16th Annual Yonkers Artist Showcase
The Yonkers Artist Showcase is an annual, multi-disciplinary showcase hosted at the Yonkers Arts Project Space offering artists living, working or connected to Yonkers to showcase a piece of work that best represents their body of work.
The 16th Annual Yonkers Artist Showcase was curated by the Yonkers Arts team. It will be open to the public from Thursday, April 10th, 2025 to Sunday, May 18th, 2025. Gallery hours are as follows:
WEDNESDAYS - FRIDAYS 3PM - 6PM | SATURDAYS 12PM - 4PM
MALCOLM ALEXANDER
Malcolm Alexander is an artist from The Bronx who mainly works with alcohol-based markers. He is inspired by living in New York City and capturing nostalgic visuals on paper with a surrealistic feel.
ANNETTE BACK
Growing up in Frankfurt, Back explored her artistic abilities at an early age. Her family moved to NY, where her creative calling led her to the School of Visual Arts. A career in graphic and web design ensued, culminating in Back running her own Design Firm.
In a quest to discover her own true artistic voice rather than catering to clients, Back found herself craving the feeling for a paintbrush. Drawing from current events and experiences, Back tells stories. A composition could be a figure conveying an emotion or moment, a geometrically infused landscape, or the beauty of an eye. They often include text, photographs and words.
Back had two solo exhibits in New York and has exhibited at Red Dot Miami, Affordable Art Fair, MvVo AD Art Shows, ArtExpo, Market Art+Design, Conception Arts and galleries in and around NYC. She is a member of the Hudson River Art Collective and has completed an art residency at Kunstraum in Brooklyn and was the sole recipient of the Artist Residency 2022, Cedar Lakes Estates. Her work is in private collections in the US and abroad.
KATHLEEN BENTON
Nature has become my source of inspiration for drawing and painting. Whether plant or animal, on land, in the air or water, my subjects can be thriving or endangered, as Climate Change and human demands affect habitats for a species' benefit or demise. I seek out species that have features with visual connections to their habitat. These visual connections, such as translucency, camouflage patterns, and coloring, benefit living things, helping them to live and thrive in their environment. These same visual considerations are reflected in my art practice, such as figure/ground relationships, positive/negative spaces, tactile and/or illusionary devices, and color juxtapositions
NORDIA BYFIELD
Nordia Byfield, a mixed-media artist, employs acrylic paint, collage, and limited found objects to craft her art. Her work often features hard-edge, abstract designs and a striking use of bold colors. Nordia Byfield's artistic exploration encompasses a wide range of subjects and media combinations, with the fundamental intention of creating art that brings joy to herself and viewers.
DAEVON BYRON
Daevon Byron describes his artistic journey as an exceptionally enjoyable experience. It began with him doodling in the margins of his schoolwork, a habit that often led to reprimands, though he consistently passed his classes. Subsequently, his creative pursuits evolved into writing short stories and tales about his favorite heroes, including collaborative efforts with a close friend to create narratives with twists that rivaled those of established comic book universes. He then explored the realm of music, playing the trumpet in his high school marching band and participating in the annual Manhattan parade. While he acknowledges his trumpet skills were not exceptional, the overall talent of the band effectively masked his shortcomings. Later, he transitioned to filmmaking, where he merged his appreciation for color with his passion for storytelling through screenwriting. Photography followed, marking the first time he publicly shared his creative expression, a profoundly rewarding experience. This period instilled in him the confidence to pursue his long-held desire: to create. Rather than merely producing sound with a trumpet or capturing existing images with a camera, he sought to generate something entirely original. He views digital art as the embodiment of this concept, and he aims to share his passion for this form through his artwork.
ARIANA CARDENAS
Ariana Cardenas is a self-taught artist based in Yonkers, NY, who works across multiple mediums, including painting, drawing, digital art, and tattooing. Her work is deeply rooted in themes of personal growth and healing, focusing on the complexities of vulnerability and personal power.
As a tattoo artist, Ariana combines creativity and technique to craft unique, meaningful pieces that resonate with each individual. Whether her canvas is paper or skin, she aims to create a space for self-reflection and authentic connection while celebrating self-empowerment and the healing power of artistic expression.
ED CASTANEDA
A Fine Art and Street Photographer based in Yonkers, New York working in the photographic medium since 2017. With a background in Design, Painting, Drawing and Art History, and graduating with a BFA in Graphic Design in 1981 from Parsons School of Design, and post graduate study/work at The Art Students League of New York. Ed has participated in various solo and group art exhibitions throughout the years. His photographs are not only snapshots of objects and daily life, but reflect the acute sensitivity of a draftsman and painter. The artist states; “The subject of my photographs is not the immediate image that you see. The deeper subject matter is the relationships in the composition between dark and light, thick and thin, straights and curves, large and small, and the shapes and movement that they create.”
JULIE COUSENS
Julie Cousens, a long-time photographer, has been creating visual art with her camera for several years. Her photography work is eclectic and intriguing. Whether working with her DSLR or camera phone she captures unique compositions of people, architecture, still lifes, landscapes and street scenes. Miss Cousens lives and works in Yonkers.
SAMANTHA CURTIS
Samantha Curtis holds a B.A. in Photography and completed post-baccalaureate studies at the Visual Studies Workshop. In 1983, she earned an M.F.A. in Painting from Pratt Institute. After working in NYC galleries, she became an artist-in-residence in the South Bronx, teaching printmaking. She later established an arts program at Rikers Island prison. Following her time at Rikers, Curtis taught in NYC schools before becoming an art teacher in Yonkers in 1996.
Her artistic style has evolved significantly, consistently featuring a love for animals. One notable painting, inspired by a public argument, reveals the unpredictable nature of her creative process, where unexpected emotions manifest on canvas. Curtis has exhibited her work since 1976 in cities including Boston, NYC, Washington D.C., and Vermont.
MONICA DARRELL
Monica Darrell is a multidisciplinary artist specializing in ceramics, graphic design, and painting. A recent graduate of Pratt Institute, her work blends surrealism with feminist and feminine ideologies, creating thought-provoking and visually captivating pieces. Through her art, Monica explores themes of identity, emotion, and the subconscious, pushing the boundaries between reality and dreamlike narratives.
ELIZABETH DE BETHUNE
Elizabeth de Bethune is a Yonkers, New York-based representational painter who captures the essence of everyday life. Working from observation and personal photo references, she explores the connection between the ordinary and the iconic, weaving her unique perspective into the fabric of culturally constructed human experience.
Influenced by modernist representation's informal, subjective, and cinematographic qualities, de Bethune's work often addresses queer representation, reflecting her identity as a member of the LGBTQ+ community. She employs paint, drawing materials, collage, and printmaking within a painterly realist style, emphasizing both drawn lines and broad color planes, while acknowledging the painting's physical presence as a composition of shapes and colors.
De Bethune holds a BA in Fine Art from Yale University (1979) and an MFA in Painting and Drawing from SUNY Purchase (1991), with further studies at the New York Studio School and elsewhere. She has received fellowships at Women's Studio Workshop and Vermont Studio Center, and has been part of artist communities like the Bronx River Art Center and YoHo Studios. A former NYCDOE Art Teacher, she currently teaches at the Pelham Art Center.
Her recent exhibitions include "Intimate and Ordinary" at the Rye Art Center (May 2024), and "Out in Yonkers, Portraits from the Yonkers LGBTQ Community" at the White Plains Public Library Museum Gallery (January-February 2024), with future showings planned for the Riverfront Library Art Gallery (June 2025) and the Garrison Art Center (September-October 2025).
DAVID FISCHWEICHER
David Fischweicher has been a sculptor for the past twenty years. He has studied art at the University of Bridgeport, Cornell University, Westchester Community College, and the Westchester Art Workshop. There he studied with Leslie Dor, Carol Stone, Barbara Segal. He is an associate member of the Mamaroneck Artists Guild and a member of the Yoho Artist Group of Yonkers. Mr. Fischweicher has shown with the New York City Art Teachers Association at shows in Sotheby’s, The Levitan Gallery, and Flushing Meadows Theater. He has also participated in National Juried group shows at the Bethune Gallery and the Seagram’s Building. Mr. Fischweicher, under a grant from the Guggenheim Museum, helped students from P.S. 174 build a sculpture garden and a ceramic tile wall mural for the school. Lately, he has shown in Secrets Gallery (Hastings-on-Hudson), and Windham Fine Arts Gallery (Windham, NY).
ERIK X. GARCIA
LESLIE GARCIA
A strong upbringing with art from an early state of her life. Figuring ways to combine nature and art. Artist in denial, learning to fall in love again.
ALVARO GARCÍA ORDÓÑEZ
Colombian-American artist García Ordóñez works in painting and sculpture, drawing inspiration from his Andean upbringing and social realities. His art, often using mixed media, explores themes of conflict and resilience, reflecting both personal and societal struggles.
Born in the Colombian Andes, he studied Fine Arts at the National University of Colombia and later in Germany. His work, characterized by dynamic compositions and symbolic use of materials, has been exhibited internationally, including in Europe and the United States.
García Ordóñez,, now based in New York, continues to create and teach, blending his personal history with contemporary artistic expression.
PAUL GRECO
Paul Greco has been creating artwork since his childhood in Ardsley, New York. He attended the School of Visual Arts in Manhattan. His artistic output is primarily abstract, spanning various mediums including painting, sculpture, collage, and found objects. Greco is a long-time artist member of the Upstream Gallery in Hastings, New York. He has held a solo exhibition at the Hudson River Museum and participated in group exhibitions at institutions such as the Bronx Museum and the Katonah Museum. His work has also been exhibited internationally. Much of Greco's art explores themes related to the ancient world, outer space, and other mysteries.
PEDRO GUTIERREZ
Pedro Gutierrez is a Mexican-American artist from New York, New York. He has been drawing since the age of four, initially as a pastime that evolved into a stress-relief technique as he grew older. His artistic motivation stems largely from video games, cartoons, anime, and history books. Gutierrez now specializes in various mediums, including painting, fashion, and video editing, such as animation and music videos. He has showcased his work in art shows throughout Manhattan, Brooklyn, Upstate New York, and Florida. Gutierrez is currently developing a film project.
DAVID HATHAWAY
David Hathaway primarily works with acrylic paint, often incorporating thickening gels and modeling paste to achieve texture and depth. He eschews traditional brushes, favoring household tools like meat claws, tile trowels, asphalt rakes, and barbecue scrapers to create unique mark-making techniques that define his style. Hathaway begins with layered colors applied by palette knives or trowels, subsequently manipulating them with his chosen tools to develop a dynamic interplay of texture and color. By selectively removing partially dried paint, he reveals underlying layers, adding complexity and a raw aesthetic. Techniques such as splattering and scraping introduce an element of spontaneity, balanced by a deliberate, rapid pace that encourages him to venture beyond his comfort zone. This process allows his subconscious to influence each piece, resulting in artworks that merge immediacy with meticulous craftsmanship.
MIRIAM HENDEL
Miriam received her BFA from the University of Maryland at College Park. Exclusively a figurative painter until the early 2000s, Miriam started to explore sculpture through figurative clay classes with instructor Leslie Dor at the Westchester Arts Workshop. This is where she met Yonkers artist David Fischweicher who graciously insisted on teaching Miriam to weld. She went to his studio in 2011, made her first weld, and has been hooked on metal sculpture since. David and Miriam continue to work together at Yoho Studios. Her sculptures are made almost exclusively from found/scrap metal and other collected objects from her travels.
Miriam's work is held in private collections across the United States. A permanent installation of her work can be found at the Ludlow MetroNorth Station, Abe Cohen Plaza in Yonkers.
BRIANNA HERNANDEZ
EMMANUELLE HERNANDEZ
French American collage artist based in Yonkers, NY, I primarily find my materials in magazine pages, standalone flyers, mail pieces and packaging. My main interest resides in depicting the human figure in challenging environments, but I enjoy experimenting with abstract subjects. My inspiration comes from world news, local concerns and social justice, and my handmade collages offer a chance to engage deeply with the narratives that shape our world.
My work has been featured in Contemporary Collage Magazine, and displayed locally at the Riverfront Art Gallery, Yonkers Arts gallery, and at the Blue Door Art Center as the 2024 Black History Month challenge winner.
JAMIKA HOLMES
Jamika Holmes is an author, artist, and advocate for connection, with roots in Yonkers, New York. After graduating from Roosevelt High School, she pursued her education and business career in Washington, D.C., and later traveled extensively along the East Coast. Her marketing career allowed her to combine sales with her passion for poetry.
Holmes's journey led her to Europe, where she worked in poetry and business consulting in the UK, and now resides near Venice, Italy. Her artistic path includes an exhibition in Milan.
Balancing her creative and business pursuits, Holmes focuses on projects like "Faces," "Nurture v. Nature," and "The Word." She believes in the interconnectedness of humanity and strives to share messages of love and understanding through her art, which encompasses paintings, sculptures, poetry, and public speaking. She aims to be an example of joy and positive change.
BELKIS HULL
Belkis, aka Bibi, is an accomplished photographer whose professional journey began in finance. After graduating from Baruch College with a major in Finance, she worked as a fixed income trader for a mutual fund company, where she met her husband of 19 years. Throughout her finance career, Bibi sought outlets for her passion for photography, eventually making it her full-time focus.
KILIA LLANO
Kilia Llano's work centers on her perspective of the world, filtered through a Caribbean lens. It is deeply rooted in memories, dreams, and their transformation into present-day experiences.
As an artist, Llano identifies strongly with the concept of the "Flâneur," as described by Baudelaire, a figure who observes the world with fascination, yet from a voyeuristic stance.
She is driven by the desire to articulate her unique vision of her surroundings, while also exploring the experiences of others. Llano's work seeks to connect the collective and individual memories and traumas of Caribbean people with the tangible realities of their home. Simultaneously, she intertwines these realities with an imagined and ancestral mythology, constructing safe bridges between the past, present, and future of the region. This allows her to craft a world where the real is seamlessly blended with the magical heritage of her ancestry.
GWENDOLYN MOORE
Gwendolyn Moore's art serves as a form of meditation, a conduit for energy, and a space where spirit moves freely. She is captivated by symbols, particularly sacred shapes and lines that transcend their physical forms, acting as vessels of power imbued with history, intention, and transformative potential.
Mandalas, characterized by their intricate balance and repetitive patterns, are central to her work. Steeped in ancient traditions across various cultures, they symbolize wholeness, unity, and the infinite cycle of life. Each stroke and detail becomes a ritual, grounding her in the present moment. As she creates, Moore channels energy, drawing from her inner self and beyond. The repetitive nature of the designs soothes her anxiety, anchoring her to something greater.
Through this creative process, Moore releases control, surrendering to the unseen as it manifests through her hands. Her art is not merely an expression; it is a spiritual practice, a connection to the flow of energy, and a testament to the inherent order within chaos.
JINAN O’CONNOR
Jinan O'Connor began working with oil pastels in February 2025, shortly before her 50th birthday. While art had been a long-standing interest, she was unsure how to initiate her creative journey. Drawn to the depth and detail of oil paintings, she selected oil pastels as her starting point. Despite having no prior experience, she possessed a strong curiosity and desire to create.
O'Connor quickly focused on portraiture, perhaps due to the medium's capacity to explore the nuances of facial expressions. With each piece, she continues to learn to perceive the world differently, to trust her own hands, and to allow the creative process to guide her.
ERWIN ONG
Erwin Ong is an illustrator and maker inspired by plants, animals, and the patterns that appear in nature. His work is all about inspiring a sense of play, freedom, and experimentation, along with exploring the spaces between the familiar and unexpected to find moments of creativity. He is based in White Plains, NY.
JOSUÉ PEREZ
Miniature painter specializing in one of a kind scenes and custom dioramas using models from popular tabletop games.
DIANE PRATT
NOAH RODMAN
Noah Rodman has been creating art for a significant period. Currently, he is a sophomore at the Fashion Institute of Technology, focusing on illustration with elements of interior and graphic design. A 20-year-old student, Rodman was born and raised in New York, where he pursued self-taught art in various forms. He considers himself capable of handling any creative endeavor.
ATLAS ROSE
Atlas Rose is a digital artist, born and raised in Yonkers. She is also a mother of two sons who share her passion for creativity. Self-taught, Rose focuses on creating original characters and fantastical worlds.
LILA ROSE
Lila Rose is a multidisciplinary artist who explores photography, pyrography, woodworking, acrylic painting, watercolor, and graphic design. She enjoys the process of creation and considers herself an all-around creative individual. As a newcomer to the art world, Rose is currently rediscovering her creative voice.
While appreciating the natural beauty of wood grain, she is also drawn to the vibrant energy that color can bring to a piece. Rose prefers to experiment with a variety of media, avoiding confinement to a single artistic form, as reflected in her diverse body of work. Her inspirations include the natural world, her vivid imagination, and music.
Rose finds power in the act of transforming nothing into a compelling artwork that can evoke varied interpretations. She hopes to inspire other artists to continue creating and sharing their work with the world.
MYA SEWARD
Mya Seward's art practice is rooted in a fascination with the overlooked aspects of urban life, exploring the traces of human presence found in graffiti, industrial textures, and forgotten spaces. She uses painting, collage, and photography to uncover and elevate these everyday urban artifacts, highlighting the tension between presence and erasure. Her process begins with documenting urban environments, capturing the interplay of decay and spontaneous mark-making, particularly drawn to graffiti as a form of communication.
Seward constructs collaged compositions from collected photographic elements, mirroring the fragmented nature of the city. The transition to painting involves further manipulation through mark-making and color mixing, creating dense visual landscapes that reflect the dynamic energy of urban spaces. Ultimately, her work investigates the relationship between industrial environments and human presence, challenging perceptions of urban decay and inviting viewers to consider the layered histories within everyday spaces.
DENNIS SHELTON
A visual artist who works with collage mixed media and wood assemblage. Creating art using recycled materials and found objects. Inspired by Romare Beardan, Cezanne, Jacob Lawrence and Henri Matisse. I am strongly influenced by the Cubist movement.
DANA SIMMONS
As a Black sick woman in America, my art is a testament to the resilience and power within marginalized communities. I use the shapes, color, and textures found in nature to explore the human condition. Through my work, I confront the intersections of race, gender, and health, shedding light on the experiences often overlooked or silenced. My work is an act of radical self-acceptance and transcendence when finding beauty in the darkest moments shines brightest. Each piece is a reflection of my journey navigating a society that too often dismisses or marginalizes those who don't fit the norm. I aim to challenge perceptions, spark conversations, and evoke empathy, inviting viewers to confront their own biases and privilege. How and what I create speaks to the multiplicities and expansiveness of nature and in life. My art is not just a form of expression, but a tool for social change and collective healing, amplifying the voices of those who have been silenced for too long.
DAVE STECK
Dave Steck uses his artistic practice to amplify voices and stories that are often unheard or overlooked. He creates tactile metal sculptures, designed for audience interaction, as a counterpoint to intangible digital work. These sculptures are constructed from found objects and reclaimed metal parts, assembled using traditional trade methods such as nuts, bolts, screws, and solder. This hands-on process results in sculptures that are both retro and futuristic, reflecting on obsolete technology, unsustainable innovation, and the resulting artifacts.
The human-like forms of Steck's sculptures encourage viewers to project personalities onto them, giving them an endearing and sentimental character with both childlike and geriatric qualities. They convey a wistful yearning for relevance and activity, alongside a melancholy associated with the marginalized status of obsolescence, a feeling experienced by many in society. Steck's work also carries an intentional environmental activism message, as all materials are found objects rescued from landfills, contributing positively to the community and planet.
NATALIE STILLER
Natalie Stiller is a 16-year-old artist from Yonkers, New York. She has been pursuing her artistic interests for five years and plans to attend art college to study animation and VFX.
EMLYN TAVERAS
Emlyn Taveras is New York based artist and educator with over 25 years of experience creating multimedia works of art, and immersive art experiences. As an artist and educator Emlyn is interested in honoring the evolution of our individual and collective identities. Emlyn’s creative process is an investigation of self, cultural identity and connecting with materials and her environment. While impacted by the ever changing realities of society, through cultural and historical research and continuous investigation of the human experience and her heritage she builds mixed - media artworks that reflect these experiences and stories.
MAYBELLINE UREÑA FELIZ
Maybelline Ureña Feliz has considered art an integral part of her identity for her entire life. By the age of ten, she had explored a wide range of artistic mediums, including drawing, painting, modeling, macramé, jewelry-making, knitting, and sewing. As she matured, she honed her skills by studying drawing and composition at the Fine Arts Academy in Santo Domingo and later specialized in portraiture and color theory at the Guillo Pérez Art Academy.
Upon moving to Westchester three years ago, Feliz discovered a vibrant and supportive artistic community that inspired her to elevate her creative endeavors. She is a proud Art Ambassador with ArtsWestchester, part of this dynamic network.
This fall, Feliz will begin her studies at the University at Buffalo, pursuing a double major in Studio Art and Visual Arts Management. Her mornings are dedicated to academics, while her afternoons are focused on artistic projects and professional development. When not gallery-sitting or contributing to ArtsMobile events, she enjoys practicing yoga or meditating by the Hudson River.
Feliz is currently developing her website and business, which will showcase her handcrafted creations, set to launch in 2026. Her goal is to merge artistry and entrepreneurship, creating unique pieces that reflect her passion for color, form, and expression.
DEVON VALENTIN-DIXON
DEVON VALENTIN-DIXON was born and raised in the Bronx. Though primarily working with paint as a medium, she is no stranger to photography, print-making and mixed media, and enjoys blending techniques and materials. She draws inspiration heavily from pop culture, and life in New York City. She has shown her work at Gallery18, Yonkers Arts, the Bronx Social Center in collaboration with the Odiosas Collective, and at Lehman College in support of the Robin Hood Organization.
KATORI WALKER
Katori is a self-taught multi-media artist, poet, playwright, spoke word performer, muralist, and art educator. She was born in New York City and was also raised in Puerto Rico and St. Thomas. Katori feels that her Caribbean background contributes to her love of bright colors and textures. Her “Katori Kids Happy Art” pieces are created to remind people to love and embrace their inner-child and brighten up spaces.
QUINNELL WILLIAMS
Quinnell Williams, a graphic designer and illustrator from Yonkers, NY, creates art that celebrates individuality and self-expression. Having drawn since the age of eight, Williams utilizes portraits to emphasize the unique details that distinguish each person. With a Bachelor’s in Graphic Design Technology, he merges technical proficiency with emotional depth to craft compelling visual narratives. His work aims to inspire self-love, confidence, and the appreciation of authenticity. This exhibition provides an opportunity for him to share a vision that reflects the beauty and resilience of Yonkers.