited edition prints.

Black-Irish reimagines modern Harlem scenes and details through the lens of vintage print aesthetics (including lithograph, silkscreen, chromolith, rotogravure, hand tints, etc.), offering fresh perspectives & bridging the gap between Harlem past and present.

 

 

Reception: Thursday, October 18 from 6 to 9
 

X Gallery presents 

Greetings from Harlem Past is Present
 

 

Location: 163 Malcolm X Blvd (btw. 118 & 119), NYC 10026

 

Exhibition on view: september 18th

 

Gallery hours: Saturday 12:30-5pm/Sunday 10am-4pm

and weekdays by appointment. 

please click here to attend this event

 

 

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                                                 FEATURED ARTIST
 

                                                      Oksana Prokopenko’s 
                                                     Lucid Dreaming series:

                                                      

Opening reception: Thursday, September 13 from 6 to 9
 

X Gallery presents Lucid Dreaming, an exhibition of abstract paintings by Oksana Prokopenko 

 

Location: 163 Malcolm X Blvd (btw. 118 & 119), NYC 10026

 

Live jazz at opening reception by Tom Placido Duo 7-9pm

 

Exhibition on view: September 1-30, 2018

 

Gallery hours: Saturday 12:30-5pm/Sunday 10am-4pm

and weekdays by appointment.

Email [email protected]

http://oksanapro.com/m/home

 

 

  Oksana's A collection of highly textured oil and mixed media paintings .
                                                                                                

 Oksana Prokopenko’s exploration into the land of dreams. The texture is almost 3D, rising two to five inches from the surface. The look and feel is lush, organic, alive. The artwork draws the eye in similar to some natural phenomena, bringing to mind topographical landscapes, dry river beds, surface of the Moon, solar flares and nebulas. The work appears chaotic at first glance, but really is a precise form of organization and patterning.

 

The seeming chaos is quite deceptive and the work listens to a deep internal logic of its own. Not quite sculptures, these works are not strictly paintings either.

“The soul of Prokopenko’s work is in her walking that fine line between the transcendent and the ordinary,”says Margo Grant, the Museum of Russian Art’s director.

 

              

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 FEATURED ARTIST 
 

Lola Flash

                                            

        Lola Flash- Legend seriesLola Flash Legends Artist statement
These are the people who spearheaded a movement that wasn’t a given. They are actors, advocates, DJ’s, performers, and much more. They are the trailblazers who presented an honest vision that clashed against societal norms, as we knew it. They were not trendy, but instead are “trendsetters”. These actions alone placed them in harm’s way; due to homophobia, they could have been killed. But they were the lucky ones. And, many decades later due to their combined struggles and persistence, our queer and non-gender conforming communities can finally begin to live in their own skins. We are being acknowledged within institutions; as the legal system begins to give us long overdue rights in the workplace, equality in marriage policies, gender-free lavatories and in many places, even school children are able to generate their chosen pronoun.
This transparent progress has been issued in with the guidance of these icons’ refusal to be anything other than themselves. They were not complacent; instead, they lived and still live their lives, often fighting daily battles of homophobia, transphobia, racism, and sexism. Although we are still demanding equality, the state of affairs has changed dramatically, because of these folks. There is definitely a progressive mindset, in America that is clearly in place. Where there was once no canon, each LEGEND in their own beautiful way, has harnessed a pride that transcends hate. They made it possible for the LGBTQ+ communities to not only survive but to live a life of love. www.lolaflash.com

LEGENDS series photos by Lola Flash©

These are the people who spearheaded a movement that wasn’t a given. They are actors, advocates, DJ’s, performers, and much more. They are the trailblazers who presented an honest vision that clashed against societal norms, as we knew it.

They were not trendy, but instead are “trendsetters”. These actions alone placed them in harm’s way; due to homophobia, they could have been killed. But they were the lucky ones. And, many decades later due to their combined struggles and persistence, our queer and non-gender conforming communities can finally begin to live in their own skins. We are being acknowledged within institutions; as the legal system begins to give us long overdue rights in the workplace, equality in marriage policies, gender-free lavatories and in many places, even school children are able to generate their chosen pronoun.

This transparent progress has been issued in with the guidance of these icons’ refusal to be anything other than themselves. They were not complacent; instead, they lived and still live their lives, often fighting daily battles of homophobia, transphobia, racism, and sexism. Although we are still demanding equality, the state of affairs has changed dramatically, because of these folks. There is definitely a progressive mindset, in America that is clearly in place. Where there was once no canon, each LEGEND in their own beautiful way, has harnessed a pride that transcends hate. They made it possible for the LGBTQ+ communities to not only survive but to live a life of love.www.lolaflash.com

 

 

 

 

 

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