Bosco Sodi is known for his richly textured, vividly colored large-scale paintings. Sodi has discovered an emotive power within the essential crudeness of the materials that he uses to execute his paintings. Focusing on material exploration, the creative gesture, and the spiritual connection between the artist and his work, Sodi seeks to transcend conceptual barriers. Sodi leaves many of his paintings untitled, with the intention of removing any predisposition or connection beyond the work’s immediate existence. The work itself becomes a memory and a relic symbolic of the artist’s conversation with the raw material that brought the painting into creation. Sodi’s influences range from l’art informel, looking to artists such as Antoni Tàpies and Jean Dubuffet, to master colorists such as Willem de Kooning, Mark Rothko, and the bright hues of his native heritage.

I am pursuing hospitality concepts that are deeply involved in the local scenes and that serve as focal points for entire neighborhoods; concepts that become not just places to stay, but gateways to communities. I am committed to reshape the way people think about hospitality by exploring experiences that stand for a cause and immerse people in meaningful moments. Head of Innovation at Design Hotels and Member of Further, narratum and NeueHouse.

Jackie Klempay founded SITUATIONS, a contemporary art gallery in the LES/Chinatown neighborhood of New York City, in 2015. The gallery exhibits the work of both emerging and established artists. The divergent programming holds a primarily queer and feminist agenda featuring artists from the United States and abroad. Jackie is also on the board of poetry imprint The Song Cave.

Petros Chrisostomou is an artist born in London, 1981 to Greek Cypriot parents. He decided to move to New York City having spent his life in London previously. He was a resident on the International Studio and Curatorial Program, New York. Recent selected exhibitions include Vertigo at Galerie Xippas, Geneva as well as Paris photo LA, at Paramount Pictures Studios in Los Angeles. 2013. He has also exhibited in Plastic Lemons, Spring Projects, London (2011), Revolver, Galerie Xippas, Montevideo (2010), Artists for Athens, The Breeder/Athens Playroom, Athens (2010), Fresh Faced and Wild Eyed, The Photographers Gallery, London (2009), In Present Tense-Young Greek Artists, EMST National Museum of Contemporary Art, Athens (2008).

Mitzi Akaha is a New York-based actress with roots in the Midwestern US, Japan, and the central coast of California. After developing her career in Japan, she relocated to New York in 2014 where she continues to contribute her particular talents and peculiar humor to a variety of projects, starring in national commercial spots, music videos and films. She is also a published writer and illustrator and has multiple scripts in development.