East Bay Open Studios at ARTogether

June 1, 2, 8, 9 | 11 AM – 5 PM | Free
@ ARTogether Center, 1200 Harrison St., Oakland

ARTogether is pleased to welcome artists Brittany Maxon, Najee Strickland, and Kenneth Wilan for East Bay Open Studios! Please come on through during the first two weekends of June as these three incredible artists showcase their work and share about their art practices at our Center. 

These events are part of the annual East Bay Open Studios, a free and family-friendly, self- guided tour of over 150 artists’ studios and exhibition spaces throughout the East Bay. Discover art where it happens: in unexpected places, at an art gallery, at an artist open studio, or live mural painting. EBOS artists are painters, sculptors, ceramicists, glass and metal workers, jewelry makers and multimedia artists. Art events happening daily! 

Featured Artists at ARTogether

Brittany Maxson (@imagesby.bjeane) is a Queer photographer whose lens serves as a tool for storytelling, empowerment, and resistance.

“Through my work, I strive to illuminate the nuances of Queer identity, exploring the intersections of race, gender, sexuality, and culture. Drawing inspiration from my own lived experiences as well as the diverse narratives within the Black and LGBTQ+ communities, I seek to challenge stereotypes, disrupt norms, and celebrate the beauty of authenticity. Each photograph is a testament to the resilience, vibrancy, and complexity of Queer existence. Through portraiture, I endeavor to create a visual archive that reflects the diversity and richness of our lived realities. Ultimately, my aim is to create a legacy of imagery that affirms the beauty, resilience, and diversity of Queer lives. I hope to inspire future generations to embrace their truths, stand in their power, and continue the ongoing struggle for liberation and equality.”

Najee Strickland (@najeestrickland) is a multidisciplinary artist based in California, born and raised in Memphis, TN. Visual art and clothing design are Najee’s primary practices, also used as dominant instruments for expanding into various formats such as interdisciplinary events like cinema and fashion presentations, art installations, group workshops, lectures and creative directory. In his work he investigates the relationship between personal experiences, feelings, colour theory, geometry, anatomy, anthropology, afrofuturism, history, unconscious thoughts, interpretations, and reality.

Najee’s work focuses on integral relationships that bring the focus back to building the collective community.

Kenneth Wilan is based in Berkeley, California. Wilan’s styles include modern, pop, expressionism, figurative and abstract. He works with ink, acrylic, oil, digital and mixed media. Wilan’s paintings are available as digital prints (numbered and artist signed), canvases, and NFTs. Wilan has lived in New England, San Francisco, Basel Switzerland and New York City.

His formal education includes Kala Art Institute, Berkeley, California; Hunter College, New York City; University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia; and the Visual Arts Center of New Jersey.