FROM THE LENS OF DREAMERS

Artists

Bio

Jamera DaCosta - Just J Art

Jamera is a Toronto-based digital and traditional Multidisciplinary Artist of Jamaican heritage. She’s a Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) graduate, with a Bachelor of Technology. Every brushstroke in her work uses a treatment of bold colors, and layers of organic shapes. Exploring stories with messages of new perspectives, light, and love.

Quentin VerCetty

Quentin VerCetty, a Maltonian, founded the Black Speculative Arts Movement (in) Canada and AstroSankofa®. He is passionate about using Afrofuturism as an agent for social change and art education. He is trailblazer of monument making and public art amongst Black Canadians  and aims to utilize his platform to shed more light on Black Canadian legacies and create more opportunities for Black creatives.

Samantha Dennis

Samantha Dennis, an award-winning Toronto-based visual artist of Jamaican descent. As an artist her work blends abstraction and realism to create vibrant portraits celebrating black bodies. Her work, driven by a need for representation, explores diverse black experiences and identity through her paintings. Samantha is passionate about helping youth and teaching children art and sees Afrofuturism as the perfect lens for engagement.

Troydel Wallace

Troydel Wallace is a Jamaican born Toronto-based digital and visual artist whose passion is fueled by his desire to inspire change and impact lives by staying true to his art style, and his mission to showcase the beauty and value of the African Community on a whole. Troydel’s drive is propelled by his conviction that he was called to be an artist through his intense fascination with the Afro Futurism art style, Afro Punk aesthetics and his Caribbean cultural influence. Troydel’s gold themed art style creates visual metaphors that celebrate the beauty and value in the African aesthetics, culture, and its people.

Komi Olaf

Komi Olafimihan is a visual artist, poet and architectural designer who is best known for his ability to represent, both visually and poetically, the complexities of the world and generation he finds himself within. In recent years, Komi’s art has been shaped by a cultural and artistic movement known as Afrofuturism, which explores African and African diasporic cultures in intersection with technology.

Andre Mandela Lopez

Andre Mandela Lopez is a multidisciplinary artist currently residing in T’karonto. Andre’s work is an expression of his

political and spiritual exploration, often depicting the human form with other natural elements to engage existential truths.

His academic background in politics and experience as an arts educator greatly influence the content of his work, and

reflects his passion for freedom and Love. The intention driving Andre’s art is to invite play, encourage Love, and inspire

healing.

Kae Mensah

Very interested in challenging the stereotypes of the angry Black trope K.Mensah’s work is all

about Black Joy in the future and viewing that as sacred and special. As a self-taught creative

their work explores analog painting techniques in the digital realm often pulling inspiration from

church stain glasses as the backdrop to amplify their visional metaphor for the joy of a Black

person to leave a lasting impression of non-Black folks we see it.

Bigz Sylver

Started creating art from a program facilitated by Quentin VerCetty in Rexdale in 2017 called Rexdale Youth For Change when he was 15 years old alongside his twin brother, Big Sylver is a rising talent with interest in muralism, digital art and 3d modeling.

Danilo Deluxo

Danilo Deluxo McCallum is a Toronto-based multidisciplinary artist, muralist, and cultural curator exploring Black identity through Afrofuturism. In 2020, he created Patterns of the People for the Toronto Sign at Nathan Phillips Square, celebrating the UN’s International Decade for People of African Descent. With over 15 years of experience, he collaborates with artists and organizations on murals and public art projects, including as a member of Collective XYZ. He also founded and curated Black Future Month (2013–2017), an Afrofuturism exhibition series that gained international recognition and strengthened connections within the Black arts community.

Boloebi Charles Okah

Boloebi Okah is an artist passionate about inspiring positive change through his work. Combining vibrant colors and patterns from traditional Nigerian art, he creates pieces that address social and environmental issues. From public murals to gallery exhibitions, his art serves as a tool for activism, aiming to raise awareness, foster dialogue, and inspire collective action.

Phillip Saunders

Phillip Saunders is a multidisciplinary artist and arts educator based in Toronto, Ontario. His diverse practice includes oil painting, charcoal drawing, mural-making, and digital illustration, with a striking contrast between his traditional and contemporary styles. His oil paintings, inspired by the old masters, depict the Black body in ancient landscapes, exploring Bantu spirituality and sacred imagery. Meanwhile, his murals embrace a vibrant pop-art aesthetic, using colour and pattern to evoke joy, reflection, and emotion. Though his work varies across different mediums, recurring spiritual themes and cultural storytelling connect his artistic expressions, bridging historical narratives with contemporary perspectives

Gordon Rowe

Gordon Rowe is a Toronto-born freelance illustrator and designer with a lifelong passion for art. Inspired by childhood cartoons and movies, he began by creating comics and drawings for friends. Over time, he expanded his skills to include digital painting, acrylic and gouache painting, portraiture, and life drawing. Now, his primary focus is illustration and art direction for album artwork and editorials, working with high-profile clients in the music industry. His work is deeply influenced by his love for hip-hop culture, jazz, and film, which continue to shape his artistic vision.

Pamella Chang

Pamella Chang is a Freelance Visual Artist working with AstroSankofa on several projects. Having spent several months in the GTA she is looking to call Canada her artistic home. Chang has created numerous murals on her home island of Jamaica working with companies such as; Kingston Creative, Pepsi Jamaica, Jamaica National Bank, Wray and Nephew, Grace Kennedy Limited and Kingston & St. Andrew Municipal Corporation (KSAMC) amongst other smaller entities.She looks forward to doing the same with AstroSankofa across Canada.

Jimmy Baptise

Jimmy Baptiste is a graffiti artist, muralist, and art facilitator, with over 20 years of experience in illustration, design, and community outreach. Through his company, Atelier Dopamine, he leads engaging workshops and creates impactful public art installations in schools and community centers. His work blends education and artistic expression, making art accessible and inspiring for diverse audiences. Skilled in conceptualization and execution, Jimmy fosters creativity while ensuring meaningful community engagement.

Yung Yemi

Yung Yemi is a Toronto-based multi-disciplinary artist whose practice aims to examine the intersectionality of Black identity. Reflecting on Black culture ideologies from pre-colonial, colonial, present day and future timelines; across regions, religions, varying levels of invoice and political lines, Yung Yemi examines the dichotomy of the richness of Black experiences with the imposed societal homogeneity of ‘Blackness’. Through his work, Yung Yemi pulls from these varying elements to create Afrofuturistic portraits that embody themes of history, fantasy, speculative futures, and spirituality.