Featured ​Artists & Makers Gallery

Xiang Lan

Xiang spent the first 23 years of his life in South China and moved to the US to continue to pursue his passion in art. He has worked hard to develop paintings that reflect his Chinese roots and his experiences living in the US. Inspired by modern abstract art, he creates paintings with various mediums and techniques that speak to himself and others about culture influences, self-discovery and discipline.

Traditionally in the Chinese culture, one is only celebrated when they follow down the path of society’s rules and moving to America has made him rethink his conservative state of mind and his individuality. The monochrome lines and colorful strokes are the discovery of his sense of freedom and doubts in his conservative roots. His work is sentimental and impromptu with a strong sense of movement. The fluidity of this work is a representation of contrast and unsettlement from the experiences of two different cultures.

CHERYL R. RILEY

Cheryl Riley moved to New York in 1999 and San Francisco in 1977 after graduating from Columbia College in Columbia, MO.  She was an account executive on the largest account at a major advertising agency. Subsequently, she served as an advertising executive for one of Levi Stauss’ brands before forming her own firm, Right Angle Designs, in 1986.  Through her firm, Cheryl designed one-of-a-kind museum quality furniture for many top collectors and celebrities like Danny Glover, Terry McMillan, Denzel Washington and Morgan Freeman.  In the meantime, in addition to exhibiting in over 20 museums, her work was acquired for permanent collections by the Smithsonian’s Cooper-Hewitt Museum, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, the Oakland Museum and the Mint Museum in North Carolina.  In addition, she created public art for the cities of New York, Atlanta, Sacramento and San Francisco.   Cheryl has been published in countless national and local periodicals and books. She has lectured at schools and organizations, participated on panels throughout the United Stated and served on the executive committees of numerous national boards.

Chenoa Maxwell

She first burst into stardom in her memorable role in Miramax’s cult classic, Hav Plenty. Maxwell’s passion lead her to pivot behind the camera. Maxwell’s photography has enjoyed two solo exhibitions in LA and NYC. She has captured portraits that scale the range of icons such as Annie Leibovitz to Shaquille O’Neal. Maxwell continues to hone her photography craft presently with her latest project capturing the images of the re-launch of the fashion house Girbaud.