Yashua Klos (b. 1977, Chicago) is a multimedia artist who explores themes of identity, memory, and the Black experience in America through large-scale collages. Unlike traditional collage, Klos creates his own textured material through woodblock prints, representing Blackness as fragmented and multi-dimensional. These works reimagine the Black body as an alchemical being, existing within the intertwined history, myths, and lived realities of Black America. Klos has exhibited extensively, with a major solo show, “OUR LABOR,” in 2022, and his work is included in prestigious collections.

Eilen Itzel Mena (b. 1994) is an Afro-Dominican American artist who thrives at the intersection of visual arts and community engagement. Born in the South Bronx and currently residing between Los Angeles and New York, Mena earned a BFA in 2017 from the University of Southern California. Her artistic practice blends Abstract Expressionism, Surrealism, and African Diaspora spiritual frameworks, resulting in vibrant and symbolic paintings, drawings, and prints.

Mena’s work delves into themes of cultural survival, self-discovery, and the resilience of the African Diaspora. She utilizes bright colors reminiscent of Ifa, a Yoruba religion, and reimagines traditional semiotics through a personal lens. Through her art, Mena strives to create a space for contemplation on critical issues of our time. Beyond the canvas, she actively fosters artistic communities. She co-directs Honey and Smoke, a platform for artists to explore these themes, and is a member of Zeal, a Black artist cooperative that empowers Black creators.