The Art of Food
Journey into the delightful world where food becomes muse. "The Art of Food" is an exhibition dedicated to the visual splendor of culinary inspiration. Artists from diverse mediums explore how food nourishes not just our bodies, but our senses and creativity. We invite you to experience interpretations that delve into food's cultural stories, visual appeal, and its powerful connection to memory and emotion. Come celebrate the rich artistry found in every bite!
The exhibition opens on May 28th, 2025 and will be open to the public until August 30th, 2025.
Gallery hours are: Wednesdays to Fridays 3pm - 6pm | Saturdays 12pm - 4pm
ACRYLICA
Emily Gabrielle, also known as Acrylica, is a multifaceted artist and DJ from the Bronx, NY. She graduated with a BFA in Printmaking from the School of Art + Design at SUNY Purchase College. When she isn’t painting her intuitive abstractions or impressionist portraits, Emily is curating art exhibitions, events, and workshops at Yonkers Museum of Art; a museum she cofounded in her partner’s apartment.
SHANEQUA BENITEZ
My art is my heart, my pain, my love, my fears, my doubts, my beliefs, my traumas, and my purpose! My creative process stems from my emotions, current events; things I’ve witnessed and things I’ve experienced. “Never Conform” is a way of life for me and I include it in my work often.Working on art is my one true way of being true to who I am and what I stand for, never conforming to the norm.
When I start new work my first question to self is, “how do I feel?”. The process usually starts with some kind of reference materials. I like using books, magazines, tv, current events, and real life experiences. I consider my paintings neo-Impressionism. I reject the traditional standards of composition and design while conveying emotion and meaning rather than reality. Working with oil paint sticks gives me the freedom I need to really bring the details I’m feeling to life on the canvas. The materials I prefer are acrylic paint, oil paint sticks, Textiles and mixed media materials.
ED CASTANEDA
A Fine Art and Street Photographer based in Yonkers, New York working in the photographic medium since 2017. With a background in Design, Painting, Drawing and Art History, and graduating with a BFA in Graphic Design in 1981 from Parsons School of Design, and post graduate study/work at The Art Students League of New York. Ed has participated in various solo and group art exhibitions throughout the years. His photographs are not only snapshots of objects and daily life, but reflect the acute sensitivity of a draftsman and painter. The artist states; “The subject of my photographs is not the immediate image that you see. The deeper subject matter is the relationships in the composition between dark and light, thick and thin, straights and curves, large and small, and the shapes and movement that they create.
RICHARD EAGAN
In the late 1970s, after a series of dreams about his childhood days at Coney Island, Richard Eagan turned his Brooklyn woodworking shop into an artist’s studio. He and a studio mate soon formed The Coney Island Hysterical Society, which became one of the prime drivers of the turnaround of Coney Island’s historic amusement beach. Much of his early work focussed on the lost buildings and iconography of Coney Island.
Richard’s work has been shown at the Brooklyn Museum of Art, the Williamsburg Art & Historical Center, the Coney Island Museum, and various galleries in Brooklyn and Manhattan.
He is a founding member emeritus of the 440 Gallery in Park Slope, Brooklyn and has shown locally with the Croton River Artisans Gallery and the Upstream Gallery in Hastings.
ALVARO GARCIA ORDONEZ
Colombian-American artist García Ordóñez works in painting and sculpture, drawing inspiration from his Andean upbringing and social realities. His art, often using mixed media, explores themes of conflict and resilience, reflecting both personal and societal struggles.
Born in the Colombian Andes, he studied Fine Arts at the National University of Colombia and later in Germany. His work, characterized by dynamic compositions and symbolic use of materials, has been exhibited internationally, including in Europe and the United States.
García Ordóñez,, now based in New York, continues to create and teach, blending his personal history with contemporary artistic expression.
STEFANO LUIGI GUIDA
Stefano Luigi Guida is a multimedia artist and musician based in the Hudson Valley. With over a decade of experience, he has exhibited throughout New York City, Westchester, and Putnam counties. His work is a vivid fusion of contemporary surrealism, pop culture, and personal narrative, often incorporating vibrant imagery and playful compositions that challenge perceptions and evoke emotional responses.
As a first-generation Italian-American, Stefano infuses his cultural heritage into his art, blending historical influences with modern themes. His paintings, rooted in an intuitive and stream-of-consciousness process, explore the complexities of human emotion, memory, and identity. Drawing from art history, cartoons of the 90s, and the natural world, his work captures the unpredictable and whimsical aspects of life, offering viewers a lens into the intersection of nostalgia and self-discovery.
Beyond his artistic practice, Stefano works as a high school art teacher in Westchester, where he fosters creativity and expression in students with special needs. Through his art, he seeks to create spaces for reflection, connection, and exploration, inviting audiences to find their own narratives within his surreal and thought-provoking pieces.
ELIZABETH HANSON
Elizabeth Hanson is a 22-year-old emerging ceramic artist based in Queens, New York. She holds her Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Studio Art with a Concentration in Ceramics from Queens College- CUNY. There she spent three years serving as the President of the Ceramics Club, as well as interning as a technical assistant, and volunteering for the studio. She currently works in multiple studios, as a ceramics instructor, ceramics studio technician, and technical assistant in ceramics at a college. Her ceramics are playful and capture moments of humor and resilience. Her work can be seen on Instagram @elizabethsceramics or online at elizabethsceramics.com.
OLGA MANTHOS
OLGA MANTHOS is a native New Yorker, who cherishes the vast cultural opportunities the city has to offer. Artists, musicians and dancers have often provided inspiration for her artwork. Olga is a mixed media artist primarily creating colorful collages, abstract paintings, and unique colored pencil designs. She enjoys creating many of her art pieces while listening to various genres of music. She has exhibited her art in several locations including Manhattan, the Bronx, Yonkers, Westchester and internationally.
ALEXIS MARIE MONTOYA
Alexis Marie Montoya is a Puerto Rican and Peruvian multidisciplinary artist and food writer born, raised, and based in The Bronx. Her work examines the intersection of food and culture, especially within Bronx and Latinx communities. Alexis is a former line cook, food educator, and organizer who leans on her experience to inform her artistic practice.
Alexis earned a bachelor’s degree in Advertising and Public Relations and a minor in Visual Culture from the Rochester Institute of Technology. In 2023, she was a BronxArtSpace Governors Island Artist-in-Residence. She has exhibited work at BronxArtSpace, Bronx River Art Center (BRAC), Casita Maria Gallery, and WallWorks New York. Her artwork and food writing can be seen across publications like Bon Appétit, Edible Bronx, and more.
Website: alexismariemontoya.com
Instagram: @alexismontoya_
JESSICA OLIVEIRA
Imitating the unreliable and fluctuating nature of her memory, Jessica Oliveira (b. 2000, Yonkers, NY) works to develop worlds that were once familiar to her, perhaps even familiarizing herself with her past once again, through her artistic process. She creates worlds that can be entered and explored and allows old or forgotten experiences to be rediscovered. The small moments, fleeting feelings, simple moments of curiosity should be remembered. Jessica makes work that is inspired by her life, gaining inspiration directly from these lived experiences.
Jessica is translating her lived experiences into a larger conversation related to the importance of our memories. In remembering, we can reflect and in reflection we can learn. Assessing what we think is true, is vital. Jessica is assessing how different people, places and objects are remembered and what happens to a memory over time.
Jessica recently obtained her BFA Fine Arts degree from the School of Visual Arts, graduating in December of 2022. She now continues her lifetime pursuit of art daily at her home studio.
All she hopes is to continue creating and sharing her work with others, with the goal to make others feel.
ERWIN ONG
Erwin Ong is an illustrator and maker inspired by plants, animals, and the patterns that appear in nature. His work is all about inspiring a sense of play, freedom, and experimentation, along with exploring the spaces between the familiar and unexpected to find moments of creativity. He is based in White Plains, NY.
TERESA PEREIRA
Teresa Pereira is a painter, art teacher, graphic designer, and muralist. PearTree Designs has been her professional business name for many years (because Pereira means pear tree in Portuguese.)
Based in Westchester, NY, Teresa graduated from Fordham University, College at Lincoln Center, with a BFA in Fine Arts, where she was awarded the Studio Art Award for painting. Her quest for a job in the arts led her to a career as a Graphic Designer, and she has over 30 years of experience in several areas of the publishing industry, including newspapers, medical journals, and magazines.
In addition to teaching Studio Art at Maria Regina High School, she also paints and exhibits work (primarily in oils), and teaches Art workshops around the New York/Westchester area.
Teresa is highly creative, organized and deadline-oriented. Her goal is to combine her knowledge and experience as a fine artist and graphic designer to deliver the highest quality creative print and web products to her clients. She also strive to deliver high quality, imaginative art lessons and enjoyable learning experiences to her art students.
TATYANA POLYAK
Tatyana Polyak’s art depicts the world around her, from everyday items to faraway places. Once the idea sparks her imagination, she starts with a simple sketch and progresses with the layers of color. Her artworks are primarily landscapes and still life.
One inspiration for her art comes from visiting the remote Italian countryside. Tatyana is mesmerized by walking around the centuries-old sites while taking in the explosion of natural colors and the play of light, the chaos of streets, structures, and people. Yet, with the pace of modernity pressing on, these serene and seemingly frozen-in-time towns and hills look vulnerable in their beauty. This fragile beauty moves her to show it in her artwork. Another source of inspiration for her art are objects created by nature. The peculiarity of texture, the stillness of form, and the mysteries of shadows are the high points that inspire her creativity.
Tatyana lives in Northern Westchester, NY and is actively involved in the local art communities such as Peekskill Arts Alliance, Garrison Arts Center, Mamaroneck Artists Guild. She exhibits in the group shows and participates in the art workshops. Before becoming an artist, Tatyana was writing about the art scene in and around NYC. Art was her passion throughout her life. From museums, exhibitions, lectures to books and classes, art is a constant presence for her. At first, creating art was driven by a subconscious need to heal and calm. With time, it is becoming a way to observe and understand. ART=LIFE.
SUYAPA QUINN
Suyapa's career trajectory is as diverse as it is impressive. Starting as a tour guide at the Metropolitan Museum of Art/The Cloisters, she gained invaluable insights into art history and curation. Her versatility shone through as she adeptly took on roles as an Animator, Package Designer, Illustrator, Graphic Designer, and Art Director. In New York, she distinguished herself in graphic design, specializing in silk screening, animation, airbrush, and painting reproduction. Her commitment to art extended to education, where she taught art in public high schools in Queens, New York, and conducted art therapy sessions at the Harlem Hospital Center, enriching the lives of many through her knowledge and passion. Suyapa's talents as an illustrator and cartoonist have been recognized worldwide, with her works published through renowned platforms like the Image Bank, Shutterstock, and JCA, Inc. From 2000 to 2008, Suyapa led her own company, Image Perfect, as the owner and Art Director. There, she offered innovative advertising solutions, creating stylish and effective graphic products and communication materials. Her leadership skills shone as she managed teams, liaised with vendors, and maintained client relations. Notable clients included Time Magazine, Inc., Isabella Christina, Inc., Children Television Workshop, The Mental Block, Avon Books, and the United Nations Children's Fund.
KATHIA REGALADO
Kathia Regalado Nuñez is a Dominican artist born and raised in New York City, who specializes in oil painting and portraiture. Her work is deeply rooted in her personal experiences, exploring themes of identity, heritage, and the unique perspective of being the first-generation child of Dominican immigrants. Each piece serves as a reflection on her upbringing, capturing intimate moments that convey the universal challenges and emotions faced by children of immigrants—especially those from the Dominican community.
Her portraits offer more than just a visual representation; they act as windows into nuanced explorations of memory, perception, and the often complex dynamics of immigration. By delving into her own personal and family histories, she provides commentary on the ways these forces shape both individual identity and collective cultural experiences. Memory, both personal and inherited, becomes a focal point in her work as she considers the fluidity of recollection and how it shapes our understanding of our past and present.
Kathia’s Dominican and Latin American heritage is ever-present, viewed through the lens of the diaspora and the experience of navigating dual cultural identities. Her work invites viewers to engage with the multifaceted nature of immigrant life—where home is both a distant place and an immediate reality. Through these captured moments, she strives to evoke a shared experience within the broader Latin American diaspora, encouraging reflection on the themes of belonging, family, and cultural preservation.
ATLAS ROSE
Atlas Rose is a digital artist, born and raised in Yonkers. She is also a mother of two sons who share her passion for creativity. Self-taught, Rose focuses on creating original characters and fantastical worlds.
LILA ROSE
Lila Rose is a multidisciplinary artist who explores photography, pyrography, woodworking, acrylic painting, watercolor, and graphic design. She enjoys the process of creation and considers herself an all-around creative individual. As a newcomer to the art world, Rose is currently rediscovering her creative voice.
While appreciating the natural beauty of wood grain, she is also drawn to the vibrant energy that color can bring to a piece. Rose prefers to experiment with a variety of media, avoiding confinement to a single artistic form, as reflected in her diverse body of work. Her inspirations include the natural world, her vivid imagination, and music.
Rose finds power in the act of transforming nothing into a compelling artwork that can evoke varied interpretations. She hopes to inspire other artists to continue creating and sharing their work with the world.
CASEY SHALLCROSS
Bio to be added
DENNIS SHELTON
A visual artist who works with collage mixed media and wood assemblage. Creating art using recycled materials and found objects. Inspired by Romare Beardan, Cezanne, Jacob Lawrence and Henri Matisse. I am strongly influenced by the Cubist movement.
VALERIE SPALEK
Yonkers resident and self-taught artist. Studied International Affairs and Languages, serves as a volunteer at different Yonkers Galleries and Art Centers as an instructor and translator for the Hispanic Community. Her work involves abstract painting techniques such as Dutch Pour and composition making with different types of Fluid Art involving acrylics, powdered pigments and inks.
KATORI WALKER
Katori is a self-taught multi-media artist, poet, playwright, spoke word performer, muralist, and art educator. She was born in New York City and was also raised in Puerto Rico and St. Thomas. Katori feels that her Caribbean background contributes to her love of bright colors and textures. Her “Katori Kids Happy Art” pieces are created to remind people to love and embrace their inner-child and brighten up spaces.