Local Art Spotlight

Jeremy Litrell Henderson is a contemporary American artist whose work centers on honesty in a culture shaped by polite avoidance. 

Henderson makes work for people who sense that something is off — but don’t need it explained to them.

He values truth without performance: the kind that registers immediately and rarely gets discussed. Henderson’s work touches subjects most people are taught to manage quietly —desire, restraint, faith rupture, boredom, and the fatigue of maintaining a version of oneself that no longer fits.

The work does not provoke for effect or offer resolution. It stays. Collectors are drawn to it because it mirrors their inner life without asking for disclosure, offering a private experience inside a public world.

For many collectors, Henderson’s paintings become less something to look at and more something to live with — quiet companions to inner life.

Henderson’s paintings are collected by individuals who value discretion, depth, and self-honesty — people who understand that the most meaningful things are rarely announced.

Henderson will be featured by the African American Visual Artist Guild on Feb. 21 from 2-5 p.m. at the Central State University Dayton branch on Germantown Street. Admission is free. 

Contact information:  www.Litrellgallery.com
 

Taliaferro Sebastian is a nationally recognized fine artist based in Dayton, whose work captures culture, identity, and emotion with striking clarity. Known for his ability to evoke deep emotional responses, Sebastian's paintings create an intimate dialogue between viewer and canvas, engaging both sight and consciousness.

His work is held in private collections of celebrities and professional athletes worldwide, reflecting the broad cultural resonance of his visual language. Sebastian is the founder and owner of Art Has No Rules Studios and Gallery, a creative space where collectors and community members alike can experience completed works while witnessing new pieces come to life.

Working primarily with acrylic and spray paint, Sebastian's practice centers on powerful representations of Black culture, pride, and lived experience. He earned his bachelor's degree in art with a focus on graphic design from Central State University, where his artistic development was influenced by notable figures such as Abner Cope, Dwyane Daniels, James Pate, Ernie Barnes, Jean­michel Basquiat, and Kaws.

Through resilience and experimentation, Sebastian continues to challenge conventions, using art as a tool for cultural preservation, storytelling, and transformation.

Contact information: www.arthasnorules.com

Clifford Darrett is a charter member of the African American Visual Artist Guild and has served in all elected offices of AAVAG.

He is a professional artist, musician and a Jazz disk jockey at WDPS radio station in Dayton. Darrett is an Emeritus Board member and serves as a resource person for AAVAG.

He has an associate degree in electronic data processing from Sinclair Community College, a bachelor's degree in business administration from Central State University and a master's degree in computer science from the University of Dayton.

His artwork is in many public and private collections in the United States. He is an oil painter of contemporary realism and African American history. He is a retired General Motors employee and a veteran of the United States Air Force.

Contact information: @email

Dr. Carol Jaxson-Jager received her bachelor's degree from Miami University in Oxford, and her master's degree from Xavier in Cincinnati. She later earned an educational specialist degree and an educational doctorate from Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn., while living in Germany, and a Ph.D. From Barrington University in Japan

She was a traveling speech, hearing, and language therapist in Jefferson Township before working with the Department of Defense in Germany, Japan, and England as a counselor and speech, hearing, and language therapist.

In those years, she traveled, published books, articles, and poetry, lectured at universities, both overseas and statewide, presented programs on special needs and abused children and adults, and took art classes while exploring art techniques and enjoying freedom of expression.

Contact information: www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/carol-marie-jaxson-jager-dayton-oh/74246

Nathan Conner was born in Baltimore M.D. and raised in Toledo. As a child, Nathan always liked to draw. He a graduate from Jesup W Scott High School focusing in commercial arts. He attended the University of Toledo, where he majored in theatrical design. He also attended Columbus College of Design, where he majored in fashion illustrations.

After retiring from Honda's Marysville plant, he moved to Springfield, where he immerses himself in the art cultured scene. He has a studio space at The Hatch Artist Studio and is a member of the African American Visual Art Guild of Dayton. He is also a member of the Madriver Art league of Springfield.

Nathan was one of the artist who helped paint the Tranformation Mural at the State Theatre, which was part of a John Legend television pilot “Finding Harmony” on ABC/Disney+. Nathan was also one of the artist featured on WOSU's ”Broad & High“ PBS television program featuring four local artist of Springfield. His paintings placed 2nd and 3rd place at SMOA's “Juried Membership Exhibition“ in 2021 and in 2023.  

His paintings have been part of a traveling exhibit with AAVAG. His painting of the Negro Baseball league was auction off and then donated to the Negro League Baseball Museum in Kansas City, M.O. He also has solo art exhibits at AAVAG, Wittenberg University, United Senior Center.

Contact information: @email

Shirley Tucker is a professional artist who specializes in graphic design, acrylic oil painting and murals. 

Over the years, she has utilized her own artistic abilities to give adolescents the creative outlets and coping skills they need. She retired as head facilitator of the Montgomery County Juvenile Court's art program, Helping Adolescents Achieve Long-term Objectives (HAALO). HAALO is a collaboration between the juvenile court and K12 Gallery & TEJAS in Dayton, an artist-centered regional visual arts center offering innovative programs for all ages.

She grew up in Dayton and graduated from Meadowdale High School, where she became interested in art. She earned her associate of arts degree from Rio Grande college and studied graphic design at Bowling Green State University. She also earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts from Wright State University.

Contact information: @email

Joy Johnson is a self-taught painter, muralist, and curator whose work explores the intersections of abstraction, rhythm, and cultural storytelling. Her practice spans from large-scale public murals to intimate works on paper, each piece layered with color, texture, and form evoking both movement and memory.  

“I create art that blends the recognizable with the abstract, drawing inspiration from music, architecture, and the lived experiences. Through vibrant palettes and dynamic compositions, I aim to capture the energy of liberation and the complexity of identity, with a particular focus on the histories and futures of BIPOC life. My work seeks to spark dialogue, inspire curiosity, and build bridges between personal expression and shared history, affirming art as both a practice of liberation and a space of belonging.”  

Contact information: @email