Vivant Artists
Frito
Bastien
Cultural Master
Frito Bastien, an eminent Haitian master artist, conjures breathtaking landscapes from memory and imagination, rendered in traditional folk/naive style with sumptuous oils.
His opulent murals, more than six gracing prestigious buildings across Philadelphia, capture the essence of Haiti’s rich natural beauty and cultural heritage.
Claes
Gabriel
Cultural Impressions
Raffia, and nails—are transformed into a regal figure that exudes both modernity and tradition. It’s a dance of contrasts, where simplicity meets grandeur, and the past and present converge. The bold shapes and textured surfaces tell a story of resilience, creativity, and cultural pride. This piece is not just a sculpture; it’s a powerful statement of identity, history, and the unbreakable spirit of a people.
Keith Morrison
Cultural Visionary
Keith Anthony Morrison's artistry weaves Jamaican heritage with a prestigious education from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Displayed in venues like the Smithsonian and Art Institute of Chicago, his masterpieces reveal deep cultural narratives and creativity. As a visionary curator and critic, Morrison elevated Jamaica at the Venice Biennale and represented the USA at the Shanghai Biennale, shaping the art world and inspiring scholars and enthusiasts alike.
Mary
Lai
Cultural Futurist
Mary Lai’s vibrant contemporary art reflects her belief that “Art is a universal language.”
Based in Los Angeles, this multifaceted Korean-American artist uplifts and evokes emotion through paintings, mixed media, digital art, murals, and sculptures. With a rich background in fashion design and a B.F.A. in Graphic Design, Lai collaborates with brands like HBO Max and American Express, exhibiting globally and creating impactful art.
Yudis
Sisters
Cultural Legacy
Wendee Yudis and her late sister, Charlotte Weiner Yudis, from Moorestown, New Jersey, have both impacted the Philadelphia art scene.
Wendee Yudis is a serigraph mixed media artist and graphic designer.
She blends photographic images with drawing and painting on various mediums, exploring new meanings through nuanced and tension-filled compositions.
Charlotte Weiner Yudis was known for her ethereal art, overlaying materials on botanical and abstract prints since the 1990s.
Her captivating works are displayed in Philadelphia’s art museums and galleries.
TJD American Queen
Motivational Artist
Philadelphia-based artist American Queen TJD aka TIFF Davis is best known for her vibrant abstract paintings highlighting a set of words painted on top of crowns that sit above a human bust-like object.TIFF introduces a complex vision of what it means to treat your thoughts like you would a gold crown. She believes that we all must remember to fix or adjust our own crown from time to time. Her mission is to spread positive energy, hope, and motivation through art.
By creating these paintings she is sending a message about how important it is for every individual to nurture themselves by holding their own thoughts or dreams up on pedestals. Her work also stems from her own experiences and the world around her. Her most recent artwork takes a critical view of social, cultural and interpersonal issues. Some of her artistic inspirations are Basquiat, Pollock, Haring, Warhol, Picasso, RGB, Nina Simone, old Kanye, and Lauryn Hill.
