The Truth In This Art: Stories That Matter

Kory Bailey is the Chief Ecosystem and Relationship Officer at UpSurge Baltimore. He is a devoted father of three boys, an angel investor, and a passionate advocate for cultivating regional and natio…

Siti Lu is a talented storyboard artist and animator based in Los Angeles. They have worked with Cartoon Network and Netflix Animation, storyboarding for shows such as Close Enough, Driftwood, and We…

Megan E. L. Klink is a digital artist, independent curator, and creative director based in Washington, DC. She has a background in physics and engineering but found her true passion in art and creati…

Heather Ossandon Chapman is an educator and ceramic artist based in Philadelphia. She is the founder of HEOS Ceramics and her work has been showcased nationally and internationally. With a background…

Jennifer Zwilling is the curator and director of artistic programs at the Clay Studio in Philadelphia. With a background in art history and a passion for connecting people to art, Jennifer has extens…

Ara Koh is a talented ceramic artist originally from Seoul, South Korea. Known for her labor-intensive installations, Ara Koh explores themes of body architecture, shelter, and landscape in her work.…

Crystal Berger is a lifestyle expert, author, media personality, and media tech entrepreneur. She is the founder of Ebo Ebo and has a background in journalism, having worked as a national features ho…

Nani Ferreira Matthews is an author, freelance journalist, community organizer, and a worker and owner of Thread Coffee Roasters in Baltimore. She has a background in journalism and anthropology, and…

Rafi Perez is an award-winning contemporary artist and the author of the Rogue Artist Survival Guide. He has a passion for creativity that started in his childhood and has been a constant in his life…

Krishna Bala Shenoi is an artist and illustrator known for his work in children's books and as a portrait artist for the Talk Easy Pod with Sam Fragoso. He was born in Bangalore and raised in the Uni…

Francis Gautier is a versatile artist with a passion for urban graffiti street art. He discovered the transformational power of art while studying at the University of Rhode Island and has since dedi…

Sheryl Oring is the Dean of the School of Art at University of the Arts in Philadelphia. Sheryl's work as an artist, writer, and educator explores critical social issues through the integration of ol…

Nick Tofani is an illustrator based in Massachusetts with a focus on horror and game art. He draws inspiration from horror movies, urban legends, and everyday experiences to create his unique and unn…

Liza Donnelly is an award-winning cartoonist and writer for The New Yorker magazine. She is also a contributor to The New York Times, Washington Post, Medium, CNN, and CBS News. Donnelly has authored…

Ariel Barbosa is a community organizer, artist, and capoeira practitioner from Baltimore, with roots in Bahia, Brazil. They are the founder of A GENTE, an organization that aims to widen our percepti…

Nat Raum is a queer multimedia artist who explores the intersection of sexuality, anxiety, and trauma through photography, creative writing, and bookmaking. They are the founders of Dark Side Collect…

Marielle Stankiewicz is a registered dental assistant and the owner of Sweet Peach Studios, a dental jewelry studio in Philadelphia. With a background in dental care, Marielle combines her creative s…

Melissa Hunter Davis is the founder and publisher of Sugarcane magazine, a digital and print platform dedicated to showcasing and celebrating global black art and culture. She is known for her work i…

Tk Mills is the editor-in-chief of Up Magazine, an art journalist based in NYC. With a passion for travel, art, and literature, Tk has written for several art publications, including Sold Global Stre…

Welcome to another insightful episode of "The Truth in This Art." Join our host, Rob Lee, as he converses with Hrag Vartanian, editor-in-chief and co-founder of Hyperallergic, a forum for playful, se…