Meclina Gomes is a respected contemporary artist who uses microcalligraphy (micrography) as the focal point in her work.
Her paintings are woven with words for social empowerment and self-acceptance. When you engage with her art the imagery pulls you in the words jump off the canvas as a reminder of your own inner reflection and self-love. Her background is in Arts education, community programming and working in the Design community.
She has led several community-based art projects. As the Resident artist for Marriott, Meclina brings together businesses, local communities and guests to engage in art talks and live painting events. While working with Interior Designers and Ser Designers she creates oversized original works of art to drive interactive experiences. Meclina’s work is in private collections, celebrity homes. hotels like the Mayflower Hotel, Epicurean Hotel and on Production locations. Meclina resides in New Bedford, MA with her family.
Noland Anderson is an emerging artist whose work is a celebration of people of color. Born in Newport News, Virginia, he later attended the Art Institute of Ft. Lauderdale, where he studied advertising and went on to work as a freelance illustrator in the South Florida television market. Now located in the Tampa, Florida area where he works as a fine artist and is currently showing in galleries throughout the Southeast, United States. Noland Anderson’s art is a celebration of people of color, painted in detail using oils applied with loose brush strokes on textured canvas surfaces, images of women and men being captured in simple everyday urban life. His exhibitions include Art Bravo Ft. Lauderdale, FL. Art Sake Hollywood, FL. Hidden Springs Art Exhibit Tampa, FL.
Noland was a Semifinalist in the Sapphire Artesian Series, Awarded Third Place in the 2017 Opus Art Exhibition and also received an Honorable mention in the Blank Art Space 2017 Color Art Contest.
Kamil Peters is a contemporary metal artist working out of Ludlow, MA, with roots in Texas and Western MA. His work encompasses a wide range of expression, from intricate mask work to large-scale commercial installations. Peters evokes glimpses of the past with a distinctly modern edge, his work lures you into his interpretations of the natural world; allowing his environment to play a key role in how his work is expressed. “Through my career as an artist, an enduring goal has been co share my knowledge, fulfilling a sense of responsibilicy to pay homage to the tradition of passing down the secrets of metal craftsmanship and sculpture. Imbuing others, particularly young people. with the principles and skills involved in the creation of contemporary metal artwork, is not only rewarding, but it provides an opportunity to lear from the creative process and instincts of individuals beginning to wors with the medium. I here are prospect for interested people to truly experience the synergy of an artistic relationship with metal and limited options for exposure to the creative economy.”
Sekou is a Harlem-based filmmaker, photographer and producer whose creative mediums include over 10 years of directing, filmmaking, photography, acting, and other forms of media & content creation. With a focus on working collaboratively during the pandemic, Sekou has launched REBEL MEDIA, with an emphasis on creating visually rich story content that is transformative, community-building, and generative. This collaborative approach has been the primary creative and/ production engine for the launch of projects such as the interactive “UNSCRIPTED: CONVERSATIONS WITH CHRISTIAN JOHN WIKANE”, Unscripted includes pieces of Jon Batiste the Artistic Director at the National Jazz Museum in Harlem and Valerie Simpson who appeared at NJMH’s 2019 Annual Gala.
The National Arts Club dedicated an evening to Sekou and “his first solo photography “NOTES FROM HARLEM” in November 2022. He was also awarded the 2022 Visionary Award from the Uber-sponsored Black Independence Awards and invited to create a series of portraits for the Southampton African Museum season opening Juneteenth commemoration.
Nikki Williams has been called a “Renaissance Woman.” She is an award-winning photographer and poet with a professional career spanning thirty-five years. As a producer of arts programs, her organization, Spirit in Sunset Productions has been producing events that celebrate and supports the endeavors of Artists of Color for thirty-four years, starting with her live, weekly radio show “ArtBeat of Harlem,” broadcast from City College in 1990. Williams is also an accomplished graphic designer, playwright, author, and performance artist.
Williams has had the privilege and pleasure of being involved in a series of firsts. This year in March of 2024, Williams will have the honor of being Artist of the Month in a new online feature sponsored and curated by Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts. Williams was Ryan Health’s first Artist in Residence. She held that position for two years. Her art was on display at two of Ryan Health’s Harlem locations: Ryan Health Frederick Douglass from December 2020 until April 2021 and Ryan Adair. She was also the first artist to have a solo showing of her work inside of Blick Art Materials. A selection of her photographs celebrating the 50th anniversary of the African American Day was on display in September 2019.
Currently Williams’ work is featured alongside nine other brilliant visual artists in a group exhibition produced and sponsored by Harlem Grown. The exhibit is the last installation of a three-part set of installations that were the inaugural set of exhibitions and events held by Harlem Grown and funded by the Mellon Foundation. The installation went up in September 2023 and can currently be viewed at Marcus Garvey Park in Harlem.
Shyvon Paul is a Brooklyn-based visual artist whose work explores the intersectionality between cultural identity and modernity. The modality of her paintings, sculptures & carvings is rooted in a radical approach to arts expression that is driven by her femininity, humanism and quest for further knowledge. While Shyvon has worked as a frontline medical practitioner for 20 years, she has also quietly been honing and practicing art creation. Her multidisciplinary approach is refreshing, visually rewarding and mind boggling in its brilliance.
“My art practice is centered around wellbeing, invisibility, visibility, identity and continuing the tradition of Black & African creative presence, processes and expressions. I incorporate a variety of techniques in hopes to convey the multi-dimensionality of art as a form of healing and rejuvenation. My art process is synonymous with jazz. When I create, I am constantly listening to Billie Holiday, Miles Davis, Cecile McLorin Salvant, Samara Joy, John Coltrane and more. Jazz playing in my studio inspires something within me that not only frees me from the mundane but also allows me to create art that seeks to ignite our cultural memories.”
Shyvon Paul: The Royalty Series will be on display at the Museum until January 31. Contact: shyvonpaul@gmail.com
Dr. Yolanda Sealey-Ruiz, NJMH 2023 Artist-in-Residence. Poet, scholar-activist, professor at Teachers College/Columbia University and healing-centered educator, she showcases the interdisciplinary nature of her work, poetry books “Love from the Vortex & Other Poems” and “The Peace Chronicles,” celebrates her fusion of poetry and jazz, and introduces the museum to the “Archeology of Self™” in jazz education.
Founder of American Kouture Al-Karim Powell-Darensburg (left) and Founder of Sigi’Nommo Pascal Marinier (right), NJMH September 2023 Artists-in-Residence. Al-Karim, a Brooklyn born, New York native, has worked in the fields of music, fashion and entertainment for over 35 years. He has trained models, assisted in developing new designers and worked with numerous recording artists and celebrities as artist development director, manager, consultant and advisor.
Pascal Marinier has 20+ years’ experience in art and culture. Born and raised in Paris, he has traveled extensively through Europe, Africa, the US and Caribbean. He settled in Guadeloupe before moving to NYC. His love for art and his creativity has been showcased through visual art exhibitions, fashion shows with hand-painted attire, festivals and more.
“Miles Davis x Voodo Fé” curated by Zaire Baptiste, NJMH August 2023 Artist-in-Residence. An homage to one of the most influential figures in jazz who shaped the history and culture surrounding the music, and remarkable Brooklyn-based visual artist who monumentalized the musician in his collection of original pieces.
Artist Tyson Hall, NJMH July 2023 Artist-in-Residence. Harlemite and native New Yorker, fine artist and classically trained actor with over 20 years’ experience.