Born in 1978 in Lampang, Thailand, Kitikong Tilokwattanotai is a contemporary painter and printmaker. He earned a degree in printmaking from Chiang Mai University before moving to Sydney where he completed a master's degree in Art & Design at the University of New South Wales in 2003. Upon returning to Chiang Mai in 2004, he taught engraving techniques at Rajamangala University. Kitikong's abstract work is centered around capturing and preserving his emotions. His recent series uses a technique of successive brushstrokes to create varying thicknesses of colored layers. The transparency and crystallinity of the lacquer layers he applies preserve these layers, inviting contemplation. In 2014, Kitikong founded Art on Paper studio in Chiang Mai, a residency and exhibition space that unites Thai and international artists, focusing on monoprint and engraving techniques. His work is included in the collections of the University of New South Wales, Chiang Mai University, Australia National University and the Wagga Wagga Art Glass Museum.
Born in 1981 in Diébougou, Burkina Faso, Hyacinthe Ouattara is a self-taught plastic artist. After several experiences in workshops, he trained in drawing. He began to represent the human body in a dreamlike, ghostly and childlike way, before focusing his work on the anatomy of cellular tissues through « human maps ». Material, texture and colours are of great importance in his work. His way of painting is predominantly spontaneous and gestural, while his installations often play with the theme of the suspension between balance and imbalance. His twisted textile sculptures-inspired by organic forms-allow him to reflect on the concept of memory, whilst questioning the ambivalences between appearance and disappearance, and intimacy and identity. His works have been successfully exhibited worldwide, including at the 2022 Dakar Biennale (Senegal), the 2022 Kinshasa Biennale (Congo), and the upcoming Havana Biennale (Cuba).
Joana Choumali, born in 1974, is an Ivorian visual artist and photographer known for her conceptual portraiture, mixed media, and documentary photography. She studied graphic arts in Casablanca and transitioned from advertising to photography. Much of her work focuses on Africa, and what she learns about the innumerable cultures around her. Her work allows her to explore the assumptions she has and nurtured her world views. In her latest works, Joana embroiders directly on the images completing the act of creating the photograph image with the slow and meditative gesture. Notable accolades include the 2014 Cap Prize, the 2019 Prix Pictet, and the 2020 Robert Gardner Fellowship at Harvard. Her work has been widely exhibited and is part of prestigious collections such as the MET in New York, the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, and the High Museum in Atlanta.
Canadian artist now based in Los Angeles, Andy Dixon (b. 1979) is distinguished by his unique blend of classical art and contemporary aesthetics. Drawing on his background as a punk and experimental electronic musician, Dixon brings a distinctive sensibility to his work, reimagining Renaissance and Baroque themes through a playful, modern lens. His practice often involves sampling historical motifs—such as cherubs and memento mori—and transforming them into vivid, surreal compositions. Dixon’s art delves into the psychology of value by exploring how these recurring historical elements interact with contemporary notions of luxury and cultural significance. By integrating opulent, candy-colored elements with traditional styles, Dixon offers a nuanced commentary on the intersection of art and economic value, inviting viewers to reconsider the role of art in today’s market. His work is included in the collections of the Crystal Bridges Museum, LAM Museum, West Collection, and X Museum.