​ I am a conceptual and figurative artist creating mixed media sculptures. My work draws from both nature and myth, blending together the natural history of the subject with its folkloric origins. My earliest study and work as an artist were as an illustrator, and my sculptures work as an illustrative representation of form and movement. As I work with a variety of materials and mediums, it is the subject itself that determines the medium in which it will be depicted. In creating the sculpture the challenge then becomes translating the illustration into a three-dimensional object that still maintains a sense of weightless fluidity within a static form.

Nicholas Franklin is a self-taught abstract artist based in Kansas City, Missouri, known for his vibrant, fluid compositions that explore the balance between chaos and control. Inspired by the city’s rich cultural landscape, Franklin turned to fluid art during the pandemic as a form of healing and self-discovery. This practice evolved into a powerful means of expression, allowing him to capture energy, emotion, and depth through his dynamic use of color and movement.

Working primarily with fluid acrylics, Franklin creates pieces that embody both spontaneity and purpose, inviting viewers to experience the rhythm and emotion within each layer. Through The Perfect Piece Studios, he continues to expand the language of abstract art, crafting works that reflect resilience, transformation, and the universal power of self-expression.

Hello! I'm a professional photographer based in the heart of Kansas City, MO. I have dedicated my career to capturing the magical moments of one of life's most beautiful days - weddings. With a keen eye for detail, an artistic touch, and a passion for capturing authentic emotions, I strive to make your special day a visual story that can be cherished forever. I believe in capturing love in its purest form, making each photograph a unique piece of art that reflects your love story. I consider it a privilege to be a part of your special day and to be the one to preserve your precious memories. I can't wait to meet you and help make your wedding day as magical as your love story.My first big start in photography was capturing weddings. From my first wedding, I fell in love with the excitement, the emotions, the venues, and the decor. For me, the most important part is the vows that two people make to each other on their wedding day. They vow to join together as one and spend the rest of their lives together. I am truly lucky to be able to capture images of a couple on their amazing and unforgettable wedding day.

Chase Hunter has come a long way from the gravel roads of Vanndale Arkansas and is now a Kansas City based multidisciplinary artist with a passion for painting large public murals. His passion for painting murals came to light when he got lost on a long walk and found himself through the realization "painting is my contribution to the greater good of society." He has never looked back since. His work can be seen all the way from Las Vegas to Puerto Rico. His art has featured in a Vice documentary as well as a PBS special. He obtained his Bachelor's Degree of Fine Art, with a concentration in drawing and painting, from Memphis College of Art in 2015.

​Dawn is a goofy, happy-go-lucky Asian American woman who radiates positive energy. Many people find her friendly and endearing wherever she goes. Regardless though, looks can be deceiving. When it comes to her art, she is attracted to stories that are emotional and heartfelt. These stories aren’t something to be taken lightly either. Making things that are rather introspective in nature, she can be a heavy hitter with those emotions. It is to the point that you wouldn’t even know that someone with an infectious, bubbly laugh like hers can bring forth the dark and depressing very well. 

Combined with her versatile nature, she can connect to anyone with her stories in many different forms. That is why she likes to make what she does. She is drawn to human connection and being a comforting presence to the brokenhearted. So, she wants people to feel and experience an emotional release, a reminder of delicate but beautiful humanity in a visual form. The reason why is she hopes the content she makes helps others with their life journey.  

For nobody wants to go through things alone, and she is more than happy to be a needed friend for those who need it.​ 

   In hard times, I find comfort in learning how to slow down and gather joy from simple things that happen in the moment.  At the same time I have a fascination with what crumbles and what remains with the passage of time.  One thing that inspires me to pick up a camera is the transitory nature of everything, which is especially obvious living in a town with seasons.  Butterflies, flowers, fall leaves, the snowfall before it melts… the moments passed between people when they connect, captured in a body position or a look.  As a child I was often looking toward the destination and failed to notice the path beneath my feet. Older now, my camera helps me slow down enough to notice more of the world around me, to respect the journey.  I hope that my work invites viewers to walk a little slower, or pause for a moment and just notice something, anything that you would have missed while rushing quickly through life. 

My paintings are about connections (or lack thereof) between people and the world. I paint the psychological space between people and the space between words. The push and pull of the paint that causes the background to encroach upon the figures and take away pieces of them, or that causes the figure to dissolve and scatter into the environment describes the figures’ psychological state.

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Connections, people, and how people interact with their social environments are fascinating subjects to me, partially because of my somewhat nomadic childhood – I moved almost once a year, and was constantly having to adjust to new schools, people, and environments. So, I started studying them and how they interacted with one another, and with me.

I can’t not make art – it is just something I have to do to describe how I see the world and to reflect what is going through my head. For me, painting is more expressive and easier than words.

My art is how I connect with people and the world. I hope you enjoy my work, and I hope that it has connected with you.

Darryl Alexander Hines is a multidisciplinary artist whose practice explores the intersectionality
of land and identity. His interest in social justice, presented in a visual context, stems from his
years as a civil rights attorney, as he connects personal familial history to narrate stories about
displaced people and the racial implications of a history that exploited them.
His recent works pivot from traditional painting to using textile to figuratively narrate family and
ancestral stories.

Bio
MFA, 2022, Maryland Institute College of Art, Mount Royal Multidisciplinary program.
Exhibitions: Pepco Edison Gallery, The Lona Gallery, MICA Grad Exhibition. Collections:
Masoud Besharat, Besharat Art Gallery, Awards: Fellow, The Space for Black Creative
Imagination, Bunting Scholarship for academic excellence. Wassaic Project, Artist in Residence,
Summer 2025, Ragdale Artist Residency, Artist in Residence, Fall 2025

After ten years as a production illustrator who hand painted signs and

murals for a grocery store, I left to reimagine creative processes outside the

context of corporate structure. My professional practice now reacquaints

myself with permission to generate inquiry rather than sell something.

As an avid daydreamer, my work examines the boundary between

memory, fantasy, and reality. I’ve been described as a “playful” creator, but we

all learn early in life that play is the only way to grow. I want to reconcile

fantasy with everyday. I want to remind adults that we’re in charge of allowing

ourselves surprise and delight.

Recent works include interactive installations, a collaborative mural

project, and large scale multimedia photographs. The pulse of an art

community isn’t siloed in its existence. For this reason, my creative practice

also focuses on social impact through youth art programming and

community projects.

Tj Templeton is an interdisciplinary artist and Kansas City native. His work has been collected for over 30 years nationwide and been featured in such outlets as The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, ArtMove Magazine, KC Studio Magazine, and the Martin Scorsese screening room at the Tribeca Film festival. He is currently the Gallery Director at the Bunker Center for the Arts, where he maintains his studio and curates the gallery’s inventory of over 20 local, regional, and international artists.