Join us on Thursday, October 17, from 5:30 – 7 p.m. at the Koger Center for the Arts for the opening reception of our special Pride Art Exhibition! This special exhibit in The Nook features four Columbia based artists who are part of the LGBTQ+ community. The artwork of Jahnna Blyden, Kimber Carpenter, Mahkia Greene, and Quincy Pugh will be on display from October 17 through November 19, 2024. The opening reception will also feature a live queer poetry reading curated by Liberation is Lit with poets Leigha Carson, Brandy del Rio, and Maggie Olszewski!
The reception is free and open to the public. Learn more about the featured artists below:
Jahnna Blyden is a dynamic artist and graphic designer whose work spans the realms of fine art and visual communication with remarkable finesse. With a background in both graphic design and traditional art, Blyden brings a multifaceted approach to her practice, seamlessly integrating elements of design theory with the expressive freedom of painting, resulting in pieces that are as visually arresting as they are conceptually rich.
In her role as a graphic designer, she leverages her artistic sensibilities to craft compelling visuals that communicate messages with clarity and impact. Whether it's branding campaigns, illustration work, or digital media projects, she infuses each design with a unique blend of creativity and strategic thinking. Jahnna’s dedication to her craft is evident in her commitment to continuous growth and innovation. Constantly seeking new challenges and pushing the boundaries of her creativity.
Kimber Carpenter is a self-taught acrylic and mixed media artist from Irmo, South Carolina. She loves creating art with bold colors and interesting content. Her love for music, the arts and the beauty of the human spirit is poured into every piece she works on and gives her daily inspiration to create. When she is not painting, she immerses herself in other art forms such as writing music or working as a freelance graphic designer.
She has exhibited with the Jasper Project, the Cottontown Art Crawl, Melrose Art in the Yard, Sound Bites Eatery, Rob Shaw Gallery, Land Bank Lofts, Aloft Hotel, NoMa Warehouse, Vista Lights, 14 Carrot Foods, Musician’s Supply, Frink Meeting Space, Pitter Platter, Nicky’s Pizzeria, Carolina Imports, Autumn Faire Arts Festival, The Mad Hatter’s Art Festival, The Artist Coop, Still Hopes Episcopal Home, Irmo Chamber of Commerce and Irmo Town Hall.
Carpenter has become known for her unique, quirky retro space series pieces. They include mixed media work as well as hand painted ray guns and robots. Kimber’s childhood love affair with science fiction has inspired her to create colorful, whimsical space art that she absolutely loves making.
Mahkia Greene (They/She) is a visual storyteller and teaching artist based in Columbia, South Carolina. With a BA in Media Arts from the University of South Carolina, Greene has dedicated nearly a decade to blending education with artistry through media literacy and creation. They served for several years as the Manager of Media Education at The Nickelodeon Theatre, a local independent cinema, and have led a diverse array of in-school, after-school, and field trips programs that explore queerness, rural culture, and race.
Greene’s expertise extends nationally, with guest facilitation at notable events such as the 2017 Creating Change Conference in Philadelphia, the 2018 Obama Foundation Summit in Chicago, and the Picturing Democracy series at the College of Charleston in 2021. Their personal creative work as a Black, queer, Southern artist delves into the intersections of media and identity, producing subversive art that reclaims the means of storytelling and explores the expression of self. Their visual creations have been showcased across the East Coast, gracing venues and festivals including the Indie Grits Film Festival, the Nasher Museum of Art, the Columbia Museum of Art, and the Boston Center for the Arts.
Quincy Pugh was born on August 25, 1958, in Augusta, Georgia. He received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Studio Art from Augusta University in 1982 and a Master of Librarianship from the University of South Carolina in 1988. Pugh served as the Film and Sound Librarian/Manager at Richland Library (Columbia) from 1989 until his retirement in June 2018. In that capacity, he also coordinated exhibitions and was in close contact with local, regional, and national recognized artists and illustrators. He also helped establish and served as chair of the library’s African American History and Cultural Events committee for numerous years. His position and love of music, literature and art kept him entrenched in Columbia’s cultural and arts community but didn’t allow much time for his love for painting. Since his retirement he has dedicated his time to developing a new and exciting body of work reflective of his community and southern heritage.
We are so excited to include a live poetry reading as well – come by for the art and stick around to listen to local poets share their art as well!
From left to right: Leigha Carson, Brandy del Rio, Maggie Olszewski