Arts & Culture
Local Black Artists Showing at Lancaster Art Vault
Celebrate Black History Month and beyond with Expressions of Strength: A Celebration of Black Art and Identity—an exhibition that honors the creativity, resilience, and rich diversity of Black voices.
Lancaster Art Vault, in collaboration with Violet Baldwin of Baldwin’s Gallery, is showing Expressions of Strength: A Celebration of Black Art and Identity—an exhibition that honors the creativity, resilience, and rich diversity of Black voices. Up throughout February and March of 2025, this powerful collection brings together the works of 18+ talented artists and poets who explore themes of heritage, identity, and community. Expressions of Strength invites viewers to reflect on the profound impact of Black culture and the stories that shape it.
Lancaster Visual Artists
Bashae Josephs
Bashae Josephs, born in Allentown, Pennsylvania, earned her A.A. in Fine Art from Northampton Community College in 2019 and her BS.Ed in Art Education from Kutztown University in 2023. She now teaches art to elementary school students. Using acrylics, her artwork highlights the beauty, sexuality, and stories of Black women, often incorporating nature and bold, expressionistic colors. Her work explores spirituality and subtly addresses life’s struggles. For Bashae, art is a path to self-discovery and growth.
Gerri McCritty
Gerri McCritty is a multidisciplinary artist born in Liberia, West Africa, and has been an active member of the Lancaster art community for over 20 years. A self-taught artist, she later earned an Art degree from Millersville University. Gerri primarily exhibits her work at PAVAA Gallery and creates sculptures from wood, bronze, clay, plaster, and found objects.
Joshua Beltre
Joshua F. Beltre, born in the Bronx, NYC, grew up surrounded by Dominican culture and the rhythms of merengue, bachata, and salsa. His passion for the arts, shaped by the Bronx’s diversity and hip-hop, led him to photography and creative direction, blending heritage with contemporary influences. He founded The Jazz White Collective to promote collaboration across music and visual arts. Now based in Lancaster, Joshua continues to grow as an artist while balancing life as a father.
Osmyn Oree
Osmyn J. Oree, a passionate photographer based in Lancaster, discovered fine art photography at 17 and has been dedicated to it ever since. His work focuses on conceptual portraiture and human connections, aiming to represent his subjects in a thoughtful and impactful way. Inspired by the lack of representation in Lancaster, Osmyn explores the Black diaspora through portraiture, filling a unique niche in the local art scene.
Tatiana Tisdale
Tatiana Tisdale is a self-taught, multi-passionate artist blending abstract and traditional elements. Specializing in acrylics, she also incorporates oil pastels, colored pencils, and markers to create textured layers. Her work has been exhibited in Athens and London, constantly evolving through unconventional techniques that express her intrinsic love for painting. Tatiana is also a Resident Artist at Lancaster Art Vault, where she continues to expand her creative practice and engage with the local art community.
Lancaster Poets & Showcases
Nobody’s Pen
Adding to the immersive experience, the gallery walls will showcase written works by numerous Lancaster’s poets, curated by “Nobody’s Pen,” weaving a rich tapestry of words and visual art.
Pop-Up Bookstore from A Concrete Rose
A Concrete Rose‘s pop-up will be offering a curated selection of books celebrating Black authors, culture, and history.
Featured Artists from Beyond the Lancaster Community
Want to discover more local? Follow Fig on Facebook and Instagram for inspiration.
