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Suzanne Rende

Visual Arts: Illustration, Murals, Painting

In August 2021, I was standing on a lift 30 feet above the ground putting the final touches on the biggest mural I had ever done in my life for YorkFest. Parliament Arts Organization and Sprocket Mural Works had given me one of the most challenging endeavors I had ever undertaken, and as I reflected back on the past six years I had spent living in York…. I felt immensely grateful. Since planting my roots here in 2017, I have undergone a dramatic artistic transformation. I have found a way to express my own vision. In May 2018, I entered the York art scene as a stand holder inside York Central Market operating an artist collective, Naked Chick Art. During the five years that business was open, I made strong connections with local artists and businesses, some who relied on me to create or help curate captivating visuals for their establishments: My work can be seen throughout Central Market—my artwork adorns Two Wild and Crabby Guys, The Grilled Cheeez, Central Dog House, Three Hogs Barbecue, in addition to Strawberry Fields Pottery Studio, Mexitaly Brick Oven Brewhouse and the White Rose Bar and Grill conference room. While living in York, my style has evolved dramatically. The decades of painting and faux finishing have led me to a completely new style that allows me to incorporate whimsical elements with dream-like backdrops. I replaced my dreaded, realistic backgrounds with techniques I perfected as a muralist and faux finisher. Latex and metallic paint are my mediums of choice , I overlap these with wallpaper stencils to create my backgrounds and then paint my subjects in acrylics on top of that dreaminess. My focus has shifted from walls to canvas, and has freed my imagination to paint scenes creating my own world. One where animals and bugs replaced people, but retained the emotion and interaction of human connection. I paint a dream world where animals find communion, and would prefer to eat cupcakes instead of one another. I want the viewer to appreciate the beauty and mood of the animals, find connection and smile. I don’t feel art has to be complicated to be relevant. My intention is to convey happiness, focusing on positivity, fun and whimsy. I want to encourage the viewer to imagine the story and relationships between the cute creatures I love to paint. York has been a place that has allowed me to flourish and find an audience, to grow and perfect these visions that I have had since I was 12 years old, when I painted my bedroom walls with my dreams. I have been fortunate enough to pursue my creative impulses and make a viable living while making others happy. It’s like I’ve plugged into some vital source that allows me to live a life of independence and constant creative pursuit. I gained knowledge and confidence growing my business in York, which led to an opportunity to open my own storefront- The Artful Nest in Marietta, PA. In stocking my boutique, I continue to create while reaching out to like-minded local artists and others from around the world. I enjoy not only offering their nature inspired, happy and handmade items, but also connecting with the artists and constantly finding myself inspired by them. The connections I made in York made this possible and it is one of the most rewarding steps I’ve made. As I look forward to completing a new public mural in Harrisburg this fall, I’m appreciative of how York has facilitated my growth and motivated me to flourish. I am grateful for the reception I’ve received here and the support that drives me forward.

Sergio Rengifo

Graphic Arts; Media; Multi Arts; Visual Arts: Film, Illustration, Mixed Media, Murals, Painting, Printmaking

Sergio Rengifo (born September 9, 1988 in York, Pennsylvania), known professionally as Sergxo88. Sergxo88 is a Latin American artist and designer. His work includes repeated use of a cast of figurative characters and motifs, some dating back to the beginning of his career in 2015, initially painted in 2D abstract and later realized in digital and 3D like artworks. Some of his characters are his own creations while others are reworked versions of existing icons.

Marcos Repolle

Graphic Arts; Performing Arts: Storytelling; Visual Arts: Film, Graphic Arts, Media and Visual Communications

My name is Marcos Repolle, I am a Junior at York College of Pennsylvania and I love everything about film. In my freshman year, I directed an educational short film about college suicide awareness which won a nationally recognized award through FilmForGood. After this, I chased my passion for filmmaking and sought out a Producer to give me a chance to work on a feature film. I was lucky enough to be given a chance. I was hired as a BTS photographer for an LGBTQ-plus feature film based in Kentucky where I met some amazing people and started my filmmaking journey. During my sophomore year, I took a class on short film creation where I acted, edited, and gaffed a drama about a young man who has schizophrenia. When this premiered there were highly networked individuals who saw what my team and I created and decided to help donate money to our film program. The dean decided to allow extra money to buy new and improved equipment not just for me but for upcoming filmmakers through the college. After this, I was hired to work as a Gaffer on a feature film based in Lancaster and York PA. The film hired many local filmmakers and provided work to York College graduates. This film changed my life. It boosted my love for filmmaking and I would do it again in a heartbeat. After this, I organized and put together a team of students to enter a 48-hour short film contest in Baltimore Maryland. Even though it was our first time entering, we ended up winning the audience award at the viewing.

Lex Rickabaugh

Visual Arts: Crafts, Earthworks, Mixed Media, Painting, Photography, Textiles

If you’ve ever heard the saying, “I don’t have a creative bone in my body”, well… that’s the total opposite of me. I bleed paint and sneeze glue! Maybe not literally, but you get the point. Art is how I process life and the world around me; how I communicate and how I medicate. And if I’m not making art, I’m probably off exploring somewhere. I have a passion for adventure and love being outdoors. This shines through in the work I create, often inspired by nature and made from ethically sourced, natural materials, such as driftwood. My whimsical creations tend to convey feelings of being in your ‘happy place’ or out in nature (if that’s not the same thing) and can often be found featured in galleries across the state. I enjoy spreading kindness and encouraging happiness; and what better way to do that than through art?! I was born, raised and still reside in York County. I also have a love for and background in photography. In the past, I’ve worked as a freelance photographer, in a mall studio, and as a traveling school photographer. I’ve shot a little bit of everything and over time began to favor creative concepts and themed shoots. Now I focus on working with other creatives and entrepreneurs. I often make my own props and costumes used in photoshoots and content creation. I love helping others bring their visions to life! I also enjoy photographing nature, landmarks and interesting things I find while traveling. My photographs are sometimes featured in local galleries.

Amy Rieg

Visual Arts: Mixed Media, Photography; Encaustic

In December of 2018 Amy graduated from HACC, Central Pennsylvania’s Community College with an AFA in Photography. During her final two semesters she explored the encaustic technique and combining this with her photography. The encaustic paintings consists of melting bees wax that has been mixed with damar resin (tree sap) into a liquid and applying it to the photos or other media. Additional colored pigments such as oil paints can be added to the wax or applied directly to the wax surface. Combining the wax with her fine art photography creates a mixed media that hovers between the realm of painting and photograph and elevates her work to a new level. Amy strives to present to her audience something they’ve never seen before. She has won numerous awards for her work, taking second place for the mixed media category at the Lititz Outdoor Fine Art Show in 2019. Amy is currently attending Millersville University and pursuing Art Education and continuing to do shows and events.

Justin Ritmiller

Graphic Arts; Visual Arts: Graphic Arts, Illustration, Media and Visual Communications, Painting, Photography, Works on paper

I am an artist mainly concerned with portraiture in a realistic style, balancing representation with abstraction of color, line and brush stroke that combine to bring emotion to the forefront of a subject. I work primarily in oils, but often use acrylics, gouache, ink, spray cans, as well. Whatever works best.

Jay Rock

Visual Arts: Mixed Media, Murals, Painting

Tattoo and street artist. Founder and President of the YorkBombSquad street art crew, who donate their time and talent to bring positive messages across the city of York Pa

Ivy Rodgers

Literary Arts; Visual Arts: Ceramics, Illustration, Media and Visual Communications, Mixed Media, Murals, Painting, Photography, Sculpture, Visual Arts Instructor, Works on paper

I am a local, York-City based fine artist, illustrator, and writer. I graduated in 2018 from York College of Pennsylvania with honors. I have done freelance work for Paco’s Tacos, The Cantina, Redeux Vintage Marketplace, York Day Nursery, The Parliament Arts Organization, The Grotto Community Center, York City Pretzel Company, LUMI Creative, Older & Wiser Co, as well as many others. I have worked with numerous local organizations including working with Crispus Attucks Senior Day Center and local residential care facilities to provide multidisciplinary arts projects to aging and disabled peoples in our community through Creative York’s Creative Aging program. I frequently do public speaking at different events- most regularly I share my work and process with young people. I have worked with local organizations including York County Alliance For Learning, Valley Youth House, York County Libraries, Creative York, among others. I am an arts-based instructor teaching classes, workshops, and summer camps at Dreamwrights Center for Community Arts and the York Art Association, previously at Creative York. I have been working as a full-time freelance artist and writer since June of 2022. I am currently the Interim Gallery Director for York College through November 2023. I love all things York, and love to see our home flourish with arts, culture, and strengthening community. I’m a vegan who advocates for equity, inclusivity, and transparency. I live in York City with my best friend and husband Sean.

Melanie Rodgers

Graphic Arts; Media; Multi Arts; Visual Arts: Graphic Arts, Illustration, Media and Visual Communications, Mixed Media, New Media/Technology, Painting, Works on paper; Lettering,calligraphy

Graphic Designers are the kinds of people who aren’t ever satisfied with doing one kind of thing. I am a designer, letterer, illustrator, and educator. I have been a letter lover all my life, and while most early interests wane with time, my fascination with typographic form has only intensified. Interest in letterforms, as well as a desire to record things thought and heard, drive the work that I do. For over 20 years, I have been letting this obsession take me into all kinds of directions, many falling outside the environs of traditional commercial function and into areas including painting, fabric designs, animation, self-published books, zines and decorative objects. It is when glyphs become expressive, provocative, imperfect and arcane that the creative snowball begins to roll down the hill for me. Legendary 20th century artist Eric Gill said “Letters are things, not pictures of things.” I second that emotion. They are like people – individual, complicated and ubiquitous. And not only are glyphs interesting to look at, they say a lot. As an artist, my goal is to allow the letters to take me and my craft where they want us to go. I relish the physicality I experience when lettering by hand as well as the technical knowledge brought to bear when I work digitally. Letters and their myriad of forms, make me want to push my work further and further, both in solitary artistic realization through practice as well as in teaching, mentoring and research.

Laura Romberger-Tran

Literary Arts; Multi Arts

A self-taught abstract artist. Art is a place I come to escape from the pressures of the world. It’s an adventure, a place of fantasy, a tranquility break. As I continue to develop my process, my painting style has become more intuitive and free.

Catherine Roque

Media; Visual Arts: Film, Mixed Media, New Media/Technology, Photography; Videography

Not born but raised in York City, I have grown to call York my home. I have seen many of its up and downs but through out it all, Ive always admired the sense of community that is found everywhere in York County, not just York City or Downtown York. I went from the York City School District to York College to my first and current job in the York community. My path throughout York has taught me to really appreciate and love York. Everyday I learn something knew that grows my admiration for this city. All of my work is centered around all the great things we have going on in York from different projects to initiatives to the people behind the scenes and in front, that make everything possible! Portfolio link: https://www.behance.net/croque25c45

Rainbow Ross

Visual Arts: Constructions/Collage, Functional and/or Decorative, Mixed Media, Painting, Printmaking, Works on paper

_____________The Candid_____________ I’m an artist who is often found drinking a nice cup of tea in between, carving & printing, plotting & planning projects, and gardening or hiking with my pup all while meandering in my mind about infinite possibilities and the orbiting perplexity of things. . . Not so long ago, I wrapped up a 550 mile backpacking pilgrimage from the French Pyrenees down to the most western point in Finisterre, Spain, where I took a cleansing break from art making and dwelled in the peaceful simple gesture of walking. I cannot help but feel a new phase of art making is soon to emerge. What will it be? _____________The Expected_____________ Originally from central Pennsylvania, Rainbow Ross has lived on both the east and west coasts of the United States, as well as intervals abroad. Rainbow has worked as a printmaking teaching assistant at the Pacific Northwest College of Art in Portland, Oregon and Pont-Aven School of Contemporary Art in Pont-Aven, France. She has also taught English and printmaking workshops while living in South Korea, India and the USA. In addition, Rainbow [via: Rainboeliza Studios] annually organizes several art based projects including the Postcard Project, the Print Portfolio Exchange, the Mini Scrap Exchange and Art:Toe. Her previous bodies of work explored nature, meditation, patterns, cultural exchanges, relationships and simple everyday isms. She primarily explores the subject matter through the use of printmaking, but also employs sewing, painting, building, and installation work. Rainbow has had numerous exhibitions while living in the U.S. and abroad.

Justin Ruby

Visual Arts: Mixed Media

Bio Justin Ruby is a self-taught artist from York, Pennsylvania. Ruby is best known for his portraits made from deconstructed sneakers, but has used materials from Tootsie Pop wrappers to Louis Vuitton bags. Ruby has shown work in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Virginia, Harrisburg, and York. His work has been on the walls of The State Museum of Pennsylvania, SAIC Galleries, and The New York Stock Exchange. Artist Statement My work is an examination of the role of consumption within the collective conscious, and how this varies between class structures. Most of the pieces are paintings with the focal points collaged out of deconstructed sneakers, or other materials relevant in pop culture. However, it also bleeds out into conceptual sculptures. All of the work is tied together by the formation of identity and how our belongings contribute to our sense of self.

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