Meet the Artists of Making Home: A Refugee and Immigrant Art Exhibition!
Only one month until US Together’s Making Home opening night event at Current Gallery! Today, we are pleased to introduce a few of the refugee and immigrant Artists whose artwork will be on display at the First-Annual Refugee and Immigrant Art Exhibition!
Claudio Orso
is a paper and clay Artist from Torino, Italy, and currently resides in Cleveland, Ohio. He has exhibited his prints across the US and in Europe. Past experiences include ArtZreach, an art and education project for teens at the Lorain County Juvenile Detention Home, as well as the Oberlin Big Parade, an event featuring a procession of homemade floats and performances from community groups. Orso also works as a visiting Artist for several organizations in Cleveland and was the first Artist resident at the Morgan Conservatory and Art of Papermaking, where he is currently an instructor. Claudio was recently chosen for the NEA Apprenticeship grant. In 2010, he started working for Apollo Outreach Initiative at Oberlin College; spearheading a media literacy project that connects college student-mentors with younger and older participants in the community to work on narrative and documentary production. For the past three years, Orso has also worked as a featured Artist for the Parade the Circle celebration organized by the Cleveland Museum of Art. Claudio will also be one of four panelists participating in the Artist Panel and Erhu Musical Performance on Friday, November 12th!
Christian Amuli
came to the United States in 2016 as a Congolese refugee and is currently a portrait photographer as well as a medical assistant at Neighborhood Family Practice in Cleveland. Christian began learning photography from friends and family members, who are also professional photographers with their own studios. Spending time with them helped Christian learn a lot about photography and developing his skills. Christian believes that the purpose of his art is “to capture memories, and have them speak for themselves for years to come, so that people can still feel those memories as it if it were the same day they took place”. US Together’s Refugee and Immigrant Art Exhibition will be Christian’s first big exhibition where he can share his art and talent with the community! Christian believes that Cleveland is one of the biggest cities in the U.S. to open its arms for refugees and make them feel at home.
Larissa Teufel
is a mixed media Artist from Kazakhstan, Central Asia. She came to the United State in 2019 on a Fiancé Visa and got married when she arrived in America. Larissa began drawing as a young child, but at the age of 12, she abruptly stopped due to harsh critics in her community. At the age of 35, Larissa found the courage to pursue her passion despite the opinions of other people, and she found out that her art not only brings joy to herself, but to whoever sees her work. Every piece of art Larissa creates is an expression of her inner world. The meanings of her drawings are to show others her heart, and to touch the hearts of others in a positive way. She hopes her art provokes, joy, peace, and happiness, which is what Larissa feels when she looks at her works of art.
Vimbayi Katso (Koshesa LLC)
was born and raised in Harare - Zimbabwe, and moved to America 20 years ago seeking opportunities and a better life. Dedicated to uplifting her homeland, Vimbayi embodies Africa’s prominence in every way. Since leaving her homeland, she has kept her love for Zimbabwe and the people of Africa in her spirit and heart, where the vision and mission of Koshesa LLC was born from her desire to empower the culture of Africa and the African Artisan. Now that Vimbayi has made a life for herself in Cleveland, she wants Koshesa to be a part of Cleveland’s Immigrant Art Community. She envisions Koshesa as a beacon of hope and unity by providing a platform for the African Artisan community, so that they may gain worldwide exposure as a collective . At Making Home, Vimbayi will be displaying four stone-sculptures created by Zimbabwean Artists. You can learn more about Koshesa and available products made by African Artisans at www.koshesa.com.
To see these amazing Artist’s work, be sure to get tickets to US Together’s First-Annual Refugee and Immigrant Art Exhibition! Learn more about the different events you can attend and purchase your tickets by clicking the button below.
Be sure to stay-tuned for information about the other Artists participating in US Together’s Refugee and Immigrant Art Exhibition, as well as updates about our Second-Annual Refugee and Immigrant Owned Business Coupon Book!
Thank you to our amazing partners for sponsoring US Together’s First-Annual Refugee and Immigrant Art Exhibition!
