Alexa and Edreys Wajed, the founders of Eat Off Art, are dynamic artists, creative change agents, and activists in their own right. As shining stars, their presence has been impressed upon settings such as UB’s Distinguished Speaker Series, or on the panels of Buffalo’s most iconic public art projects including the Freedom Wall and The Pride in Place Buffalo Initiative.

Jillian Hanesworth is the first ever Poet Laureate of Buffalo, New York, a community organizer, recording artist, and activist. She was born and raised on the east side of Buffalo where she developed a vision to use art and advocacy to help her community reimagine justice and work together to create a system where all people can thrive.

Laura Chenault is an interdisciplinary artist creating art from a feminist and a post-modernist perspective. She believes concept and content must work hand-in-hand with presentation and display. She has a BFA in photography from the University of Illinois. The disciplines she works in are photography, collage, book arts, installation art, performance, printmaking, and filmmaking. In 2024 she received an NYSCA community regrant from Art Services, Inc. for her landscape series Isolation Falls. In addition to making art, she is passionate about building communities, sharing skills, mentoring, and teaching.

Hip Hop artist and lyricist, Y.N.X.716 is a classic throwback artist, who brings a refreshing style of provoking lyricism and effortless flow to his art. The feelings of nostalgia are all enjoyably familiar as the artist’s distinct musical vibe leaves listeners far and wide loving his music. From Buffalo New York, the artist has been creating music for the best part of fifteen years, perfecting his signature style in addition to collaborating with some highly reputable underground artists such as Eto, Daniel Son, Kool G Rap and Conway The Machine from Griselda Records.

Muhammad Zaman is an Urban Artist based in Buffalo, NY. His style, which belongs to the Calligraffiti movement, is one of the most contemporary interpretations of Hurufiyya art.

The mix of languages ​​that the artist uses includes English, Bengali and Arab, but the further artistic elaboration of the composition involves the juxtaposition of different layers of color and words that will make the work illegible. The more the audience finds it difficult to read the words contained, the more they will try to understand their meaning, and this interaction between the work and its audience is what most amazed those who follow the path of this young artist.

Marquis “Ten Thousand” Burton is a poet, visual artist, writer, and educator. He has partnered with Shea’s Performing Arts and countless other non-profit and educational institutions to teach young adults and children to not only discover their voices but also the power within to use them for over a decade. He has coached the Buffalo poetry teams at the National Poetry Slams to Top 10 finishers in two out of four years. Burton has also held the position of curator of poetry talent for the Music Is Art Festival for the past several years. Since 2016, he has partnered with artist Tara Sasiadek to create visual art installations for events such as Play/Ground and partnered with Naila Ansari to create immersive interactive dance and poetry experiences that explore joy in play, resistance, community, and self.

Rashaad Holley is a Fashion Designer and Educator from Buffalo, NY. Upon completing his management degree at the University at Buffalo in 2016, he enrolled in Buffalo State’s Fashion & Textile Technology program. Throughout his journey obtaining his own educational accreditation, he began developing programming for the youth of Buffalo that focused on creative exercises and eventually sewing skills.

Bethany Krull is a Buffalo, NY based sculptor working primarily in clay for over twenty years. Her practice is expansive and has led to explorations in many other materials that make their way into the work which is rooted in love of nature and the fears and desires around the ways in which our species impacts the environment and other creatures. She loves to teach in both community and academic settings, maintains an active studio, and exhibits her work both nationally and internationally.

Roderick Garr, known as Rod, began in entertainment with Buffalo’s St. Phillips Boys & Young Men’s Choir. Discovered for acting at an Ed Smith workshop, he studied Drama at Howard University and minor in Broadcast Production. His career includes roles in “Good To Go,” “The Cosby Show,” “Drop Squad,” “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine,” and “Gridlock” with 2Pac. Rod founded Imani Productions, producing films and commercials, and supports indie filmmakers through the Black Hollywood Education & Resource Center’s “First Weekend Club.”

Tiffani R. Moore is the Founder and Owner of Moore Well-Beings (formerly A Bitt Moore Wellness) in addition to Intuitive Healer & Coach. Attuned Reiki Practioner, 300Hour certified Yin and 26+2 (Bikram) yoga instructor, BreathWork, and MNDFL certified Meditation Facilitator. Before making her mark in the world of wellness, Tiffani spent 15+ years building an award-winning career as a Creative Consultant and Wardrobe Stylist.