Our Team
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IVONNE CRUZ
Founder and Executive Director of Dragonfly Gallery and Creative Spaces, Ivonne is a Chicago-based artist, photographer, advocate, educator, and curator. Working in a variety of different mediums and content, Ivonne loves to create and collaborate. Inspired by every day’s beauty and expressing some of the challenges we all face. Ivonne has been an active member of the art community since 2002. She received her Master’s in Arts Education from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago and has been in arts education for the last 25 years. Currently working as the Associate Director of Learning Lab in the Ryan Learning Center at The Art Institute of Chicago and adjunct professor at National Louis University. More of Ivonne's artwork can be found at: www.ivonnecruz.org |
Meet the Artists with Studios @ Dragonfly
For more information visit DayDay's Website-Link
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Bio
DayDay (Xinyu Zhang) is an artist from Wuhan, Hubei, China, currently living and working in Chicago. Her work reflects an array of her inner struggles and desires for physical interaction. She demonstrated a passion for art from an early age, building skills focused on the traditional sculpture during her undergraduate years and a solid foundation for her current transition to creating contemporary art. Her inspiration comes from daily life observations, doubts about self-identity, and her desire to explore materials. She uses minimalist lines and symbols and seeks a balance between design and fine art in her works. DayDay received a Bachelor's degree in sculpture from the Hubei Institute of Fine Arts(HIFA), and her graduation works were invited to the ZengZhuShao Sculpture Fellowship. Now she is a MDes candidate in Fashion, Body and Garment at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, (SAIC) where she is a recipient of SAIC’s Lisa Wainwright Grad Merit Scholarship. |
Local Artisan spotlight
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Victoria KowalczykMy art is a representation of how I see or experience the world. My inspiration is travel and nature blended with my own personal struggles. I am attracted to images that have depth and texture which I recreate through my vision in my artwork. I love nature; accepting the good, the bad, and ugly sides. My more recent work focuses on creatures that I encounter while living in a large city; most recently focusing on the rat problem and my journey to restore balance to my personal space.
I am fascinated with multiple mediums, I work primarily with oil paint and metal, but branch out into clay, silkscreen or drawing depending on the idea. I received my Masters at the School of The Art Institute Chicago in 1999. I spent years as a visiting artist teaching children art until I opened my own company in 2006. I’ve never stopped creating, just changed focus, and I have been refocused over the last year on my art after selling our business. I am now back full time creating and exhibiting my artwork in group shows. I continue to paint and sculpt, but recently have become enthralled with metal work, welding and design. Most recently focusing on a vision that has led me to create a line of visually organic steel radiator covers. You can see some of Victoria's work now on display. For more information on Victoria visit: victoriablu.com
I am fascinated with multiple mediums, I work primarily with oil paint and metal, but branch out into clay, silkscreen or drawing depending on the idea. I received my Masters at the School of The Art Institute Chicago in 1999. I spent years as a visiting artist teaching children art until I opened my own company in 2006. I’ve never stopped creating, just changed focus, and I have been refocused over the last year on my art after selling our business. I am now back full time creating and exhibiting my artwork in group shows. I continue to paint and sculpt, but recently have become enthralled with metal work, welding and design. Most recently focusing on a vision that has led me to create a line of visually organic steel radiator covers. You can see some of Victoria's work now on display. For more information on Victoria visit: victoriablu.com
Meet the Teaching Artists at Dragonfly
Christina Sadovnikov
Christina Sadovnikov is an artist and teacher currently living on the land of the Council of Three Fires, commonly known as Chicago, Il. She graduated with a BFA in Craft and Material Studies from Virginia Commonwealth University. She has taught craft and technology classes at exhibition spaces, afterschool programs, art centers, and makerspaces. She is especially interested in somatics, intergenerational craft practices, low-technology, and collective memory with her work as a teacher and artist.
Christina Sadovnikov is an artist and teacher currently living on the land of the Council of Three Fires, commonly known as Chicago, Il. She graduated with a BFA in Craft and Material Studies from Virginia Commonwealth University. She has taught craft and technology classes at exhibition spaces, afterschool programs, art centers, and makerspaces. She is especially interested in somatics, intergenerational craft practices, low-technology, and collective memory with her work as a teacher and artist.
Jess Cadwell
Jess Cadwell (they/them) is a multidisciplinary artist based in Chicago, IL. Jess got their start as a printmaker and expanded their practice to involve zines, indie tattooing, ceramics, art education, and design. In their practice Jess explores accessible skill sharing and learning as a community, inspired by their experiences in DIY art scenes. You can find their work on Instagram: @worldsmosthandsomeworm
Jess Cadwell (they/them) is a multidisciplinary artist based in Chicago, IL. Jess got their start as a printmaker and expanded their practice to involve zines, indie tattooing, ceramics, art education, and design. In their practice Jess explores accessible skill sharing and learning as a community, inspired by their experiences in DIY art scenes. You can find their work on Instagram: @worldsmosthandsomeworm
Khloe Janel
Khloe Janel is a yoga instructor and teaching artist originally from the south. As a mental health wellness advocate, Khloe strives to combine her passion for art and wellness to encourage collective community healing.
Khloe Janel is a yoga instructor and teaching artist originally from the south. As a mental health wellness advocate, Khloe strives to combine her passion for art and wellness to encourage collective community healing.
Kat Huddleston
Kat Huddleston is an award-winning Fused Glass and mixed media artist and teacher. Kat's been accepted by over 100 juried art shows and won Best in Glass, Best in Jewelry and Best in Show awards. Kat's art embraces nature as she delves into organic shapes and effects.
Kat has an art studio at the Zhou B Art Center in Chicago, and her art can also be found in the Jackson Junge Art Gallery in Chicago, The Liz Long Gallery at the Chicago Urban Art Retreat Center in Chicago, The Promise You Art House in Highland, IN, and The Spectrum Gallery in Connecticut. Kat's work has also been featured in many gallery shows, including at the Water Street Studios in Batavia, The Three Seeds Gallery in Chicago, The Morpho Art Gallery in Chicago, The Bucktown Art Gallery in Chicago, and the ArtPie Gallery in Waukegan. Kat also teaches Fused Glass at the Beverly Arts Center in Chicago, and lives with her husband, Chuck, and her two far too helpful cats, Ziggy and Jax.
Kat Huddleston is an award-winning Fused Glass and mixed media artist and teacher. Kat's been accepted by over 100 juried art shows and won Best in Glass, Best in Jewelry and Best in Show awards. Kat's art embraces nature as she delves into organic shapes and effects.
Kat has an art studio at the Zhou B Art Center in Chicago, and her art can also be found in the Jackson Junge Art Gallery in Chicago, The Liz Long Gallery at the Chicago Urban Art Retreat Center in Chicago, The Promise You Art House in Highland, IN, and The Spectrum Gallery in Connecticut. Kat's work has also been featured in many gallery shows, including at the Water Street Studios in Batavia, The Three Seeds Gallery in Chicago, The Morpho Art Gallery in Chicago, The Bucktown Art Gallery in Chicago, and the ArtPie Gallery in Waukegan. Kat also teaches Fused Glass at the Beverly Arts Center in Chicago, and lives with her husband, Chuck, and her two far too helpful cats, Ziggy and Jax.
Josie Levin
Josie Levin is a multimedia artist who teaches a variety of mediums in and around Chicago. Her work has appeared in gallery shows and publications worldwide. To see examples of Josie’s work or get in touch please visit her website jrlevin.wixsite.com/josielevin or follow her on Instagram @bemusual.
Josie Levin is a multimedia artist who teaches a variety of mediums in and around Chicago. Her work has appeared in gallery shows and publications worldwide. To see examples of Josie’s work or get in touch please visit her website jrlevin.wixsite.com/josielevin or follow her on Instagram @bemusual.
