Samar Hussaini

Samar Hussaini is an Arab American, Fine Artist, and Graphic Designer working, creating, and living outside of NYC in West Orange, NJ. Born in the United States to Palestinian parents, Hussaini seeks to visualize the layered challenges and enriching distinction of being a Palestinian-American and at the same time striving to create
thought-provoking ideas of dialogue and hope.
After receiving a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Maryland, with a double major in Studio Art and Art History, Hussaini started her career with an art residency and solo exhibit at Darat El Fanun in Amman, Jordan, in 1993. Soon after she moved to NYC to get her Master’s in Communication Design from Pratt Institute. Hussaini worked in
advertising, winning several awards such as the Silver Award from DTC, the Gold Award from DTC, and Creative Recognition from The One Show RX. Her fine artwork has been exhibited in several group shows around New Jersey, New York, and Washington, DC, Along with her solo exhibit at Gallery Al-Quds in Washington, DC, she was chosen as the Maplewood Ideas Festival featured artist in 2017, and received a certificate of recognition from the BWAC gallery in 2018.

Carol Nussbaum

I hope that my best photographic work occupies a place where art and photography coalesce. Because of my background in graphic design, I am fascinated by the ways in which floral and plant images can be manipulated on the computer in order to create a mood or suggest a period of time or even a movement in the art world.

My ordinary photographic images completely change character when I transform them into an ancient symbol called the Mandala. A Mandala is traditionally used to signify a sacred space containing a circle with a center point that offers balancing visual elements, symbolizing unity and harmony.

The original photographs were taken on my travels through marketplaces, botanical gardens, arboretums, flower shows and roadside stands in New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Jerusalem, Petra and Florence.

My background facts are simple: I went to Skidmore where I studied both fine art and photography. I graduated with honors. I won awards as an art director in advertising. Now that my children are grown, I am returning to my roots but testing my wings, experimenting with photograph as fine art. And wow, am I loving the journey!

Victor Utama

Born in Indonesia, Victor Utama is a photographer and engineer based out of New York, NY.  He began his career in photography about 10 years ago. Utama specializes in landscape, portrait and street photography. His photography is inflenced by his great interest in shapes, lines, and patterns.

Education:
Swinburne University of Techology, Melbourne, Australia
Fashion Institute of Technology, New York, USA