kaden bard dawson

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Kaden Bard Dawson (born 1999, Bisbee, Arizona) is a queer hispanic artist whose work explores identity, transformation, and the human experience. Rooted in photography, their practice has grown over the past decade into an intimate exploration of self, especially through the lenses of gender, sexuality, and belonging. 

Raised in a vibrant community of artists and musicians, Kaden's creativity was nurtured early through drawing and experimenting with recycled materials. Now based in New York City, they work across photo, video, sound, performance, and mixed media installation. Photography remains central to their practice. Working in both digital and film formats, Kaden has developed a distinct approach to alternative processes such as cyanotype, often toning prints with sustainable dyes to create tactile and emotionally resonant works in an increasingly digital world. 

Their work has been featured in exhibitions and publications including Saks Fifth Avenue, Phoenix Opera, and Soho Photo Gallery, as well as in Apocalypse Magazine, Drummer Magazine, and Sensitive Content Magazine. Their photo books, Do You Feel Safe? and I’m A Rockstar, are available at the Bureau of General Services Queer Division and Tiger Strikes Asteroid in New York City. Kaden also co-runs the SAY LESS column in ENVY Magazine, which highlights New York-based artists making meaningful contributions to their communities.

I use a Polaroid camera to capture quiet, isolated moments in nature where time seems to pause. Working exclusively in black and white, I seek to strip away distraction and evoke a sense of timelessness. These images are not meant to document, but to create space: a space for stillness, for reflection, and for breath. In these suspended moments, the noise of the world falls away. What remains is a delicate alignment between self and landscape, an intimate connection to the present. My work is an invitation to slow down, to notice, and to feel deeply and quietly.

I am a self-taught figurative painter living in DC. My paintings oscillate between warm, earnest portrayals of my domestic life and distorted portraits of my inner world and body.

"La Vache" (The Cow) is a monotype print I made as a part of a project I did in 2023. The collection interweaves classic French poetry and imagery reflecting the poem. I was inspired to create this series after my study abroad in France, pulling inspiration from the language and literature.

Gabriella Jording is a multidisciplinary artist with a focus on printmaking and drawing. Based in Phoenix, Arizona, Gabriella studies Art History at Arizona State University. In the past year, she has developed an interest in early modern American and Indigenous art. She plans to develop research into the work created during the major events of the early 20th century in America, specifically the Industrialism and Regionalism movements. Using her studies as inspiration for her work, Gabriella continues to leverage printmaking and drawing to reflect her passion for art history. 

Xianna Montoya’s art explores family dynamics and legacy as seen through forgotten photographs. Montoya’s paintings are made with acrylic to recreate the photorealistic qualities of the photographs. She currently resides in Mesa, Arizona where she is pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Painting and Drawing. Her work has won awards and has been exhibited by institutions, such as Arizona State University, Oakland Art’s Review, and Artists of Promise. Montoya is currently working on a ceramic series that highlights the balance inner violence and gentle actions. She is also working on a water based series on mental “monsters” and its effect on relationships and affection.

F. Sky is a nonbinary transgender Sicilian artist currently on O’odham land. They currently work with mediums of ink, graphite, acrylic, and watercolor. They have a strong love for birds and plants, and are currently inspired by Indya Moore, James Baldwin, Gabor Maté, and Fatimah Ashgar. F. Sky dreams of a liberated world.