ANTHONY MANAL CASTRO was born in Romblon Philippines, grew up in San Jose, California and lives and works in Brooklyn, NY. Studied painting at Claremont Graduate University and San Jose State University. Castro’s current cut and paste series using local NYC supermarket signage posters explores the idea of the letter forms as “sculptural” weight and mass through the manipulation of its vernacular aesthetic. The process of cutting and reconstructing its original form to produce abstracted lattice like patterned compositions envisages a kind of indigenous form of writing with an arts and craft semblance.

ALDRIN VALDEZ is a Pinoy painterpoet. They grew up in Manila and Long Island and currently live in Brooklyn. Aldrin studied at Pratt Institute and the School of Visual Arts. They have been awarded fellowships from Queer/Art/Mentorship and Poets House. Their work has been published in Art21 Magazine, ArtSlant, BRIC Blog, The Cortland Review, In the Flesh Magazine, Poetry Project’s The Recluse, and Uncompromising Tang.

IFY (IFEATUANYA) CHIEJINA is a visual artist born and raised in NYC. Ify is a black Nigerian-American female with thoughts, ideas, and truths that are reflective of Igbo customs and traditions. Ify graduated with a bachelor’s in philosophy from Queens College. Ify is a process-based artist that thinks conceptually. She creates portraits and figurative work by referencing photographs. She aims to recreate and use the person/s depicted in a photograph to signify empowerment, and show the importance of developing a healthy sense of self.

PJ GUBATINA POLICARPIO is a community arts engager: a socially engaged artist, curator, programmer, and educator. His multidisciplinary practice utilizes research, archive, collaboration, curatorial, education and public engagement as both art and tool. PJ’s expertise in museum education, curatorial and project management, artist relations, and programming has advanced a dynamic roster of artists, collaborators, and institutions such as Dixon Place, Cool Culture, Museum Hue, No Longer Empty, Brooklyn Museum, Queens Museum, Museum of the City of New York, and The Museum of Modern Art. Born in the Philippines and raised in San Francisco, PJ is currently based in Corona, Queens.