the painters
curated and sponsored by
Avery Barnes, The Painters Curator
Taking on a new role as a City of Seattle Arts Commissioner, titled as “The Connector” by the Seattle MET Magazine and a Forbes Seattle 30 Under 30 awardee in 2023. Miss Barnes is a self-taught entrepreneur, African arts curator, and community builder. Whose passion for cultural empowerment led her in 2022 to establish Taswira - Seattle’s only African art gallery and neighborhood staple in Pioneer Square. Inspired by her experiences developing rural entrepreneurship and women’s initiatives in Kenya, Avery's work extends beyond the gallery through historical conservation, leading youth programming, and mentoring artists on local and global scale.
christopher b. coleman
A Seattle-based painter inspired by his daily interactions throughout the city. Christopher has always had a passion for art and music. It wasn’t until 2015, after deciding to leave a career in music, that he started focusing more on painting. He chooses not to identify with one style over another but instead pursues that personal connection between you and his pieces. It is his hope that you see yourself in his work and that themes such as daily life, icons, and self-love found throughout Christopher’s paintings create space for you to connect to the world at large in a meaningful way. Website: www.chrisbcoleman.com
www.instagram.com/artisticlovelife_
Michael Wawerus
Michael was born in Kiambu County, Kenya. Michael explains, "Upon leaving school, I started as a hawker in Nairobi, selling second hands clothes. While hawking, I used to paint during my free time. One day, I met an artist who connected me to an open spot in the popular Maasai Market. This became a platform where I could sell my paintings. After seeing that my art was paying better than selling clothes in the streets, painting become my full time job. I am self-taught. My inspiration comes from things that I see. I love to observe environments around me; like human behaviors in different spaces and people's beliefs, opinions. Whatever is wrong and I feel is unworthy in society, I speak to that through my craft. The background of my works also come from my personal life experiences, past and present. I believe the best way to express myself to the world is through art form. I have exhibited my work in multiple countries including Uganda, Tanzania, South Africa, Netherlands and Nigeria. I currently have a permanent piece hanging in Kenya's Canadian Embassy."
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Myron Curry
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Step into a world where art transcends mere visuals and delves into the depths of the soul. Myron Curry's remarkable artworks possess an undeniable power, infusing every stroke with an enchanting realism and vibrant colors that transport the subjects beyond their natural beauty. Prepare to witness a captivating aura that unveils their very essence, placing their character at the forefront of each masterpiece. Myron Curry's artistic prowess knows no bounds, evident in the multitude of styles and techniques he fearlessly explores. Whether it's the piercing gaze of a portrait or the vivacity captured in a still life, Myron Curry's art seamlessly blends technical precision with a profound understanding of the human spirit. Venturing beyond the canvas, Myron’s artistic ardor melds seamlessly with his community engagement. Myron’s work has been experienced at the esteemed MOHAI Museum and the prestigious NAMM museum’s Positive Frequencies” exhibition. Myron’s art is a harbinger of positive emotional resonance, a beacon of hope that reverberates through the community, exemplifying how visual aesthetics can harmonize with the environment, invoking profound feelings that are as timeless as they are transformative.​
Rodney king
Rodney is the principal artist and owner of Kingspen LLC. As Rodney explains, “My goal is to create vibrant images that celebrate the greatness of black culture. I primarily focus on hip hop, jazz, and basketball in my pieces, with my signature touch being the use of color. Recently, I have been fortunate to receive positive media coverage, with features on Komo, Seattle Refined, PBS, King 5 Evening, the Renton Reporter, and other local outlets. In addition to being an artist, I am a devoted husband, father of three, and a man of faith. Through my art, I aim to spread love and evoke feelings of nostalgia for the best aspects of our culture. I am Kingspen."
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maz joachin
Maz Joachin is a Haitian-Bahamian illustrator and comic book artist. For well over 15 years, Maz has been creating original stories and characters. Inspired by the works of Hayao Miyazaki, Jamie Hewlett, and Glen Keane, he took a strong interest in the art of sequence. Devoting his early years to mastering his skill as a story teller, he was able to create several on-going series. In 2013, Mr. Joachin’s comic “Supernova” debuted in “Yea Bey” magazine: a monthly comic magazine created by fellow comic book artist Staniel Russell. After being featured in “Yea Bey” for a year, Maz began the process of printing volumes of his work Supernova. This project was succeeded by a shorter story, Canyon. Both books can be found at The National Art Gallery of The Bahamas. Mr. Joachin also founded Steaming Kettle Studios. A studio dedicated to producing publications, illustrations, and animation. He served as writer and storyboard creator for “Roselyn”, an animated film directed by artist Jason Evans. Maz also utilized his talents for character design in Mr. Evans’ film “Caliente”. Both films were screened at The Bahamas International Film Festival. Maz recently became the artist creating King Youngblood’s graphic novel series Afrothunda. Maz is currently working on his first animated series titled “Nassau Rock”. The series trailer was well received and can be previewed on the Nassau Rock Facebook page. More recently Maz has been nominated for an Elevation award for Visual Artist of the Year.
