Chroma

I work with acrylic paint on canvas. I enjoy paint for its flexibility and the fun unexpected things that happen when experimenting with it. My work is about paint, creativity, experimentation and how you feel when certain colors are used in relation to shape and design.

I love to play with the negative space around objects. I sometimes give more importance to the space between things than the object itself. I like to create energy that you don’t see or expect in those negative spaces. I enjoy creating many layers with different marks and brush strokes and masking out interesting shapes. I basically paint intuitively in the beginning and then I hone it in with more defined marks and masks. I also love to scratch away at the paint to show the color of layers underneath.

I use shapes and colors as a way of expressing joy and my love for life and nature. I want my art to resonate with others in a way that brings them similar emotions.

Josef Isaiah Keyes, originally from Washington, D.C., and now residing in Baltimore, Maryland, draws inspiration from introspection. His abstract mixed-media artworks delve into profound themes such as beauty, self-discovery, and the intricate connection between the mind, body, and soul.

Josef Isaiah has made significant strides in contemporary art by participating in numerous group exhibitions. His debut solo exhibition in 2023 at Foundry Gallery in the heart of Washington, D.C., was a notable milestone in his artistic journey, showcasing his innovative and introspective creations. Currently, Josef Isaiah is furthering his practice by pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Fine Art at the Maryland Institute College of Art.

Originally from the Dominican Republic, LUSMERLIN is a multidisciplinary artist and chemical engineer with a background in textile and cement manufacturing management. She currently splits her time between Philadelphia, PA and Columbia, MD and exhibits her work nationally in museums, galleries and impromptu spaces. She is a 2024 Fellow at Mural Arts Philadelphia. LUSMERLIN’s professional background includes achieving record profit ($4.5MM) as plant manager of a slag cement plant, attaining a Project Management Certification (PMP), and being a recipient of the highly selective Global Undergraduate Exchange Program of the US Department of State. LUSMERLIN’s works across media share a thematic interest: womanhood, the immigrant body in space, and the scenes of daily life that accompany her journey of re-discovery in a new land, after she immigrated to the US in 2016. LUSMERLIN’s approach to work borrows from Caribbean values, where it’s more important that a person “pops” in a room, rather than blend in. Deeply inclined to community involvement, she regularly volunteers with organizations that support immigrants, disadvantaged populations, and advocacy for the arts.