Desmond Blair

Desmond Blair, a Dallas-based artist is a problem solver and has been ever since childhood. Blair was born without fingers. Through navigating learning how to write without hands in school, Desmond discovered a love for art and animation. It was this love for animation and animated storytelling that inspired Blair to expand his artistic talents. Blair’s tenacity, determination, and drive empowered him to graduate from high school at the age of 16. Blair later earned his undergraduate degree from University of Texas at Dallas where he honed his traditional abilities and transferred them to digital media focusing on animation and computer graphics. Blair later returned to UTD where he received his MFA in Art and Technology with a concentration on the development of computer graphics and the study/analysis of emerging media trends. He now uses his art to encourage others, promote limb difference awareness and raise money for charities in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. Desmond hopes to one day use his art to launch a scholarship fund that will assist graduating seniors born with limb differences in the pursuit of their academic goals. 

Rapheal Crump, was born in the Bronx New York in December of 1984, Rapheal grew up in a household that strongly believed in the importance of the arts and education. He was influenced by his mother who was an illustrator and his father, a painter. When he was only 5 years old, he was bitten by the entrepreneur bug when a woman offered him money for his drawings. These early influences and events lead him to open a boutique clothing store, selling customizable clothing and shoes by the time he was in high school. After receiving his Bachelor of Fine Arts from School of Visual Arts in 2007, he began to work as a graphic artist and animator for a major media network in Times Square. After numerous years in the media field, Rapheal relocated to Dallas, Texas where he began his career as a full-time artist in 2017. Rapheal's work varies from oil paint, acrylic and mixed media, mostly focused on the culture of the urban city living. His visions derive from memories and experiences which connects the viewer and their own nostalgia. The evoked emotion from each viewer gives Rapheal a push to continuously create meaningful and thought-provoking bodies of work. “Above Us” provides viewers with a breathtaking glimpse of the beauty in our world, provided we take the time to stop and look up. 

Adrienne Brown-David was born in St. Louis, MO. Art has always been a huge part of Adrienne’s life. As a child, her grandmother would keep all the paper grocery bags for Adrienne to draw on. She drew on the sidewalks with chalk and broken pieces of brick. She made costumes and masks and carved little slivers of used ivory soap into animals in her free time. As she got older her mother noticed that art was going to be a part of Adrienne, so she began to encourage it. She was enrolled in art classes after school and on weekends. Her mother took her to galleries and museums. In high school, all of Adrienne’s electives were art related and after graduation, she went on to spend a year at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Though she only stayed for her foundation year, the experience at SAIC had a huge impact on her as an artist. Adrienne’s confidence grew and her willingness to experiment with styles and mediums flourished. After leaving SAIC, she returned home to St. Louis for a couple of years where she taught after school art classes to kids in the neighborhood and drew regularly on her own. Soon life took Adrienne in a completely different direction, and she moved to St. Croix in the US Virgin Islands. Living there immersed her in an environment that was both familiar and completely foreign. It was the first time that she’d ever lived in a place where she was not a minority. The beauty of the land and the culture impacted her art in a huge way. She began to combine her willingness to experiment with styles and mediums with portraiture of the people around her. This was when she really began to paint. In her time on St. Croix, Adrienne got married and had three children. Her children added a new element to her artistic style and subject matter. Watching their growth and development as well as their innocence and sense of wonder touched a part of Adrienne that had not been visited since her own childhood. Capturing that innocence and intensity became the focus of her work. When she was pregnant with her fourth child, she relocated from St. Croix and settled in Mississippi where her experiences were also both familiar and foreign. Today, she lives in a small town in Mississippi with her husband and four children.

Frank Frazier, a Nationally acclaimed artist, has been creating art for over 60 years. A New York native, but home to Dallas visual artist, Frazier has inspired many artists and art enthusiasts through his exhibitions across the United States. His legacy not only resides in his art, but also through his passion for assisting and guiding artists.  A veteran and a supporter of museums, galleries, and organizations, Frazier continually creates bodies of work that illustrate historical moments and present Black experiences that not only educate but unite communities at large. 

Emmanuel Gillespie, was born and raised in Dallas, Texas. He received his BFA from the University of North Texas and later earned a Master of Art from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Gillespie works with mixed media in both 2D and 3D forms. He has worked on several Public Art projects in Dallas, Texas including specific work for the Bexar Street Corridor project and the DART Green Line project. As the former curator for the African American Museum of Dallas, Emmanuel worked to bring the beauty of the Arts to our Dallas community. Most recently, Emmanuel Gillespie was commissioned to create the Ernie Banks Statue in Dallas for the Booker T. Washington School of the Performing and Visual Arts. In addition, two new statues by Emmanuel now reside at the Cedar Crest Golf Course in Southern Dallas. Bronze statues of Dr. Charles Sifford and Walter Hagen, commissioned by I Am A Golfer Foundation grace the entrance to the golf course. 

Katie McKay Jones, is a painter residing in Fort Worth, Texas. She graduated from the University of Northern Iowa with BA in Studio Arts. While there, she emphasized in painting and printmaking. Jones has had the opportunity to participate in several group shows in the Dallas/Fort Worth area for the past three years. “Little Monsters Everywhere” at Pencil on Paper Gallery was her first solo exhibition. Katie's work was featured for the second time in a row at the Fort Worth Art Fair at the Pencil on Paper Gallery booth, and continues to be a favorite amongst collectors. New work can be seen in Gallery II at Pencil on Paper Gallery.