Jose Bustamante (BUSTA) is a Colombian-born, New Jersey–based muralist and visual artist with over 15 years of experience creating large-scale public artwork. Raised in Chía, Colombia, his practice is deeply influenced by Indigenous culture, hip-hop, and the vibrant social landscapes that shaped his early years. BUSTA is known for his bold use of color, expressive portraiture, dynamic animals, and powerful lettering compositions that celebrate identity, resilience, and community pride. His work transforms public spaces into visual narratives that reflect the strength and spirit of the neighborhoods they inhabit. In 2024, he was awarded a grant from the Forman Arts Initiative’s Art Works program to support his public art practice in Philadelphia, where he has created murals in under-resourced communities such as Kensington. His projects often center cultural storytelling and community engagement, inviting residents to see themselves reflected in the artwork. Through murals, BUSTA aims to create spaces that inspire, empower, and affirm the communities they serve.

Combining classical training with the intense creative energy of graffiti, DISTORT has impacted the streets and galleries alike. Now living in Jersey City, DISTORT earned a BFA from the University of Pennsylvania and a Certificate in Painting from the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts. Following this period, DISTORT developed a body of work combining sculptural installation and painting. In 2016, he presented these now-iconic “scrolls” and “shields” in a solo exhibition at the Works on Paper Gallery in Philadelphia. DISTORT has exhibited extensively in the Tristate Area and completed murals in Miami, Istanbul, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, and New York, as well as locations across North Jersey. His project, located just outside of the Holland Tunnel, is one of the largest murals by a single artist in New Jersey. DISTORT continues to create challenging work inspired by his admiration of classicism and the intensity of the present.

I was born in the city of Philadelphia, PA. I fell in love with art at a young age. Growing up I was really shy and art helped me to express myself, I started using art as a journal to draw how I felt. I drew/ painted women who I aspired to be, with powerful words. Phrases behind them like “Take Up Space", “Give yourself grace", etc. Which later led me to pursue a higher education at Arcadia University, where I graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Fine Arts and majored in Graphic Design. I use my passion for art and design to illustrate my feminine side. While finding my voice as an artist, I created the inspirational brand These Pink Lips, whose motto is to be uplifting and inspiring. My art is displayed in notable art galleries and boutiques and my wearable art is worn by many. Building an audience that craves style. Admirers of my bold designs have turned ThesePinkLips into a thriving brand that empowers others to wear their confidence as a proclamation of their liberation from labels and stereotypes. As a professional artist with over 20 years of experience, I have cultivated a unique approach and I believe that every surface can be a canvas and art is healing. I use mixed media and paint to create art that empowers. My work is known for strong imagery, including female figures and messages of empowerment, often inspired by street art, words of affirmation, fashion, and my own experiences.

Kilia Llano is a muralist and multidisciplinary artist from the Dominican Republic whose work centers on public space, community engagement, and environmental awareness. Through largescale murals and street art projects, she explores art as a tool for social dialogue, collective memory, and climate action. She graduated with honors from Altos de Chavón and Parsons School of Design, and holds an MFA in Painting from the New York Academy of Art. Her work has been featured in over 30 public art and street art events across the Dominican Republic, the United States, Colombia, and Europe. Her public art projects include Muralizar la Frontera (Ministry of Culture, DR), Connections (USDA Forest Service), and Miches 001 (Dominican Public Art Commission). In 2025, Connections was selected as one of five projects to be presented at the conference Public Art as a Catalyst for Climate Change Action at Yale University, where she presented her work to an audience of scientists, scholars, and artists. In 2024, she received a full scholarship to participate in the Global Artivism Conference in South Africa. In December 2025, she was nominated for the Creativity for Social Change Award by the Community Arts Network. She was also selected for a Special Projects residency at Project 14C (New Jersey) and for a public art project with the City of Philadelphia in 2026.

KNOMAD is an experiential artist and art activist, whose practice combines 3D objects, immersive installation, and A/V technology. Their work explores themes of identity and place through the use of everyday metamorphosis … often employing light and sound to cultivate moments of magic in mundanity. On occasion, KNOMAD creates objects that transform domestic settings. The cornerstone of their work, however, is in fostering community through public art occurrences, which illuminate life’s imperfections, while invoking a sense of whimsy and otherworldliness. KNOMAD exhibits in situ at sites across the country. Their work has been featured by PBS and has been sponsored by multiple global lighting (A/V tech) companies, including Rosco, Astera LED, and Fuel. While KNOMAD can be seen popping up anywhere, they are currently based jointly in Denver and Philadelphia.

Magdalena Rieders (b. 1992) is an artist from Philadelphia focusing mostly on largescale murals, painting, and printmaking. Her work often deals with the invasion of the surreal into the mundane and the impossible into the familiar. She draws inspiration from historical figures and ancient symbolism to convey her ideas while considering the space that she is in. She is particularly drawn to creating large scale, immersive works because of their ability to completely transform the environment that they're in.

Linda Fernandez is a multicultural artist and educator whose work features bright colors, designs and symbols that reflect her Caribbean heritage. She's inspired by the ways in which nature, architecture and history weave together to tell stories of people and the places they call home. Her work merges themes of identity and home across physical, social and cultural divides by exploring Caribbean heritage through a diasporic lens. She is a founding member of Amber Art and Design, an artist collective based in Philadelphia that creates public art through engagement with community members. Linda has earned a Bachelor’s degree in Art Education from Tyler School of Art, a certificate in Contemporary Art from Metafora Escola de Arte Contemporaneo in Barcelona, Spain, and a Master’s in Public Administration from Austin W. Marxe School of Public and International Affairs. She is an alumni of Community Arts Education Leadership Institute, National Urban Fellows and the Caribbean Cultural Center African Diaspora Institute’s Intercultural Advocacy Fellowship.

Linda Fernandez's Website

Martolao (Martha O'Connell) is a painter, muralist, and advocate for arts-based opportunities for youth and adults. She creates large scale drawings, paintings and accompanying writings and installs them in public places in coordination with performing artists. Mural painting was her first love. She collaborates with pre-teens and adults on self expression through art, poetry, and costuming, and advocates for funding and support of art-based opportunities. She is a founding member of the collective, Amber Art & Design, with which she organizes and works on publicly engaged projects and events. She received a BFA in Sculpture from Cornell University’s College of Art and was trained by the Community-Word Project’s Teaching Artist Project in NYC.

Martha O'Connell's Website

Manuela Guillén is a freelance painter, muralist, and digital illustrator currently living in Philadelphia, PA. Born in Miami to Cuban and Salvadorian immigrant parents, Manuela has always had a love for art. She has collaborated with local, national, and global art organizations such as PangeaSeed, Mural Arts Philadelphia, Gender Justice Fund, and more. Her murals can be found in both the U.S. and Mexico. Inspired by plants, tropical colors, and her cultural upbringing, Manuela aims to bring awareness to art education, mental health, sociopolitical, and environmental issues. As an Art teacher, Manuela hopes to inspire her students to be creative as she continues to bring communities closer together through art. As a passionate artist, small business owner, and dedicated art teacher, my journey is deeply rooted in the vibrant tapestry of my Cuban and Salvadorian heritage, shaped by the rich cultural milieu of my upbringing in Miami and my current life in Philadelphia, PA. My art is a celebration of color, a homage to the natural world, and a narrative of my experiences as the daughter of immigrant parents. Through my work, I seek to bridge communities, spark dialogue, and inspire change on issues close to my heart - art education, mental health, sociopolitical awareness, and environmental sustainability.

Paolo Morales is a photographer whose work investigates the documentary tradition from the positionality of an Asian American male. Morales’ photographs have been the subject of eight solo exhibitions and numerous group exhibitions. His photographs have been published in VICE Magazine, Papersafe Magazine, The Washington Post, Dazed, and The New Yorker. He was a participant at Skowhegan School of Painting & Sculpture, a recipient of the Hamiltonian Artists Fellowship, and an artist-in-residence at the TILT Institute for the Contemporary Image, and the Center for Photography at Woodstock. Morales received an MFA from Rhode Island School of Design and is an Assistant Professor of Practice at Moravian University. He was born and raised in New York City and lives with his wife and corgi in Philadelphia.

Raelis Vasquez (b. 1995, Mao Valverde, Dominican Republic) explores historical, political, and personal narratives through painting, capturing the textures of daily life and the lived realities of Afro-Latinx communities. Drawing from his own photographs and family archives, Vasquez creates works rooted in care and attentiveness, using gestural brushwork and color to convey vulnerability, resilience, and memory. Having immigrated to the U.S. in 2002, he addresses themes of migration, belonging, and diasporic identity, depicting individuals with intersecting identities, Black, Latinx, Afro-Latinx, to challenge reductive notions of American identity. Engaging with portraiture and history painting, Vasquez reclaims these forms to center Caribbean and diaspora stories, creating visual narratives that honor everyday life while acknowledging its historical and political dimensions. His work fosters visibility, reflection, and connection, inviting communities to see themselves represented with dignity and nuance.

Symone Salib is a first-generation Cuban/Egyptian muralist, illustrator, and educator whose art centers on the storytelling of community members through large-scale public installations. Strongly rooted in portraiture, her work envisions a world of radical possibilities where equality and justice is at the center. By focusing on the voices and faces of marginalized communities, Symone uses her art to uplift and amplify those who are often overlooked. Her community-based practice reflects her belief that art should be accessible to all. By creating work in public spaces, she ensures that everyone, regardless of background, can engage with and experience art. She believes public art is not just about beautifying a space; it's about providing visibility and recognition to the people who make up the fabric of the community.

My name is Vanessa Vega I am a visual artist from north Philadelphia. I’ve been painting for over a decade. I create art for the culture. I’m inspired by my surroundings as well as my roots. I’ve done many projects around the community. My mediums are acrylics and spray paints. There’s no limit to the type of art I do. I also am the cofounder of Taina Sisters that specializes in teaching my culture through my art.

J.C. Zerbe is an artist, community activator, and advocate. Known for his graphic lines and expressionistic style work, he has managed to fuse street art elements with his techniques while using lines to create waves of energy throughout his work. Zerbe's focus and passion are directed toward community building and social change. The neighborhood of Kensington in Philadelphia is where you can often find Zerbe painting, participating in neighborhood projects, or connecting with the community. Zerbe has also led art workshops to bring healing to those experiencing addiction, homelessness, or other forms of ongoing trauma. His work inspires and provokes movement toward social change within Kensington and beyond. Zerbe was born in Thailand and came to the USA at age 4. He was raised in Central PA, where he graduated from Selinsgrove Area High School. After graduating from high school, he enlisted in the Army, receiving an honorable discharge after 3 years of service. Zerbe later moved to Philadelphia, where he pursued an art career, attending the Art Institute of Philadelphia and later completing a mural program with Mural Arts. Since then, he has branched out into various neighborhoods and continues working with communities by using art to connect with self and others.