PRESS
BMORE Art, December 18, 2024
Roses Growing out of Concrete: Devin Allen’s Love Song to Baltimore by Celeste Doaks
…Devin Allen’s Textures of Us: A Retrospective exhibit at Gallery Myrtis. If you’re familiar with most of Allen’s work, this exhibit’s content will pleasantly surprise you. Allen, a 2017 and 2023 Gordon Parks Inaugural Foundation Fellow and Time magazine’s 2015 and 2020 cover artist, has previously aligned himself and his work with the Gordon Parks quote, “I chose my camera as a weapon against all the things I dislike about America.” full article
BMORE Art, December 19, 2024
BmoreArt News: New Museum Leadership, Bria Sterling-Wilson at Galerie Myrtis by Rebecca Juliette
Based in Baltimore, Sterling-Wilson is a talented photographer and collagist who recontextualizes found materials to examine the representation and perception of African Americans in society. full article
BMORE Art, December 14, 2024
Morel Doucet honored with The Harpo Foundation 2024 Visual Artists Grant
Morel Doucet is a recipient of The Harpo Foundation 2024 Visual Artists Grant. The Harpo Foundation supports under-recognized artists whose work fosters critical dialogue. Doucet received this grant for his innovative artistry and skillfully weaving powerful narratives about ecology, identity, and social justice. full article
Baltimore Banner, December 7, 2024
4 must-see art exhibits in Baltimore galleries this December by Cara Ober
…one artist to watch is Devin Allen, who rose to international prominence in 2015 when his photograph from the Baltimore uprising was published on the cover of Time magazine. The self-taught photographer has continued to fight for social justice in Baltimore through a variety of photographic series, some a celebration of resistance and others capturing hometown pride in everyday moments. full article
DisCerning Eye, November 19, 2024
Catherine Howe and Susan J. Goldman offer soft and hard variations on a decorative staple by Abby Remer
…Goldman’s exquisitely designed and executed pictures, in which hard-edged abstract forms overlap, and sometimes fuse, with what the artist’s statement calls “Victorian decorative art.” Robust hues and intricate detailing, whether arranged in harmony or counterpoint, send wallpaper-like motifs on a cosmic trip. full article
NPR, August 23, 2024
Indigenous and Black people tell their own stories at the Mystic Seaport Museum
“Wail on Whalers, a Portrait of Amos Haskins” by Felandus Thames, an “homage to escaped enslaved people who found autonomy in whaling,” is comprised of hairbeads strung on coated wire. The piece is part of the “Entwined” exhibition, which reimagines thousands of years of maritime history through Black and Indigenous worldviews and experiences. full article
MV Times, August 7, 2024
Delita Martin’s ‘Sometimes My Blues Change Color’ by Abby Remer
Entering Delita Martin’s exhibition “Sometimes My Blues Change Color” at Featherstone Center for the Arts is a transformative experience. Along the wall are impressively large, arresting works that break the boundaries of our world and touch the transcendent, spiritual realm. full article
MSNBC, July 4, 2024
After 67 years, two small Maryland towns tore down the racial barrier dividing them by Ryan Teague Beckwith
…His initial ideas were more abstract, but as he talked with neighbors and the two mayors, they kept emphasizing that they wanted something that would send a message of unity. Eventually, Dixon came up with the idea of two hands lifting the barrier, bringing in local sculptor Wesley Clark to help build it. full article
Baltimore Sun, June 18, 2024
Collectors show and tell as ‘Antiques Roadshow’ films new season at Maryland Zoo in Baltimore by Abigail Gruskin
Myrtis Bedolla, the founding director of Galerie Myrtis in Baltimore, joined “Antiques Roadshow” for the first time Tuesday as an appraiser. She said her expertise is primarily in works by African American artists from the 20th and 21st centuries. But sitting at the paintings booth in the morning, she inspected works of all kinds. full article
Baltimore Beat, June 18, 2024
I’LL TRY TO BLOSSOM INSTEAD: THE VULNERABILITY AND MASTERY OF MEGAN LEWIS by Angela N. Carroll
Clouds disperse in wispy, pink-hued clusters against the setting sun of a blue-orange sky. Two brothers lean against a cold metal fence and each other for support. Bright colors roughly applied with sharp palette-knife strokes accent beaming skin. Their portrait, “I Feel Less Pressure, But I Have My Moments” (2024), is one of nineteen masterworks featured in Moon in Scorpio, Megan Lewis’ latest exhibition, on view at Galerie Myrtis. full article
CNBC, May 3, 2024
She’s worked for Nike, the NBA — and Maya Angelou. Meet abstract artist Ya La’ford by Lucy Handley
Her commissions — including sculpture, installations and gallery exhibitions — mean she is fully booked for the next four years. La’ford, who is based in the artsy community of St. Petersburg, Florida, reeled off the names of current and former clients, including Nike, McLaren Racing, basketball team Orlando Magic and ski brand Rossignol during a phone call with CNBC. full article
Daily Orange, April 18, 2024
Megan Lewis’ ‘Chromatic Expressions’ captures Black introspection through paintings
Syracuse community members gathered for an intimate event in the main hall of the Community Folk Art Center (CFAC) to observe “Chromatic Expressions,” a 23-piece gallery by multidisciplinary illustrator Megan Lewis. The gallery celebrates the many facets and emotions of Black people. full article
ARTCENTRON, April 12, 2024
Megan Lewis: Portraying Black Masculinity and Life Through Art
…One artist who has particularly captured the attention of both art lovers and collectors is Megan Lewis. Her paintings are prominently on display at the Galerie Myrtis Booth 405. Despite this being the gallery’s inaugural participation in the event, the collection of works on display has made it a standout attraction. full article
CNN, March 13, 2024
Monica Ikegwu on ‘Art is Life’ segment
During the interview conducted by correspondent Victor Blackwell, Ikegwu discussed the sense of empowerment her subjects gain through modeling and the importance of visibility. Further, the interview uplifted Monica’s forthcoming solo exhibition with Galerie Myrtis, “Extensions,” opening in the Fall. Band of Vices coordinated the CNN segment. watch segment
Essence, February 2, 2024
YA LA’FORD TEAMED UP WITH THE WELL-KNOWN LUXURY SKI WEAR BRAND TO MAKE WINTER SPORTS MORE ACCESSIBLE FOR ALL
The Bronx is no stranger to cold weather, but you don’t often associate the New York City borough with skiing or snowboarding. So, imagine artist and Bronx native Ya La’Ford’s surprise when luxury ski wear brand, Rossignol, asked her to help take one Bronx high school student’s interpretation of their dream mountain and use it to design an extra special set of skis for a great cause. full article
WMAR News Baltimore, February 1, 2024
Baltimore Artist Fights Outdated Narratives Surrounding Black Men through Art by Rushaad Hayward
Early on, Jerrell Gibbs knew he could draw. The Baltimore native picked up a paintbrush at the age of five and never looked back. Fast forward to now, Gibbs has artwork in the U.S. Capitol building, the Baltimore Museum of Art, the Los Angeles Museum of Art, and the X Museum in Beijing to name a few. full article