Artist: Alexandra Zizmor

Date: 2024

Dimensions: 24 x 18

Medium: Acrylic and Ink on Paper

Chicago-based artist Alexandra Zizmor produces modern portraits that explore myths, societal norms, and the unspoken rules in human transactions. Zizmor, an inveterate museum-goer, became a passionate art collector and earned an M.A. in Connoisseurship and the Art Market from Christie's Education, New York. Understanding the art world as an observer and student inspired her to begin her artistic journey, debuting with a solo exhibition at the Derfner Judaica Museum in New York, featured in the New Yorker. Two of her pieces from her Chasing Beauty series will be featured in an upcoming book, "the design of me" by Ron Kovach, past president of the Art Institute of Chicago's Architecture & Design Society.

Artist: Adrienne Nole

Date: 2022

Dimensions: 20 x 16 x 1 - Diptych

Medium: Mixed Media - acrylic, guache, oil pastel on paper

Chicago-based artist/designer, Adrienne Nole, is an abstract painter and printmaker. Adrienne has over thirty years experience in the arts, primarily as a graphic designer and art director. recently, her attention has been directed toward fine arts. The influence of graphic design can be seen in her work, but the intent is to negate the precision of digital execution with "unpolished" expressive, hand-done visuals. Adrienne creates paintings and mono prints, exploring the behaviors of paint and other materials. layering, juxtaposing, removing, replacing are all part of the process.

Artist: Darren Jones

Date: 2024

Dimensions: 30x30

Medium: Mixed Media

Chicago-based artist Darren Jones has carved a niche for himself in the art world with his abstract paintings that encapsulate the splendor of nature, evoking deep emotions and a profound sense of humanity. Born in Canada, Jones is a self-taught artist who has honed his skills across various mediums, including oil, acrylic, and mixed media on canvas or wood panels.

Jones's journey into the world of art began with a serendipitous encounter on a summer day in 2004. While en route to a movie, he passed by an art store and caught sight of a "starter" oil painting kit displayed in the window. Intrigued by the prospect of exploring his latent artistic talents, he returned to the store after the movie and made a life-changing purchase. That evening marked the inception of his artistic journey, and since then, he has been immersed in the world of painting with unwavering dedication and passion.

Following a career shift prompted by a layoff from his executive position with a travel publication in March 2009, Jones embraced his true calling as an artist on a full-time basis. Over the past decade, he has flourished in his artistic pursuits, drawing inspiration from the boundless wonders of the natural world that have always stirred his soul and fueled his creative endeavors. Jones's artistic vision is characterized by an eclectic blend of impressionism, abstraction, and contemporary styles, reflecting his quest to capture the essence of a place and evoke a profound sense of tranquility and harmony within the viewer's soul. In his latest collection, he ventures into new artistic terrain by integrating recycled papers, wood fibers, industrial staples, plaster, and beach sand into his compositions, adding depth and texture to his evocative works.

Beyond his artistic pursuits, Jones is a passionate advocate for philanthropy, using the transformative power of art to support charitable causes close to his heart. His contributions to initiatives benefiting mental health awareness, children and AIDS/HIV advocacy reflect his belief in the ability of art to drive positive change in society.

With his artwork showcased in galleries and private collections spanning 50 countries worldwide, including prestigious venues like the Vatican and the Princely Palace of Monaco, Darren Jones continues to inspire audiences with his timeless interpretations of nature's magnificence. As he embarks on this new chapter in his artistic journey, Jones' unwavering dedication to his craft serves as a testament to the enduring impact of art on the human spirit.

DARREN JONES STUDIO

4001 N Ravenswood, Suite 603A

Chicago, IL 60613

Artist: Diana Leviton Gondek

Date: 2024

Dimensions: 10 x 10

Medium: Mixed Media

Diana majored in Fine Arts and went on to become Art Director at Northwestern University. Diana is back to Fine Art.. She is well established in the Chicago art scene with numerous group shows, solo shows, gallery representations and multiple publications including two book covers. CBS News also done several special segment on her and her art.
She has designed and painted public art statues owned by United Stare Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel and Chicago dignitaries.. Diana was commissioned, by Special Olympics, to create a painting to be used nationally and internationally to promote their 50th Anniversary. The painting is now owned by Timothy Shriver in DC. Most recently she co chaired an art exhibition at the Chicago Museum of Contemporary Art for Special Olympics. She also has work in the permanent collection at the Chicago History Museum.
Outside of the US, Diana has sold artwork in Ireland, Germany and the Netherlands. She was also part of art fair exhibitions in Busan Korea, New York, New York, London and the Hamptons, New York and Art Basel Miami for the last four years.

Artist: Tammy Haman

Date: 2024

Dimensions: 20x16X1.5

Medium: Encaustic, pigment sticks, and collage on cradled wood panel

Tammy Haman is a self-taught artist from the Chicago suburbs who specializes in encaustic mixed media. Her encaustic work, made with beeswax and fire, is a reflection of the natural world giving peace, hope and gratitude in response to the turmoil in today's world.

Tammy has been the Exhibit Chairman of the Artists' Association of Elk Grove Village since 2017 and she enjoys the connections she has made there. She also instructs adult art classes at several local suburban libraries. Exhibiting her work through the CAVA organization has given her opportunities outside of her community.

Artist: Yolitzin

Date: 2022

Dimensions: 48x36x1

Medium: India ink, marker and acrylic paint on canvas

As an artist I have been exploring and experimenting with paints and other mediums ever since my time and space has allowed me to. I have no real purpose for me to create art, only because it's my own personal way of expression. I can't help but to create. My childhood growing up first generation in the United States coming from old traditional Mexican immigrants and being born a brown skin woman in today's America to me working in the hospitality industry has greatly influence my art. My art shows a snippet of my life in where it's a moment in time that I've experience.

Artist: Staci Banta

Date: 2024

Dimensions: 11x14

Medium: Colored Pencil

Staci is an emerging artist based in Chicago, specializing in drawing vibrant mandalas that resonate with themes of spiritual and universal consciousness. Through her art, she seeks to evoke a deep sense of unity, unconditional love, joy, and peace. Her work reflects the belief in "One World, One Soul," aiming to connect individuals to the shared essence that binds us all.

Artist: Matt DeFrain

Date: 2019

Dimensions: 18 x 24 x 4

Medium: Vintage ephemera, shake paint, glue, wood, and big heart.

Matt DeFrain, currently the Creative Director at Grant Design Collaborative, has been with the firm since 2000. His work has appeared in AIGA 365, Communication Arts, STEP, and more. DeFrain's accolades include multiple IIDA Creative Excellence Awards, Best of Show at GlobalShop, and AIGA Atlanta's SEED Awards. He also served on the AIGA Miami Board of Directors from 1997 to 2000.

Matt's creative journey started with some unconventional graffiti in Flint, Michigan, which caught the eye of the city's Downtown Development Authority. He later earned his Graphic Design degree from Western Michigan University. When he's not in the studio, you might find him at CrossFit or crafting fine art, which continues to garner awards and gallery representation across the country.

Artist: Isabella Scott

Dimensions: 11x14

Medium: Mixed Media

Isabella Scott is an illustrator and fine artist from Winnebago, Illinois. She currently lives in Chicago. She has created a wide range of art in a variety of mediums from ballpoint pen to photography. She loves creating a world where she combines fact and fantasy. She has dedicated her career to creating diverse and inclusive work that celebrates the uniqueness of everyone and the world around her.

Isabella's work has been seen in galleries, magazines, murals, and editorial publications. Her strong understanding of visual storytelling has helped her create unique, diverse illustrations that have been on display all throughout Chicago and even internationally in Korea. Her work has been featured in the Chicago Reader and South Side Weekly. She has been in numerous gallery shows including Columbia's March of Mini's, Portrait Show, and Illustrate the Vote. She also is a budding muralist with her latest mural right across Grant Park as a part of the Wabash Art Corridors.

Isabella is determined to make a difference and plans to continue making work that is diverse and inclusive that celebrates the world around her.

Artist: Alex Puryear

Date: 2024

Dimensions: 16x20 framed

Medium: mixed media on yupo paper alcohol inks

Alex Puryear is a versatile artist whose work explores the depths of self-discovery and emotional healing through bold colors, textures, and abstract forms. His mixed media pieces often incorporate dreamlike elements, such as swirling textures and vibrant hues, reflecting themes of duality, personal growth, and the creative process. With a unique style that merges abstract expressionism with symbolic imagery, Puryear's work resonates deeply with the inner journey of transformation. His art has been showcased at live jazz events and in studio exhibitions, and he continues to sell his pieces online, engaging viewers in his evolving exploration of identity and emotion.