Summer 2025 M-TAC Gallery

Angel Burgess

I'm a 17-year-old mixed media US-based artist who is inspired by my interests, life experiences, and feelings that I try to convey into my artwork.

Elevator Pitch:

I'm a 17 year old mixed media semi-realistic artist influenced by 2000's slice of life movies, Joe Kubert's amazing shading work and Basquiat's wonderful coloring. My goal with my art is to reach and inspire people to feel any sort of emotion. I don't think I've reached that goal yet, but I keep trying everyday.

Annabelle Kumm is a Nebraska-based traditional artist. She enjoys the mediums of paper quilling, oil pastels, and charcoal. Annabelle is inspired by the world around her, and hopes to bring viewers wistful or nostalgic emotions. Her intention through art is to both interpret and be interpreted, even if only for a fleeting moment.

Elevator Pitch:

Hello there! I’m Annabelle Kumm and I’m an artist who works with paper quilling, oil pastels, charcoal, and pretty much any other medium I can get my hands on. Art has been a core part of my life for as long as I can remember, and there's nothing I love more than creating a whole new universe within a piece of paper. I am inspired by the world around me and the world within me. Through my art, I hope to make my viewers feel something almost nostalgic or wistful. My intention in life is to both interpret and be interpreted, even if only for a fleeting moment. 

Cecilia Ifezue

From the nation of Nigeria to the Garden State brings you a digital artist by the name of Cecilia Ifezue. Though she has only won a few awards in primary school, she has been active online for over 9 years posting her creations.
With the screen of her phone and the glide of her finger, she gives life to the images in her head. The expansive worlds of fantasy and science fiction are her primary focus, but she also makes nonfiction works. She aims to normalize people of color and LGBT in fiction where they typically aren’t seen however her main goal with her art is to simply see where her imagination takes her.

Elevator Pitch:

Hello. My name is Cecilia Ifezue. I make digital art using just my phone and the Adobe Sketchbook app. My art style is simplistic but anatomical, and uses no lines, relying on shapes and shading to communicate forms. Within the broad scope of fiction, the fantasy and science fiction genres my pieces center around either feature characters with a story to tell or exist to live in the moment of the drawing. The pieces explore emotions and sensuality through use of color and poses. My art allows me to showcase people of different lives and backgrounds in fictional worlds that they are otherwise not usually seen in. It also lets me explore relationships and experiences and break expectations for people of color and queer folk. In the near future, I’ll be working on a short comic in the genre of fabulism to explore a young boy's woes of living in a world of poverty and expectations and his dreams of having a life beyond that.

Cel Koch is a Queer, Thai/American, mixed media artist based in Las Vegas, currently enrolled in Les Gobelins International Preparatory Year for 2D Animation. Cel is fascinated by storytelling in all of its forms, and wants nothing more than to inspire human connection through art.

Elevator Pitch:

Hi, I’m Cel Koch, I’m a Queer Thai/America multi disciplinary artist that is focused on storytelling in all of its different forms, though I am most experienced in digital illustration and animation. My art is very inspired by philosophy, poetry, and history, but most importantly, it is inspired by human connection and the complexities that is life. I adore being able to show a snapshot of someone’s life even in seemingly mundane moments. I’m currently enrolled in Les Gobelins prepatory program and hope to pursue my bachelor’s in 2D animation there as well. You can find me on Instagram, Discord and Tumblr as FuriouslyClicking !

Luisa Rodriguez

My name is Luisa Rodriguez, but my artist name is Diamond Queen. I am a 15-year-old Latina artist based in the Seattle area. My art has been entered several times in the state fair and a couple small competitions. I started really getting into art during the beginning of the pandemic in 2022. It began as just a hobby but soon turned into more of a therapy and way of coping. I specialize in human bodies in the anime and manga style, mostly using charcoal, pencil and pen and slowly learning how to use color and expand my skills. I am looking forward to showing a variety of pieces at the MTAC Gallery in September 2025. The main piece of my collection is a painting of an angel with red wings with a black yet colorful background.

Elevator Pitch:

My name is Luisa Rodriguez, but my artist name is Diamond Queen. I am based in the Seattle area. The art that I create is more on the anime side of things. I specialize in human bodies and love learning the anatomy of characters. I prefer using a pencil and a simple piece of paper with no color but I am slowly trying to learn the skill of color. The main piece I am working on is a painting of an angel with red wings with a black yet colorful background.

Maya Jackson

Maya Jackson is a Texas-based visual artist that aims to share her art through galleries or media. As a teen, she has developed her artistic abilities through the years and continues to grow. The themes and images of Jackson’s work often depict the complex nature of human emotions. Maya has showcased art at the Founder’s Day art showcase and has recently joined the TeenTix Mentorship for Teen Artists of Color.

Elevator Pitch:

Hi, my name is Maya Jackson. I'm a visual artist that specializes in 2D colored pencil drawings. I use colored pencil because it possesses a softness that matches the imagination of the human mind. My art aims to share a message to the audience that they can relate to. Throughout life, humans aim to be understood, so I use those intense emotions that may be too hard to explain and channel them into art to connect society together. You can reach me through email: [email protected]

Ruvarashe Mutizwa

Ruvarashe Mutizwa is a passionate painter whose work captures the vibrancy and beauty of nature. Working primarily with acrylic, oil and marker. Ruva’s work showcases the unique colours and textures on canvas. Her art portrays realism mixed with creativity. She continues to grow her ability as an artist, drawing inspiration from nature and the environment around her.

Elevator Pitch:

My name is Ruvarashe Nicole Mutizwa, and I am a Shoreline-based artist. I do all types of art but mostly painting. I mix different colors randomly and try to make my paintings more accentuated. Painting is something I would consider as a full time job and gaining more knowledge about it is always helpful everyday, as I get to improve my art.

Tamara Desirée

Tamara Desirée is a 15 year old Middle Eastern/North African based in the PNW region. She is a multimedia artist that specializes in photography, writing, painting, and collaging – with aspirations of being a filmmaker. She started to take art more seriously during the pandemic, simply starting off with painting and sketching. In 2022, she developed her passion for writing – starting with short stories at first. 
In 2023, Tamara entered a poetry and comic competition. This competition took all the best poems and strips made by students in the Seattle Public School District and compiled them into a short collection entitled The Love Which Comes From Our Birth. Her poem “The Trees” was selected as a finalist and subsequently published. She has also had her physical works of art displayed in local art shows.
In the end of 2024 she started to develop her newest writing project "Dear Camille", a psychological thriller/mystery novel that she hopes to finish within the next year. Currently, she looks forward to the MTAC Art Gallery in September of 2025, where she will be submitting a multimedia piece that represents what it means to her to be an artist in Seattle; how she views the city, and how she pours her heart into her art.
Inspired by her fathers longtime passion for photography, she also recently started to take that medium seriously – eventually inspiring her to look more into cinematography. This led her to the goal of aspiring to a career in the film industry after graduation and college. Her biggest inspirations are Wes Anderson and his use of colour and symmetry in all of his films, and, strangely enough, Vincent Van Gogh. Not because he was a great painter and that is a medium she does work with, but because he was so dedicated to his work as an artist that he even cut off his ear. That dedication reflects in herself, as even with having physical limitations and ADHD, she still perseveres and continues despite the challenges. 

Elevator Pitch:

I am a 15 year old Middle Eastern/North African who specializes in writing and collaging, based in Seattle, Washington. I look forward to the MTAC Art Gallery in September of 2025, where I will be submitting a multimedia piece that represents what it means to me to be an artist in Seattle, how I view the city, and how I pour my heart into my art.

Vasundhara Vyas

Vasundhara Vyas is a 19-year-old fashion student studying in India, driven by a passion for exploration through creation. Her work often features abstract designs, paintings, and sketches that combine diverse media and concepts. Still in the developing stage, her art reflects a journey of creativity and exploration from multiple perspectives.

Elevator Pitch:
My art is a bold exploration of form, texture, and thought where fashion meets abstraction. Through layered media and evolving concepts, I capture the raw, unfiltered process of becoming, letting creativity lead the way.

Yuran He

Yuran He is a Chinese-American artist based in Seattle that specializes in oil painting. Her art was displayed in the Museum of Pop Culture from October 2024 to March 2025. She had a month-long solo art showcase in the Lynnwood Recreational Center and her animated short film was the opening film in the Youth Animation showcase during Bumbershoot 2024. She also helps run yearly school wide art markets at The Downtown School. She has an upcoming group exhibition at the A/NT Gallery with the Colorization Collective.
The original reason she did art was simply because it made her happy, but it has become the easiest way for her to express herself and explore her inner thoughts. 
“I always liked to doodle and took chalk pastel classes during elementary school. As I grew older, I expanded to colored pencil, digital art, and more. The awkward cultural dissonance that resulted from being a Chinese born American makes it difficult to reconcile certain values and express my honest opinions. In my process I iterate through many sketches before transferring it onto a canvas with charcoal. I then choose my lighting and photograph or find any references I need. Then it’s just a long process of using color to create the right vibe. Despite the struggle to create a work that satisfies me, art has helped me appreciate the beauty in everyday life and I have learned to transfer what I want to say directly without worrying about what makes a proper painting in other people’s eyes. Art has helped me personally cope with the divide between my two identities, and I have found that genuine art that relates to my struggles helps me work through my and I hope that my work can inspire other people to process their lives through art.”

Elevator Pitch:

Yuran He is a Chinese-American artist that specializes in oil painting. She takes inspiration from her heritage and the world around her to create paintings. She hopes to solidify her artistic voice and continue to express herself honestly through art. The works featured in the M-TAC Gallery are various technical works as well as expressions of her Chinese-American identity.

Zhenrui Gu

Zhenrui Gu is a passionate visual artist who has been honing her craft for over six years, developing a love for art from the age of five. Her work blends creativity and purpose, often reflecting her deep commitment to using art as a tool for healing. She is the founder of ArtMind, a nonprofit dedicated to enhancing the cognitive and emotional well-being of senior citizens through art classes and care packages. Zhenrui’s talent has been recognized through numerous awards and honors, including an honorable mention in the National Rifle Association’s National Art Contest, and second place in Arizona’s National Junior Duck Stamp Competition. Beyond her personal achievements, she remains dedicated to using her artistry to uplift others and inspire her community.

Elevator Pitch:

Hi, I’m Zhenrui, a teen artist passionate about using creativity to tell stories and spark emotion. For over six years, I’ve honed my skills through weekly art classes and projects, especially through my acrylic and oil paintings. My work focuses on blending realism and abstract elements to explore identity and human connection. I’m excited to keep growing and connect with others. You can reach me by number or email.

Ashley Catalan

"As her husband's cold fingertips caress her face, all she could think of is the green leaves from the tree branches of her childhood backyard. A sight she burned into her eyes as the leaves danced with the wind, whispering into her ears, calling her into the woods. She can taste the faint iron in her mouth, and the wind is starting to turn sharply into the west, pointing to the sun, where it hid behind the ocean and the sacred door that protected her people from the outside.

She sat criss-crossed on the grass, her rose-pink party dress getting wet from the recent sprinklers. Her thoughts and dreams were too big to fit into her nature journal, years' worth of sketches, trees, and plants, that could never be enough for what she needed..."

Read the rest of Prologue for Chrysalis HERE!

Ashley Catalan is a creative fictional narrative writer based in California. She specializes in the slice of life genre until recently, where she is taking a dip into Science Fiction. She's published some of her journalism work through her college's newspaper and magazines. And while she's experienced in many different genres of writing, she's determined to include the many different aspects that make each one of us human and what fires our passion.

Elevator Pitch:

Margaret has only ever known what’s inside the dome, closed off from what was killed outside. While her mind wanders to what is outside, she has better things to do, liking being a mother to her kids and a wife to her husband. But something in her is wrong; she can’t look at them in love, only with impatience. Something is calling out to her, yet she refuses to follow, until she’s pushed outside. Now forced outside to survive in everything that is dead, only to hope that she isn’t dead herself.

Callista Domingo

"Asteroids entered the sky, a second sun blooming above us. Holy in the way clouds split

to make room. The air before heat smelled of crushed coral, lightning tearing the ozone

quiet. Trees leaned towards the noise. Leaves trembling open-mouthed, drinking

what remained of clean wind. Ash fell in elegant spirals, landing on the backs of beetles..."

Read the rest of Callista's poems HERE!

Callista Domingo is a Filipino-American poet and editor from Long Island, New York. Rooted in the emotional weight of the past and a deep sense of childhood, her work explores memory, cultural inheritance, and the stories we carry across generations in her pursuit to understand how we become who we are. She often reimagines Filipino folklore in her poetry to reflect on themes of belonging and transformation. Callista serves as a Senior Editor at Polyphony Lit and has been nationally recognized by the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards.

Elevator Pitch:

My poetry explores the mundane moments of everyday life through a lyrical lens. I often draw from Filipino folklore, reimagining ancestral stories to reflect contemporary questions of belonging and transformation. These stories allow me to bridge ancestral knowledge with the present, creating space for voices and histories that are often overlooked. 

My work leans into the tension between what is spoken and what is felt, focusing on small moments that reveal larger truths. It lives in the in-between born from the stories told under the hum of an electric fan. At its core, my poetry is driven by an interest in how language can carry both personal and collective memory.

Through legends like the Bakunawa and Maria Makiling, I began to understand how humans make sense of chaos and identity through storytelling. Like folklore, I want my poems to linger in ambiguity, where the moon does not always return and the monster is perhaps just a woman who wanted too much. My work seeks to reclaim and reshape narratives to dwell in uncertainty, where language cannot fully define everything inviting readers to sit with strangeness and question the truths they have been taught to believe.

Jyotsna Nagarapu

"dog-bare supplication scratched on the underside of my knee / my aponeuroses
tender twin my waterline / rivers stretching into my march / my vertebrae
forever twitching and cracking cervically yet
not to bloom
/ my metamorphosis implodes subject to my perpetuity and yet my trailing,
steadfast / my tongue raw panting dripping, my begging like a dog..."

Read the rest of Jyotsna's poems HERE!

Jyotsna Nagarapu is a writer studying science at the University of North Texas. She has been published in Fifth Wheel Press and Hot Dish Magazine. In her free time, she enjoys listening to Mitski, baking, and drinking caramel macchiatos from the student union.

Elevator Pitch:

Hi, I’m Jyotsna Nagarapu, a poet who explores cultural identity, romance, and belonging through lyrical imagery in free verse. My work has been recognized by Scholastic Art & Writing and the Live Poets Society and published in Fifth Wheel Press, and I’m passionate about using writing to connect personal experience with pertinent social conversations. Right now, I’m working on creating more pieces which weave neuroscientific concepts with real life events into a cohesive theme.

Kamaria Williams

"Well, it's official. The future is boring, sci-fi writers were hacks, and I'm gonna spend the rest of my life in Ye Olden Future.

I push through the revolving door leading into the public library and try my best to come to terms with my life choices. Life choices that have not only extinguished any excitement I felt for being in the future, but have effectively left me with no friends, home, or resources…hence why I’m in the library of all places..."

Read the rest of Kamaria's work HERE!

Kamaria Williams (she/her) is an Oakland-born, creative writer, journalist, and editor. She absolutely adores fiction and if you ever read any of her work, chances are the plots will involve fantasy, superheroes, and the supernatural (with a small chance of slice-of-life!). In the past, she’s been a part of writing programs such as the Kenyon Review Young Writers Workshop, LMU Pre-College for Beginning Screenwriting, and The School Of The New York Times. When she’s not editing or working on stories, you can find her lying in bed with her headphones on, lost in whatever she’s listening to.

Elevator Pitch:

Hi! My name is Kamaria (kuh-mar-ee-uh) Williams and I’m a multidisciplinary writer who specializes in screenwriting, fiction, and journalism. While much of my work focuses on my hyperfixations and anxieties, they typically tend to be less grounded in the real world in favor of elements I find interesting (hence why one of my current WIP’s explores the consequences of parentification through the lens of a supervillain). Honestly, fiction is one of the best mediums to start a conversation because when we’re in fantastical worlds, the relatable and mundane tend to stick out much more amidst dragons, demons, and superheroes. In this way, I get to have my cake and eat it to: confront the scarier aspects of reality while having the comfort of the extraordinary to enjoy (and even aspire too).

Madison McWilliams

Madison McWilliams is a New York City based actress and singer-songwriter. Through her music and performances, McWilliams creates art that resonates deeply with audiences, offering a raw and honest portrayal of human experiences. Through her work she also aims to tell the stories of people who may not be able to express themselves and use her voice and platform to inspire people to not only love art but find their own voice. Through the NYLA and IPOP programs McWilliams studied under Robert Vito and Connor Weil. She has also acted in Abrons Art center community theater for 5 years while also participating in her school theater program performing in a mix of Musicals and Plays. McWilliams also was in the movie, IF by John Krasinski and the upcoming tv show, Recess. Look out for McWilliams’ most recent project where she collaborated with singer Avery Claire Hallmark in the writing of her upcoming singles.

Elevator Pitch:

Hi, my name is Madison McWilliams. I’m an Afro-Latina artist, and I have been singing and acting since I was a kid. I sing everything from pop to rock to musical theater, and I also songwrite. My acting is more on the dramatic side and I have performed in plays, musicals, TV shows and movies. Performing has been the thing that brings me the most peace and joy throughout my entire life. My songs are influenced by artists like Adele and Stevie Nicks and my acting is influenced by Eva Noblezada and Rachel Zegler. I love to express and depict raw emotion during my pieces which allows me to connect with the character and the audience on a deeper level. I am currently working on a short that tells the stories of people who are genuinely hurting. You can find me on instagram at @madison.a.mcwilliams, and I have a Backstage profile where you can check out all of my information. I hope you would like to keep in touch with me and I look forward to hearing from you. 

Olivia James is a talented 14-year-old singer, songwriter, and performer from Tacoma, Washington. As a rising sophomore at the School of the Arts, she’s passionate about vocal acrobatics, movement, and acting. With a love for diverse genres like funk, rock, alternative, and jazz, Olivia is drawn to sounds that you can feel in your soul and primarily composes and performs through the sounds of the bass guitar and saxophone. She is excited to have honed her skills through mentorships with professional performers like Paris Alexa, Jeanie Baby, and U.J. Mangune and with programs like STG's Dance Lab and Songwriter Lab. Her impressive talent has been recognized at the 2024 Seattle Kobe Vocal Jazz Competition, where she earned the Honorable Mention. Find her work on Instagram @therealoliviajames. 

Elevator Pitch:

Hi! I’m Olivia James — a singer, dancer, and performer with over 10 years of experience. While I’m trained in all styles of dance, singing is where I truly feel at home. My voice is versatile, and I love exploring different genres — from smooth R&B and classic soul to indie rock and jazz. I’m drawn to music that has depth and emotion, and I aim to bring both technical skill and raw feeling to every performance. Some of my biggest influences are Steve Lacy, Earth, Wind & Fire, Res, Sol, and Jennifer Lawrence — artists who fuse unique style with soul. Their boldness inspires me to keep evolving as a vocalist and songwriter. Right now, I’m performing in a 60s throwback show, singing “What the World Needs Now” and ending the set with a powerful solo. I’m also writing an original song called “Low” with friends. Let’s connect on Instagram, Gmail, or phone!

Samrah Azam

Listen to The Lone Dancer HERE!

Samrah Azam is a multifaceted Pakistani-American artist based in Greenville, NC who specializes in music. She has been singing for as long as she can remember and has been playing guitar for several years. She often draws on her own emotional and life experiences about growing up as a woman of color in America and the struggles that come with it to write her songs, hoping that her work serves as a source of comfort for those who have experienced the same. She’s largely influenced by the music she listened to growing up, such as Hole, Bon Jovi, and even Evanescence. Samrah has performed at the Eastern NC All-County Chorus and at the Greenville Youth Arts festival with her high school choir. She has performed a variety of nazms at her mosque for different events throughout the years and she has also performed at art markets to raise money for humanitarian aid.

Elevator Pitch:

Hey, I’m Samrah Azam! I’m a multifaceted artist who focuses mainly on music — mostly singing and guitar. I’ve done choral performances at my mosque for as long as I can remember and at school and I’ve been playing guitar for several years now. My passion and love for music has truly defined me as a person throughout my life. I’ve mainly been influenced by the music I’ve listened to growing up from my parents, from Courtney Love to Bon Jovi and even Amy Lee. There is a special emotional power that music has on the heart and soul and I’m hoping to emulate that same effect with my audience. I’ve been brainstorming and working on some new ideas for a new song that will reflect who I am as a person and as an artist. You can check me out on Instagram at @sam.zam_ or you can contact me through email at [email protected]. I would love to keep in touch with you and I hope to hear from you! Thank you!