Shilpa Patel Saxena, MD explores color and culture through mixed media and painting. She works full-time at Forum Health as a practicing physician and Chief Medical Officer of a national network of integrative medical providers. Being a relentless observer of the human condition since childhood, her work portrays comprehensions gained through exploration of the beautiful, raw and powerful stories of others. Being the byproduct of the intersection of multiple minority roles, her work transcends allegiance to any one style of art while experimenting with what happens when they cross and connect. Saxena has recently began formalizing her artist career and opening her new studio, Shakti Works in Historic Ybor City. Recent work has been shown at private homes and group exhibitions in Florida. She received her medical degree from the University of Florida and continues to be a voice for healing and change as a top international speaker and educator in Functional and Integrative Medicine. As a commitment to her own creative development, she took fine art courses under the tutelage of Paul Foropoulous and Mark Menendez. As a long-time resident of Tampa Bay, she continues to commit herself to better healthcare for all while practicing what she preaches to her patients. She loves feeding her creative soul during this second life of hers as an empty nester with her human and canine sidekicks, Jay and Yogi.

Carlos Pons is a self-taught Tampa, Florida based artist originally from Guatemala. With over 15 years of experience his expertise lies in showcasing breathtaking oil paintings, immersive murals, and striking digital illustrations. His work can be found locally all over Tampa and across the state.

Mary-Helen Horne creates layered, improvisational artworks by combining intaglio, relief, and monotype printmaking processes, using non-toxic inks and materials on high-quality, acid-free printmaking paper. She is honored to be part of Kress Contemporary, as well as Tampa Bay’s 24 Hands Printmaking Collective, Tampa Regional Artists, and the Women’s Council for Art. Recognition includes first place award at Tampa Regional Artists' 2023 "Art in the Garden" exhibition, third place at the 2022 Dunedin Fine Arts Center “#SMF” exhibition, and honorable mentions in the 2023 Bay Area Art Show 16 and the 2022 Carrollwood Cultural Center member exhibition.

Ashley Cantero is a Tampa, FL native and artist who actively engages in the local art scene. Best known for her precise line work and bold, emotionally expressive female characters. With themes that are inspired by 60’s psychedelia, Atomic Age design and Sci-Fi, Ashley’s work is ever evolving through various mediums and artistic forms of expression.

The wide breadth of artistic creations created by Chase Parker consistently astounds its viewers. Parker creates two- and three-dimensional artworks using traditional and nontraditional materials to create illusions and fantasy. Parker aims to create artwork that creates illusions that engage viewers, deceive the mind, and create wonder and awe. The interactions are both in the mind and through physical interaction, allowing imaginations to run wild. He can take any object or material and see a new form, whether it be a portrait created from book pages or a body from bullet shells, the realism is surreal. Parker has always been interested in creating art but did not see it as more than a hobby until he began receiving commissions for paintings. Parker finds inspiration throughout his life experiences, being able to transform beauty out of pain, grief, love, and youth. Parker continues to share his art with the public as a way to truly fulfill his life’s meaning.

Influenced by the unique culture and strong creative environment of the city, she knew at a young age that she wanted to be an artist. Graduating from University of New Orleans with a major in painting, Elizabeth opened The Youth Corner Studio in the Garden District to teach art to children and pursue free-lance commercial art. To keep her hand in her fine arts, she would enter local exhibits.

Jenny Carey is a photographic artist residing in Florida. She works in documentary and narrative-based imagery revolving around the themes of the environment, memory, and loss. Ordinary subjects, natural and interior spaces are used to illuminate memories, document the intangible, and narrate unseen beauty.

Juan Ramon Espinosa is a versatile artist specializing in Web Design, Graphic Design, and Music Production. With over 20 years of experience in the Web Design and Graphic Design industry, Juan remains dedicated to these fields while actively pursuing his passion as a Composer and Music Producer. Seamlessly navigating between design and music, Juan leverages his extensive expertise to create compelling works. He possesses a profound love for learning, consistently honing his skills and exploring new techniques in both the realms of Web and Design, as well as Music.

I'm Karol Batansky. Since 2017 I've been creating vibrant abstract artwork from a mix of media, reflecting my unique take on culture, fashion and travel. I play with color, balance, and texture to create pieces that invite viewers into my world, encouraging a fresh, engaging perspective. My goal is to inspire thought and appreciation for the diverse beauty life offers, and to share my colorful and amusing view of the world.

Kim Radatz is a multi-disciplinary artist living in Tampa, FL. Her work serves as both a contemplative reflection and a counter narrative to the pervasive subjugation of women and the LGBTQ+ community. Radatz’s portfolio includes mixed media sculpture, fiber, flocking, encaustic and damn near any other material she can get her hands on. Radatz received her MFA at the University of Miami and her BFA at Florida International University.

In a previous life you would have found the Principal (me) walking the halls of various schools, chatting with students and dropping into classrooms. Today, having morphed into an artist, you’re just as likely to see me on the floor taking particular joy in the messiness of paint drips and splatters, with the same ending up largely on myself. There is no longer a need for straight lines nor to color within the lines. I love this thing I now do!

Marc is a self-taught emerging artist who specializes in portraits and figurative art. Using primarily graphite and polychrome colored pencils, his portraits tend to explore and celebrate diversity, with subjects representing various ages, races, ethnicities and religions. Marc’s drawings have been featured in several online and print publications, and his art is included in private collections around the world with clients in 18 countries across five continents.

Mary-Helen Horne creates layered, improvisational artworks by combining intaglio, relief, and monotype printmaking processes, using non-toxic inks and materials on high-quality, acid-free printmaking paper. She is honored to be part of Kress Contemporary, as well as Tampa Bay’s 24 Hands Printmaking Collective, Tampa Regional Artists, and the Women’s Council for Art. Recognition includes first place award at Tampa Regional Artists' 2023 "Art in the Garden" exhibition, third place at the 2022 Dunedin Fine Arts Center “#SMF” exhibition, and honorable mentions in the 2023 Bay Area Art Show 16 and the 2022 Carrollwood Cultural Center member exhibition.

Nicole Jeannine Smith is an independent theatre artist who returned to Tampa in 2021 after pursuing an MFA in Acting at West Virginia University. She spent the majority of her theatre career acting and stage managing across the Tampa Bay area upon graduating from USF with a BA in Theatre Arts in 2006. She received Creative Loafing's "Best of the Bay" Awards in 2014 for "The Best Reason To Take Theatre Seriously" for her solo performance of 4.48 Psychosis and in 2022 for "Best Actress". She holds positions as a stage manager for the Theatre Tampa Bay Unified Auditions, a board member of the Tampa Fringe Festival, and an artistic associate with Jobsite Theater. With over 15 years of professional theatre experience under her belt, Nicole is stoked to have secured an artist studio at Kress Contemporary to have a personal space to pursue her artistic endeavors, meet/collaborate with fellow artists, and offer acting coaching/other theatre needs by appointment.

Ronald K Watson, a native of West Tampa began his artistic journey at the young age of 7. After service in the US Coast Guard, he pursued his passion teaching art, worked in corporate as an art director, and then continued his passion at his studio in Ybor City. Even though his first love was painting, wanting to distinguish his artwork and brand, Ron chose to use graphite pencil as his medium and invokes scripture and story-telling in his artwork which pay homage to his grandmother’s influence in his life.

Victoria Alvarez is an artist and graphic designer based in Tampa, Florida. She has a studio in the Ybor City Kress building and is a passionate advocate of LGBTQ rights.