New Muralists: A Philly Artist Talk Series

A series of artist panel discussions with local artists who are (mostly) new to mural making. With each panel, we’ll learn how the artists took on this new challenge, what they choose to create, and why painting in the public space is important to them and valuable to our communities.

Painting The Party–Artist PanelWHEN: 10/4, 5-8pm HOSTS: Conrad Benner and Darnell SchoolfieldPANELISTS: Tykira Mitchell, Tai Corrienté Baucom, Keshida Layone, Corinne Dodenhoff, Nasir Young, and Rushawn Videl-Gevonte Stanley

PANELISTS BIOS:

Tykira Mitchell

Meet Tykira, a portrait painter based in Philadelphia who predominantly uses acrylic and oil paints to create her works of art. Apart from painting, Tykira experiments with graphic design, using color, space, and form to capture the essence of being a young, Black, and radical woman. Her portraits serve as a confrontational form of group therapy, encouraging her subjects to reflect on themselves and their experiences while exploring the past, present, and future, as well as what healing for Black women can look like. Still in the developmental stages of her art career, Tykira currently explores the best ways to reach communities that need it most, such as the youth, people experiencing homelessness and housing insecurities, those who identify as LGBTQ, and anyone who needs a little bit of extra love and care.

IG: https://www.instagram.com/tykiraoctaviah/

Tai Corrienté Baucom

Tai Corrienté Baucom is a colorful figurative illustrator, designer, and muralist with influence from her roots and generations of family stories. She attended Moore College of Art in Design, where she received her BFA in Illustration with honors. Elaborate textiles and patterns, fashion, and nostalgic photography inspire her most. She aspires to highlight vintage glamour with a hint of spirituality, mysticism, and mythology in her work. Every brush stroke is done with thought, intent, purpose, and love. Tai began her career as a teacher, working with students aged 5-19, in 2020. She currently works as a teaching artist with Mural Arts Philadelphia.

IG: https://www.instagram.com/taicorriente/

Keshida Layone

Keshida Layone is a self-taught visual artist born and raised in New York currently living and creating mixed media artwork in Philadelphia. His obsession with all living things finding a way to live and stretch towards the Sun for relief and safety is what fuels his soul. Layone’s visual communication shines a light on threats to the planet like endangered animals, climate change, and mental health struggles. He conveys a sense of serenity, creativity and visual healing. His hope is to significantly improve creativity, workflow and happiness in the world.

IG: https://www.instagram.com/breatheartllc/

Corinne Dodenhoff

Corinne Dodenhoff is a graphic designer, illustrator, and all-around creative type living in Philadelphia. She is also a creative consultant, an arts educator, and a fine artist. Outside of work, she’s an excellent cat and dog mom, a pretty okay plant mom, and a musician in the band Queasy.

IG: https://www.instagram.com/corinnedodenhoffcreative/

Nasir Young

Nasir Young received his BFA from Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Art. Nasir is currently represented by Gross McCleaf Gallery in Philadelphia. In 2020 he was awarded The Raymond D. & Estelle Rubens Travel Scholarship to go to London. Young was awarded an illuminate arts grant in 2021 and 2022, he was the Second place winner of the Philadelphia Sketch Club 158th exhibition of small oils, a 2022 Davinci Art Alliance Resident, and 2023 Delaware Contemporary resident. Nasir’s primary source of imagery is the everyday scenes of urban inner city life. He has had multiple group shows in Philadelphia, and online exhibitions.

IG: https://www.instagram.com/nasiryoungart/

Rushawn Videl-Gevonte Stanley

Rushawn Videl-Gevonte Stanley, or “Scum Lizard,” is an American illustrator, muralist, and founder of the Philadelphia Chalk Festival. Stanley’s work is known for its bright, highly saturated color palettes and cartoonish style paired with cerebral content and dark themes.

IG: https://www.instagram.com/scumlizard/

HOST BIOS:

Darnell Schoolfield is a creative go-to in the arts, culture, and non-profit sectors. He is the Social Media and Marketing Manager at Mural Arts Philadelphia, the nation’s largest public art program. With a background in creative writing, design, videography, and music journalism, he brings a unique skill set to managing the organization’s social media presence through content creation and strategic marketing efforts. In 2018, Darnell became the first Digital Content Creator for the Delaware River Waterfront Corporation, helping oversee digital strategy and content creation for parks such as Spruce Street Harbor Park, Penn’s Landing, Cherry Street Pier, Race Street Pier, and Blue Cross RiverRink. In 2021, he co-founded Art From the Heart Gallery, Philadelphia’s first-ever NFT Art Gallery, sparking an innovative change in the crypto art scene, focused on providing access to ownership in digital assets. To date, Schoolfield delivers creative direction to multidisciplinary artists, creates independent and organizationally backed digital programming, facilitates panel discussions, and curates galleries and exhibitions throughout the tri-state area, helping give voice to historically underrepresented artists.

Conrad Benner​ is the founder of​ ​StreetsDept.com and a Project Manager with Mural Arts Philadelphia​. Named one of the 76 most influential people in Philly by Philadelphia Magazine in 2020, Conrad is a Fishtown, Philadelphia born-and-raised photo-blogger, curator, and podcaster. For the last 12 years his work has explored art, our public space, and the creative minds shaping the world around us. Conrad has also used his platforms to advocate for better public transit with #SEPTA247; increased funding for Philly’s unhoused youth with #AmICutOut; and various voter drives including #ToThePolls and #MailboxVoters, among other efforts. “I focus on the public space because that’s what connects us. I believe that our shared spaces are powerful tools for building and supporting a more equitable city.”

Front Street Walls 2023–Artist PanelWHEN: 10/11, 5-8pm HOSTS: Conrad Benner and Symone Salib*PANELISTS: Iris Barbee Pendergrass, EL TORO, Emily White, and UNAPXLXGETIQ

PANELISTS BIOS:

UNAPXLXGETIQ

UNAPXLXGETIQ is an Alternative name adopted by Artist & Designer Emmanuel Wisdom. UNAPXLXGETIQ is a conscious creator. He creates to heal, nurture and cultivate a prosperous afro-human mentality. He’s also known for his creative, thoughtful & expressive artworks. He strives to Educate, Elevate, and Inspire progressive conversations throughout his work. In addition to art, He’s worked as a designer for a variety of brands, from commercial projects to small & international businesses. Some notable clients include; Nike, Wrigley’s Gum, Men’s Health, American Greetings, Freeform TV, Reform, and NFL Alumni Association.

IG: https://www.instagram.com/unapxlxgetiq/

Emily White

Emily White is a painter, muralist, and sculptor. Emily’s work focuses on the relationship between the animal and its changing environment. Her paintings are paired with objects that are distinctly human, illustrating the bond of the animal’s life with our own. She invites audiences to reflect on the consequences of human industry and innovation on our natural world, and our relationship to it. Emily has been painting murals in Philadelphia for over a decade. She has worked with the Philadelphia Zoo, Philadelphia Flower Show, The Philadelphia International Airport, Blick, Ketel One, and Virgin Voyages to name a few. She’s had her hand in many prominent Philadelphia Mural Arts murals such as “Untitled” by Amy Sherald and Roberto Lugo’s “The Talented Mr. Trotter” on the new Clay Studio. Emily also creates sculpture and paintings for gallery shows and has her second solo feature with Arch Enemy Arts later this year. Originally from the Boston area, Emily has been living in Philly for 11 years. She graduated from Massachusetts College of Art in 2011 with a BFA in sculpture. In 2021, she started White Knuckle Painting LLC and continues to paint murals and signs for businesses in Philadelphia and surrounding suburbs.

IG: https://www.instagram.com/gggreatwhite/

EL TORO

Justin is an artist born in the Philippines, but is currently residing in Philadelphia. He is known for creating “EL TORO”, an anthropomorphic character inspired by the carabao (a water buffalo native to the Philippines). The character can mostly be seen on stickers stuck on the back of signs and newspaper bins. He learned about exhibiting his art in public for free when he attended the Art Institute of Philadelphia to study graphic design. He believes art should be enjoyed by everyone and it shouldn’t matter what age, race, creed, ethnicity, sex or background you come from.

IG: https://www.instagram.com/eltoro215/

Iris Barbee Pendergrass

Iris Barbee Pendergrass was born in the city of Philadelphia, PA. At a young age Iris began to express herself through art. Which later led her to pursue a higher education at Arcadia University where she graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts and majored in Graphic Design. Iris has used her passion for art and design to illustrate her feminine side. While finding her voice as an artist, she created the inspirational brand These Pink Lips. These Pink Lips are uplifting and inspiring for women to be sexy, strong, beautiful, and comfortable with their femininity and power!

IG: https://www.instagram.com/thesepinklips/

HOST BIOS:

Conrad Benner​

Conrad Benner is the founder of​ ​StreetsDept.com and a Project Manager with Mural Arts Philadelphia​. Named one of the 76 most influential people in Philly by Philadelphia Magazine in 2020, Conrad is a Fishtown, Philadelphia born-and-raised photo-blogger, curator, and podcaster. For the last 12 years his work has explored art, our public space, and the creative minds shaping the world around us. Conrad has also used his platforms to advocate for better public transit with #SEPTA247; increased funding for Philly’s unhoused youth with #AmICutOut; and various voter drives including #ToThePolls and #MailboxVoters, among other efforts. “I focus on the public space because that’s what connects us. I believe that our shared spaces are powerful tools for building and supporting a more equitable city.”

Symone Salib

Symone Salib (she/her) is a first generation Cuban/Egyptian street artist, muralist, and trauma informed educator based out of Philadelphia. Through paint and illustration she works to highlight the lives of people, with an emphasis on BIPOC across her city since 2017. She focuses on vibrantly sharing the stories of people in hopes we can connect and resonate with humans who are different from ourselves. She strives to spread joy and create a space where people are not only seen but heard and valued.

Wawa: Welcome America 2023–Artist PanelWHEN: 10/18, 5-8pm HOSTS: Conrad Benner and Symone Salib*PANELISTS: Devyn Dais, Yuliya Semenova, and Ayiana Viviana

PANELISTS BIOS:

Devyn Dais

Devyn Dais is a 22-year-old abstract painter, currently attending Tyler School of Art full-time. She works in oil, acrylic, and other mixed media. Painting brings Devyn a peace and stillness that she desires to share with every person who views her work.

IG: https://www.instagram.com/devyndaisart/

Yuliya Semenova

I am a Ukrainian painter, printmaker, and muralist who has made the United States my home for the last 6 years. After completing my degree in Painting at Stockton University, I moved to Philadelphia to pursue my career. I have loved art since I was a child. However, I’ve always had a particular passion for painting, finding it comforting to be able to create an alternative universe on a flat surface. In my work, I explore how culture, history, and identity are constructed and how they intersect. My aim is to find my own voice while speaking the voice of our generation with themes of uncertainty and risk.

IG: https://www.instagram.com/yuliyaaaaas/

Ayiana Viviana

Ayiana Viviana is an abstract artist who through art, explores the nature of emotion and how creating can bring to the surface things hidden deep within. Through abstract paint scrapes, line art, neurographic doodles and zentangle patterns, Ayiana encourages the art viewer to perceive their own internal reality and perception, thus helping them see themselves more clearly. Each piece creates a potential story that only the viewer can tell. Through art, perception, and connection, Ayiana hopes to share the stories of her own life and emotional peaks and valleys.

IG: https://www.instagram.com/AyianaViviana/

HOSTS: Symone Salib & Conrad Benner