PERSPECTIVES: LOU GRANDE
Lou Grande is a transmasculine artist from rural Kansas whose vibrant mixed-media works, inspired by 1970s pop art and queer history, celebrate identity, gender diversity, resilience, and visibility.
PERSPECTIVES: JUNIE BROWN
Junie Brown is an interdisciplinary artist and activist born and raised in Kansas City, MO. She uses her art as a form of self discovery, navigating topics of gender, cultural and sexual identities.
PERSPECTIVES: KEN CRANE AND BRIAN BULGER
Ken is a disabled, nonbinary artist living their best life in Kansas City. They have a special interest in fan art and enjoy selling their creations at conventions. Passionate about continually improving their craft, Ken also loves connecting with others who share that same enthusiasm for creativity and artistic growth. Brian Gerald Butler is an author, singer, and songwriter from Missouri. His latest EP, Thank God I’m Far From Heaven, is also a book of the same name.
PERSPECTIVES: NOVEMBER BULLARD AND IVORY BLUE
Artist November Bullard uses deeply emotional, expressionistic artwork to explore themes of isolation, anxiety, identity, and vulnerability, transforming personal struggles into powerful visual storytelling. Through dark yet hopeful imagery, they aim to create connection for people who feel unheard or out of place, encouraging others to embrace their voice authentically and unapologetically. Ivory Blue creates cinematic alternative pop and rock that blends intimate storytelling, haunting textures, and expansive production into music designed to linger emotionally long after it ends. Drawing from years of writing and performing, their work explores resonance, memory, and human connection through songs that feel both deeply personal and atmospheric.
PERSPECTIVES: Phil Dunn and She Speaks in Tongues
Phil is a self-taught artist who graduated with a degree in film and video production in the early 1990s, though he did not discover painting until much later in life. He began painting and working with resin as a form of therapy. Early in his art career, he was fortunate to contribute to several large-scale projects around Kansas City, including work for Society, The Uptown Theater, and The Fall, among others. Described by rock journalist Sasha Geffen as “Best Feminist Rock n’ Roll Exorcism,” SHE SPEAKS IN TONGUES is the project of artist, singer, and performer Kate McCandless, a Chicago transplant. McCandless creates music and performances using her voice, a looping pedal, and collaborations with other musicians and artists. Armed with her body, voice, and a fierce, shamanic energy, SHE SPEAKS IN TONGUES often lures audiences with nostalgia—while simultaneously embracing and interrogating its comfort and authority through a dark, feminist lens. The result is jarring, haunting, and ultimately a cathartic call to healing.
PERSPECTIVES: PROFESSOR SHY GUY AND BLYTHE RENAY
Professor Shyguy is a Kansas City-based artist and performer who blends live music, comedy, inclusion, and 8-bit shenanigans into a genre-defying experience. Known for his dynamic stage presence and erratic performances, he creates an immersive atmosphere that celebrates individuality and self-expression. Whether hosting themed events or collaborating with local artists, Professor Shyguy fosters a welcoming space for diverse audiences to connect and celebrate queer culture.
PERSPECTIVES: Ruthie Wu
Perspectives: Artist Talks with Ruthie Wu Ruthie Wu is a multifaceted artist and performer whose creative journey spans music, dance, theater, and visual arts. Beginning her artistic endeavors at the age of 8 as a singer and pianist, she later expanded her talents to include dance and acting. At 14, she participated in her first fashion show, marking the beginning of her diverse artistic career. Her work has taken her across the globe, from drawing in Lebanon to dancing in Canada, reflecting her commitment to celebrating the human experience through various artistic expressions. moxietalentagency.com+1moxietalentagency.com+1 In addition to her performance career, Ruthie is an accomplished educator, teaching piano and voice with a blend of classical and improvisational techniques. She has also authored a children's book and written and staged a play, further showcasing her versatility as a storyteller. Her artwork has been featured in community spaces in both the U.S. and Canada, including the House For All Nations and the Mattie Rhodes Center.
PERSPECTIVES: Waleska Font
Perspectives: Artist Talks with Waleska Font Waleska Font is a Venezuelan multidisciplinary artist whose work weaves together poetry, visual art, and cultural storytelling. Through her series The Sacred Crop, she explores the profound spiritual and cultural significance of corn in Pre-Columbian Latin America, blending vibrant visuals with poetic narratives to invite viewers into a world where art and heritage intertwine.
PERSPECTIVES: Jeni Reynolds and Julia Wildstar
Perspectives: Artist Talks with Jeni Reynolds and Julia Wildstar Jeni Reynolds is a self-taught multimedia artist from Lawson, Missouri, working across pencil, pen and ink, acrylics, oils, watercolors, and imaginative mixed media. She delights in adding unexpected elements—whether through small sculptures, home decor, or vibrant murals—to infuse her creations with interest and narrative Fine Art America. With a rich history of community involvement—from fundraisers for Children's Miracle Network to theater set work and a four-decade career designing artistic wedding cakes—she now focuses on sharing her creative vision more fully, shifting away from commissions to explore fresh artistic adventures Fine Art America.
PERSPECTIVES: Katrina Keller
Perspectives: Artist Talk with visual artist and poet Katrina Keller and Martha Sin Del. Katrina Keller is a self-taught, multidisciplinary artist whose wearable art, mixed-media works, painting, and poetry explore the sacred threads of femininity, nature, and the everyday with quiet beauty and resilience.