RYAN MARTIN

Ryan Martin lives and works in the San Francisco Bay Area where he attended the California College of the Arts.

Creating surreal, dream-like compositions of his subjects, Martin is influenced by his roots, growing up in Southern California during the 80’s & 90’s; where his pluck choices of hues dominate his artwork. Martin’s portraits are loosely haloed by floral and fauna; these haloes embody his Native American (Mexican/Seri Tribe) roots, taking the place of warbonnets which are attributed to males and masculinity during Native American rituals. The ring of botanical designs also reference Martin’s Russian heritage, through a reinterpretation of kokoshniks, which are solely attributed to the feminine. Several portraits depict their subjects conflicted within their makeup, in high contrast, between light and dark, and contrasting color.

Observation through photography, video, and investigations of texture is also demonstrated through Martin’s work. Martin’s practice has been highlighted by numerous media including The Advocate, Chich Today Magazine, Creative Boom, and The Art Man. He has exhibited widely across the US including the deYoung Museum in San Francisco, Context, Scope & Untitled in Miami, and was selected for Volta NY 2014. His exhibits include three solo shows at Mark Wolfe Contemporary Art in San Francisco and two solo shows at Elizabeth Houston NYC.

KUNTAL

Kuntal’s story is that of resurrection, the rebirth of an artist connecting her roots to her present. As with many artists, the pandemic and shut-downs afforded Kuntal the time and space to re-explore her past as an artist and break away from tech design. It is the rebirth of an artist whose work was recognized by the first female President of India, Pratibha Patil. Her earlier works reflect her home, Rajasthan’s colorful culture, and desert environment. A decade later, her studio is based in San Francisco, where she continues her creative journey. Throughout the entire course of her work, the main artistic concern has been on expressing human emotions and experiences through the colors on her canvas. Her work depicts a vivid sense of fanciful visions while focusing on mood, mystery, and form. The subject matter portrays Hindu mythology stories and those who live by them. Though silent, you can hear the music of Rajasthan through her paintings. Using loose brush strokes, she aims to create an image of unprocessed beauty along with a feeling of relaxation. It’s like listening to a distant symphony of melodic instruments, which provides viewers with a sense of serenity and peace.

TOM COLCORD

Tom Colcord is a painter and art educator currently living in San Francisco, California. Originally from Indianapolis, Indiana, Tom holds a BFA in Painting from Indiana University Bloomington and an MFA in studio art from the San Francisco Art Institute. His work ranges in style from surrealist murals, plein air painting and pixel art. Tom currently works as the Bay Area Representative for Dixon Ticonderoga and Strathmore paper, and teaches at Artworks Fine Art Studio in San Francisco. He was the 2021-22 recipient of the Tournesol Award at the Headlands Center for the Arts. Most days, he can be found painting En Plein Air in Golden Gate Park.