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We are so grateful for the continued support of the generous artists who have made Art for Change 2023 possible by donating their creative works. For 36 years these artists, and many many more, have supported the Persad Center’s commitment to the Behavioral Health of the LGBTQ+ community and we thank them.

ARTISTS 2023

Below you’ll find details about their work and where to find them online. 

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Alexander

Photographer

Alexander is an emerging artist living in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania. His medium of expression is photography. As an artist, he goes by the mononym Alexander...

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Carl Banjadas

Artist

OtherWondersMFG is a design studio with a focus on sustainability. Owner Carl Bajandas offers custom design and fabrication of products, including unique railings and fixtures. Applying handcrafted ....

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John James Bond

Artist

John is a Pittsburgh native, he still lives and works in the area, he has been creating art for more than four decades.

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Jill A. Brownley

Artist

JILL A. BROWNLEY | Art + Design
Jill Brownley is a visual artist and graphic design who has been creating abstract paintings and mixed media artwork for more than 20 years.

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Jenna Colby

Artist

come stare
at the walls
and we will
tell you stories

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Hanna Dausch

Artist

My grandfather was a woodworker, my grandmother a painter, my mother a gardener, and my father a refinisher. Growing up I was surrounded by craftsmanship - precise lines, smooth curves, and distinct details shaped by skilled hands. It wasn’t until I moved away from home that I came to realize how much these details brought comfort and warmth to my childhood memories.

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June Edwards

Artist

June Edwards holds an MFA in Painting from Brooklyn College and a BS in Art Education from Mansfield University. She began teaching in the Art Department at Slippery Rock University in 2002, and is now Professor Emerita.

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Clint Fisher

Artist

Clint Fisher is a multi disciplinary artist born in the back woods of Southern West Virginia and currently residing in Pittsburgh. A graduate of West Virginia University with a focus on studio art and art history his works embrace themes voyeurism, sexuality and individual observation.

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Danielle Gensler

Artist & Designer

Danielle Gensler (she, her) is a Pittsburgh born and based professional abstract artist. She hopes that her bright, colorful art evokes good feelings in all who view it.

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Peggi Habets

Artist

Peggi Habets lives and works as an artist in her hometown of Pittsburgh, Pa. Her deep love for the fluidity and spontaneity of watercolor have led her to paint and teach in the medium for over 15 years.

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Gary Jurysta

Artist

Gary Jurysta graduated from Butler Area High School in 1955. After serving four years in the US Navy, he earned a degree in Art Education from Edinboro State University, an M.Ed in Art at the University of Pittsburgh...

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Timothy Krikston

Photographer

Miami - School of Arts Photography major 1982 Rich Studios , Miami Fla 1982-84 PCA Internationsl - Photographer 1985 - 1988 Free lance Events photographer 1989 - present Gallery shows Pittsburgh Pa 1995 Eureka, Ca 2020

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Chaz Letzkus

Artist

Chaz is often asked how he got into this style of art. While searching for a job after graduating college, he did a lot of drawing to pass the time. Chaz was working on a gazelle drawing and the ears reminded him of a bird's wings so he drew a bird swooping down and he made the eye a fish. He added a lot of other animals and some people in the body of the gazelle. And thus Chazmania was born in 1973.
There were a lot of early influences that contributed to this hidden image style. Chaz is a puzzl....

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Karie Luidens

Artist

Karie Luidens is a writer and artist who studied painting as a Distinguished Artist Award scholarship recipient. After earning her MA in English literature and working as a freelance journalist,..

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J.T.Maxxx

Artist

Just a nerdy guy who likes to draw nude guys.

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Brogan McGowan

Artist

Brogan G. McGowan, he/they, is Founder and Principal Artist of Notes From Brogan, a letter-writing campaign that works to organize stakeholders, people, and community allies who are invested in securing safe and affirming housing, healthcare and employment experiences for LGBTQIA people in southwestern PA.

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John Mowder

Artist

Pittsburgh painter and sculptor of 50 years. Participated in the first Art for Aids at the Mendleson Gallery on Moorewood and several later years.

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Andre Pace

Artist

The task a retrospective reinforced by the verbal remains of the image identifying these elements they are seen afresh with expanded expressions of color and patterns its not gender nor identity the complicated issues still matters leaving visible traces of contemporary art and Mix media design works ...

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Richard W Pian

Artist

Richard graduated from Ivy School of Art in 1970. He has exhibited his work at shows in San Francisco, Luca Italy, Three Rivers Arts Festival, group shows through out Pittsburgh and several one man shows at Box Heart Gallery.

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Lynn Ratkovich

Artist

Lynn Ratkovich, a multimedia artist and art educator from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania enjoys experimenting with different media as well as working in layers using paint and collage techniques....

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Scott Roller

Photographer

Scott Roller is a Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania-based photographer, writer, designer, and media professional. Raised in...

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Chuck Sawyer

Artist

My name is Chuck Sawyer and my passion is creating works of art on my lathe.
Using crotches, burls, root segments and other pieces with exotic grain character, I sculpt hollowed wood forms from indigenous species.

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Yoko Sekino-Bove

Artist

Yoko Sekino-Bové (she/her) grew up in Tokyo, Japan. After working as a graphic designer in Tokyo and Los Angeles, she received an MFA in Ceramics from the University of Oklahoma. Yoko works from her home studio in Washington,...

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Nina Sowiski

Photographer

Nina, a Pittsburgh native from a family of artists, became interested in photography after she retired. She is a member of the Pittsburgh Society of Artists,...

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Mary Culbertson Stark

Artist

Known in the Pittsburgh region for her compelling images ad- dressing life from the female perspective; Mary Culbertson-Stark has been creating visual narratives for almost four decades....

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Zachariah Szabo

Artist

Zachariah Szabo (b. 1989, Richfield, OH) is an artist currently based in Pittsburgh, PA. A native of the midwest and a former competitive figure skater and dancer, his work explores personal identity, loss, reference and subculture through photography, video and mixed media. His work has been collected privately across the US and Europe.

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Emmanuelle Wambach

Artist

Inspired by her mother’s love of flowers and gardening, artist Emmanuelle Wambach combines texturing, carving, glazing, and under-glazing techniques to create her distinctive slab-built pieces. Emmanuelle Ceramics ...

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Emerson Äniceto

Photographer

Emerson Aniceto Productions is a Brazil - Brasília and USA - Pittsburgh,PA Digital Design Studio offering to his clients photography

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Pati Beachley

Artist

Pati Beachley is a Pittsburgh-based, non-binary sculptor. Her work mixes masculine and feminine attributes forcing a dialogue into gendered text and imagery—she adds a queer narrative by casting carpet and fibrous materials. As owner and designer of Tenderwerks, her Pittsburgh-based studio and foundry, Pati creates pieces celebrating the pleasure of everyday, useful objects that transcend the ordinary.

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Jim Bove

Artist

Jim Bové is a practicing artist and educator living just outside of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He is a Professor at Penn West University and served as a board member of the Society of North American Goldsmiths (SNAG) and Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts....

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Cynthia Cable

Artist

Cynthia Cable studied at Parsons School of Design and received a BFA from Syracuse University. She continued her education with Robert Heinecken and Arthur Siegel at Harvard University and later with Nathan Lyons at the Visual Studies Workshop in Rochester New York.

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Heather Connolly

Artist

Heather Connolly is Co-Founder and product designer at Stak Ceramics LLC.
Heather explores the ceramic meduim as "paint" through porcelain and ceramic glaze materials to create decorative wall hangings.

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Jean Davis

Artist

I began creating art 15 years ago. Oil painting, acrylic painting & woodcut printmaking are the mediums I use most often. Working with various styles and subjects are essential and intriguing in my art journey.

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Stephan P Elko

Photographer

Worked in art 40 years, Photographer/artist teacher

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Ashley Garner

Artist

Ash Garner - THECOLORG (b. 1991 Martinsburg, PA) is a millennial feminine queer interdisciplinary artist based in Philadelphia, PA. She holds an MFA from the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts and a BFA from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania.

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Myles Geyman

Artist

Myles Geyman is Co-Founder and Lead Product Designer of Stak Ceramics, located in Pittsburgh, PA. He is also a Senior Sales Engineer, designing passive access and fall protection products for aviation, space, and industrial applications.
His artwork explores light, shadow, material and form. While working primarily in ceramic materials, he also illustrates, paints and photographs his work in an effort to further understand the details that create an emotional connection to the object.

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Wayne Hollowell

Artist

DC based pop artist whose work explores the camp and tragedy of old Hollywood and American true crime

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Bruce Klein

Photographer

Photographer and Photo Historian.

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M.LAGIRDAM

Artist

MLAGIRDAM is a self-taught, Los Angeles-based artist that works with mixed-media. MLAGIRDAM has created art for award-winning Mexican singer, Luis Miguel and fashion icon and Grammy-winning artist, Jody Watley.

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Ignacio Lopez

Artist

Ignacio Lopez graduated with a BFA in Studio Arts/Creative Writing and a Certificate in Professional Writing from University of Pittsburgh in 2016.

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Deanna Mance

Artist

Deanna Mance is an abstract artist whose work references the transmutation of death and rebirth, introspection of personal and ancestral history, and her relationship to spirituality and ritual.

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Cliff Mayfield

Photographer

Just enjoy outdoors and make photos during my expeditions and travels.

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Mark Mentzer

Artist

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Mrjonart

Artist

A Tom of Finland inspired gay man that's enamored by the male form, Mr. Jon expresses this passion through watercolor on art board. Men of every shape, size, and color along with the kinks/fetishes that they indulge in are memorialized in their true raw and beautiful nature. Other mediums are used from time to time, such as colored pencil or oils, but my primary tools are ink and watercolor.

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Heather Raquel Phillips

Artist

Heather Raquel Phillips (she/they) is an interdisciplinary artist, independent curator and educator living and working in Philadelphia, Pa. Phillips earned their BFA with honors from Tyler School of Art and their MFA...

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Nicole jonay Quantz

Artist

I am the proud mother of three amazing children, each with their own individual needs and qualities. One of my children is transgender, another is autistic, and I also have a nursing baby. This dynamic mix of responsibilities keeps me on my toes, as I’m constantly needed in various aspects of their lives. I feel like I’m needed everywhere all at once

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Herb Ritts

Photographer

Herb Ritts began his photographic career in the late 70's, and quickly gained a reputation as a master of art and commercial photography. In addition to producing portraits and editorial fashion...

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SCRAPMASTERWORKS

Artist

As Scrapmasterworks, Tom works exclusively in reclaimed materials sources primarily from Pittsburgh and also Chicago, Buffalo, Empire, MI and Erie, PA.

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David Schafer

Photographer

I am an award winning Photograper from Western PA,
who has donated numerous framed photos to the Persad Center Art Auction prior to Covid.

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Barbara Shema

Artist

Barbara returned to Pittsburgh in 2013 after living in Budapest Hungary for 2 years teaching English as a Foreign Language. During that time, she left her art-making behind, but took her camera.

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Mary Jean Stabile

Artist

Mary Jean Stabile is a native Pittsburgher who earned an Associate of Arts degree at The Arts Institute of Pittsburgh and Bachelor's degree at Point Park University.

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Ceil Sturdevant

Artist

Expressing myself through through the making of objects is a privilege and a passion. The human figure has long been a feature in much of my work. Through figurative imagery my wheel and hand-built work explores the relationships between people. It is a conversation, fueled ...

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Sam Thorp

Artist

Sam Thorp(They/them) is a genderqueer artist creating drawings with a sweeping gestural lines and expressive use of color. Each drawing is then printed out making it a “print” similar to a photograph “print” printed from a digital file. Sam's work tends to focus on exploring ideas in the fringe areas of gender, sexuality and culture.

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Janet Watkins

Artist

Janet Watkins is a self taught artist. Her career began just a few years ago after retiring from a 30 year career in banking. As an artist, she enjoys working with several mediums including earthenware clay, stoneware, porcelain, mosaic, and glass.

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Lynne B

Artist

Lynne b. is a Pittsburgh based artist, sometimes writer and independent curator.

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Martin Bernard Bernstein

Photographer

Martin is skilled not only as a photographer but also as an artist/designer. Born (1941) and based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He trained in graphic design and photography and received a Deign Certificate from the Philadelphia College of Art...

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Jessica Alpern Brown

Artist

Jessica Alpern Brown is a multidisciplinary artist who creates wearable, decorative and functional art for people, homes and public realms. She comes from a diverse background centered in the arts and has been mastering fabrication techniques for nearly 20 years.

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Emma Chester

Artist

Emma works and lives in Pittsburgh, PA. By day she serves as a Community Educator, focusing on domestic violence and sexual assault prevention with school-aged children.

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Andrew Criss

Artist

Andrew “Andy” Criss is a figurative and landscape painter from Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, where he has been making work from his home studio for over twenty years. A recipient of the Delaware Division of the Arts Established Artist Fellowship, his work is in private collections throughout the United States.

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Dan Droz

Artist

Dan Droz, a nationally recognized sculptor working in metal, glass and polymers, creates sculptures that engage viewers and enhance public and private spaces.

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Brian Ferrell

Artist

Brian Ferrell channels his deep experience in multiple craft forms for his studio practice, typically making sculptural furniture and vessels. An experimenter at heart, he draws inspiration from architecture and nature, working skillfully with mixed materials, including wood, metal, and clay.

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Terri Geever

Artist

Teri Geever is a member of the Pittsburgh Watercolor Society and has served on their executive board. Teri teaches and exhibits in the Pittsburgh area....

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Barbara Broff Goldman

Artist

Barbara Broff Goldman is a printmaker, bookbinder/book artist and fiber artist. She is a founding member of the Pittsburgh Book Arts Collective...

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Alan Horowitz

Artist

...I am an artist, a theoretical physicist, a recreational poet, a top mediocre tennis player, among other less distinguished attributes. My artistic side is barely on speaking terms with my scientific side. They had a falling...

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Deborah Kollar

Artist

Deborah Kollar is a traditional Sumi-e brush painter. As a current member of Pittsburgh Society of artists and the National Sumi-e Society of America she shares her art as an educator. She has exhibited in group shows both locally and regionally and has been recognized via several awards.

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Maia Leppo

Artist

Safran Everyday was created out of a desire to provide handsome, functional home basics. We are a small-batch, woman-run company that was created to offer a better alternative to big box stores. Before starting Safran Everyday, our founder Maia Leppo, was in the jewelry field for over 10 years and brings her material knowledge and design expertise to every product we make.

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Jeremy Lucido

Artist

Jeremy Lucido is an artist, photographer, and zine publisher in South Los Angeles. Born in a suburb outside of Saint Louis, Missouri, Lucido was encouraged to follow his art interest at an early age. However, he discovered his love for photography when enrolling in a High School journalism class. At 21, he moved to Hollywood, California, to attend Otis College of Art and Design and receive a BFA in Photography.
Shortly after gradu

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Jennifer Marcin

Artist

I like to create art that is in the moment. We never get the same moment again. Being "present" is so important to me.

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Kathy Mazur

Artist

I was born, raised, and love living in Pittsburgh. After working in the corporate world for over 35 years as a web and UX designer, technical writer, and software instructor, I decided that it was ...

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Sandra Moore

Artist

Art has been a process of living for me. In the 70s, I was a stringer photographer for UPI and Associated Press. I worked in the late 70’s as a lab tech to subsidize my work with the wire serves. In the 80s and 90s I worked as a Scenic Artist for a variety of theaters and schools, while raising a family.

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Ellen Chisdes Neuberg

Artist

Formerly the owner/director of GalleriE CHIZ on Ellsworth Avenue in Shadyside for 22 years, Ellen is using the building, with its...

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Harriet Phillips

Artist

Harriet Phillips (1941-2009) was a prolific painter and portrait artist who delighted in exploring the range of her artistic style. She painted with acrylics, oil, watercolor and pastels- chose figures, landscapes, shapes and shadows. She was inspired by embodiment and color, in human/nature. She lived in Pittsburgh and Florida.

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Jared Enrique Quinteros

Artist

My art is inspired from life experiences and carries with it my deep emotional struggles. I grew up in Arizona and started painting at a young age. I am self taught and had some success as a young artist living in San Francisco where I showed and sold my work. After life’s path took...

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Carlos Rodrígues

Artis

Carlos Rodríguez is a self-taught artist whose work is motivated by curiosity and the pull of destiny.
He explores images of the male body, aiming to portray a side of masculinity that is nuanced and emotionally complex....

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Salvador Alane

Artist

Salvador Alane is a small business specializing in the design and manufacturing of handmade glass
products, based in Pittsburgh, PA. Leah Alane Lynn and Julian Salvador Maturino have extensive ...

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Lindsay Schmittle/ Gingerly Press

Artist

Gingerly Press is the printmaking studio practice of letterpress artist, Lindsay Schmittle. Lindsay discovered her love for old-school letterpress printing as a Visual Communications major at the University of Delaware. Jaded by the copious screen time of graphic design....

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Karsen Shoger

Artist

Karsen currently lives in Pittsburgh, PA. He expresses himself with a variety of media from pottery to printmaking and drawing. Drawing his inspiration from the natural world, Karsen explores themes of life and death, and meaning and place in the world.

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Lee Elliot Stagon

Artist

Artist is a 15 year old upcoming artist. Who wants to make a difference in the lgbtq+ community. To stand up for what he is fighting for.

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Joyce Swope

Artist

Pittsburgh-based artist. Works primarily in watercolors and acrylic to make Gay art, Animal art, and Gay Animal art.
Co-owner of Etna Print Circus.

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Joseph G Toney

Artist

Studied graphic art, worked as an illustrator, retired and do a freestyle form of art.

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Mark Zets

Artist

Versatility, Variety,an Artist with a Wide Range of Talent & Experience...Pop , Political, Abstract , just to name a few of the acclaimed different Genres...

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CONTACT

Art Committee

Questions regarding art donations.

Persad Center

412-606-9877

For LGBTQ+ mental health, community, and substance abuse services

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