Sharon Norwood is a Jamaican born, Canadian artist, whose interdisciplinary and conceptual practice spans various media, including painting and ceramics. Norwood grew up in Ontario and earned a BFA at the University of South Florida (Tampa) and an MFA in Studio Art from Florida State University (Tallahassee). Norwood’s work has been featured in solo exhibitions, group collaborations, and site-specific installations in museums and galleries in Canada, the U.S., Jamaica, and Germany. She has participated in residences at the McColl Center for Arts and Innovation, Virginia Center for the Creative Arts, and Vermont Studio Center. In 2019, Norwood became a Joan Mitchell Foundation Grant Nominee.

VIBE Arts is a community-based organization dedicated to providing arts education and artistic mentorship to the next generation of creatives. They collaborate with partners in under-resourced communities to create a lasting impact on the lives of young people through arts education programming. Originally established in 1995 as Arts for Children of Toronto, their approach has evolved to focus on outreach programming that brings artists directly into neighborhoods, ensuring accessibility. In addition, VIBE Arts provides mentorship and artist development programs to cultivate a diverse pipeline of young creatives who receive guidance and gain experience as Art Educators.

Andre Mandela Lopez is a multidisciplinary artist currently residing in T’karonto. Andre’s work is an expression of his political and spiritual exploration, often depicting the human form with other natural elements to engage existential truths. His academic background in politics and experience as an arts educator greatly influence the content of his work, and reflects his passion for freedom and Love. The intention driving Andre’s art is to invite play, encourage Love, and inspire healing.

Jasmine Vanstone is a Jamaican-Canadian multidisciplinary artist and arts administrator. She experiments in digital collage, photography, drawing, painting, murals, and paper crafts to share visual reflections of anti-Black racism, mixed race identity, mental health and wellness, and environmental justice. Jasmine’s artistic journey began with a BFA in Visual Art and a Certificate in Cultural and Artistic Practice for Social and Environmental Justice from York University. After interning at North York Arts, she pursued arts management at Centennial College. Jasmine’s talent and her passion to inspire, impact, and amplify marginalized voices through community engagement and arts education has earned her prestigious awards and features at prominent events and festivals. Most recently, Jasmine was awarded theJAYU Arts For Human Rights iAM Award.

Nicholas Ridiculous: The Purple Hyena, Son of Fiction & Student of Story is a Canadian multidisciplinary artist and creator, who has navigated systemic struggles and found healing through creation. Since his pursuit of fashion arts and design at Seneca College, Nicholas has built a diverse creative portfolio, including his clothing line, music, creative writing, and visual arts. His publication, 1991: i hate it here, but i love u, reflects on a troubled past, what it takes to hold on and what it means to let go. Nicholas’s artistic practice is driven by a desire to leave a mess for the world, validating existence and inspiring others through creation. Nicholas will keep building his skills to tell many stories across all mediums of art. He is a nostalgia junky drawing inspiration from his life and the things he loves, in hopes to process and better understand this ridiculous world.

Serene is a Chinese-Canadian creative and an expert daydreamer, utilizing her passion for storytelling to produce digital and traditional imagery that evokes child-like wonder and captures nostalgia. With an artistic journey spanning over 8 years, Serene has established herself as a freelance traditional painter and digital illustrator, lending her creative support to independent musicians, writers, and fellow artists. Her work is a delightful fusion of her interests in mental health, East Asian history and mythology, and the boundless realms of fantasy. Beyond her artistic pursuits, her versatile background includes her academic education in business and her years of entrepreneurial experience, having founded and nurtured three successful start-up ventures. Through her art, she strives to create awareness and appreciation for the beauty of Asian cultures and the stories of marginalized communities. Her creative endeavors are a testament to her dedication to building bridges of understanding and fostering a more inclusive world. When Serene is not painting, her hands stay busy sewing, crafting, and thrift flipping.

Talie Shalmon is an artist, mural painter and arts educator from Toronto. She works with a variety of media, including oil and acrylic painting and digital art. Talie earned a Master’s in Interdisciplinary Design Research from Carleton University, a Bachelor’s in Fine Arts from Queen’s University and a Graphic Design Certificate from Humber College. She has exhibited in galleries including Whippersnapper Gallery, Northern Contemporary and the Military Museums in Calgary. Illustration clients include the Church-Wellesley Village BIA, Riverside BIA, Bloor Annex BIA, Arts Etobicoke and the City of Pickering. Talie’s murals can be found in public spaces across the GTA.