Profiles

Get to know Kim Curtis, the artist behind Boneyard's 2022 signature image. 

Colorful apocalypse meets quiet form in Steven Hudson’s exhibit, Better Angels.

For Ashanti Files, poetry is a call to action, a medication for ailments, and an essential form of expression.

Get to know illustrator and designer Justin Klett, who also happens to be the new president of the Champaign Urbana Design Organization.  

“I find sharing my poetry is a political move, says trans, nonbinary poet River Andres. “I am writing myself into history “

After visitng the Literary, Kathleen says “sometimes you wanna go where everybody knows your books.” 

According to co-owner Katye Newhouse, Prism Studios seeks to dismantle the idea that “art only looks a certain way and that if you can’t achieve that narrow definition then you are just bad at art.”

In the Dreaming with Johnny universe, artist Sophie McMahan strives to “keep a balance between beauty and the grotesque.”

Ashanti Files discusses her experiences thus far as Urbana's Poet Laureate, including what she has learned in the position, and what is still to come for the remainder of her year-long term. Trigger warnings: please note that this article contains mentions of mental health concerns including body image, depression and suicide.