Neil Wheelock Deforest Smith
Visual Artist | Director
Neil Wheelock Deforest Smith did not take a traditional path into the galleries of East Asia. His career began in Seoul when he was discovered using copy machines and traditional Korean paper to produce raw, unrehearsed visuals. This accidental start set the tone for a practice that ignores high-brow conventions in favor of the immediate and the discarded.
Known in South Korea as the creator of “쓰레기 예술” (Garbage Art), Smith builds his narratives from found materials. His process is a study of how the physical properties of a medium can change the message of a piece. By focusing on intuitive and spontaneous storytelling, he finds value in objects others have thrown away, forcing a dialogue between the viewer and the mundane.
Since 2023, his work has traveled across a vast geographic and cultural map, appearing in: Seoul, Tokyo, New York, and Bangkok, Yogyakarta, Scotland, and Busan. Despite the "garbage" label, his work stands up to the most rigorous contemporary standards. He has participated in exhibitions featuring influential figures like Ai WeiWei, Lee Ufan, Anish Kapoor, Kingscribbler, and Peter Leon, proving that spontaneous creation has a seat at the table of fine art.
Smith is a founding member of 헤쳐모여, an art collective based in Asia. The group focuses on hosting exhibitions that prioritize community building and inclusion, moving away from the gatekeeping often found in the art market. With solo shows in Korea and Vietnam, he continues to bridge the gap between the grit of the street and the walls of the gallery.
Tay Dixon
Visual Artist | Arts Administrator
"I am a multimedia artist who explores concepts of self-reflection, perception, gender, and dreams. My art often contains eyes and mirrors, using recycled materials I conceptualize dark imagery that reflects personal experiences.
Art is the human experience made perceivable. We better understand ourselves and connect with others through art. That is why art is more important than ever, through dark times it sheds light on what makes us human."
Links:
@art.tay.137
Peter León
Visual Artist | General Manager
About my art
My paintings explore themes of identity, uncertainty, and the stories we tell ourselves to get through the day. They often feature an expressive face surrounded by text that serves as the character's voice. My goal is to invite viewers into a dialogue with each painting that encourages them to pause and reflect on their own lives.
My thoughts on art
I once heard a quote from Nina Simone that summarizes my thoughts on art: "An artist's duty, as far as I'm concerned, is to reflect the times." I think there's value in art for art's sake, and there's value in art as decoration. But the work that stays with me is art that changes the way I think about something or inspires people to see the world differently.
What I'd like to see in the future
I'd like to see the art world become more welcoming, accessible, and collaborative. That's why I love being part of the Hechyeomoyeo. We need more communities and spaces that encourage experimentation and dialogue because those are the things that keep artists motivated and moving.
Jham
Visual Artist | Thailand Executive Board Director
Artist Statement
I’m a Filipino visual artist and photographer based in Thailand. My practice centers on expressive line art, where I reinterpret animals and botanical forms into stylized illustrations that celebrate character, movement, and emotion. Alongside my illustration practice, I also create paintings, mixed media works, and participatory art projects that explore memory, human connection, and storytelling.
Thoughts on Art
I believe art is a language that can be spoken in many ways. Whether through illustration, painting, photography, or installation, each medium offers its own way of communicating ideas and emotions. To me, every artwork is an invitation to start a conversation, whether within ourselves, with others, or with the world around us. I hope to see an art world that welcomes experimentation, embraces diverse visual languages, and gives artists the freedom to evolve without the pressure to fit into a single style.
Links
Instagram: @jhamfongWebsite:
https://jhamfongart.wordpress.com
Other links:
작가 우갱
Woogaeng
Visual Artist | South Korean Executive Board Director
Painter, Writer, and Engineer, speaker of many languages, and all around nice guy.
Humanities book : @wgdoodle707
Scott O’Sullivan
Visual Artist | Curator | Executive Director in Ireland
Scott O’Sullivan was born out of wedlock not far from the most southern tip of the island of Ireland in 1995. He paints with his strong hand and lifts weights with his weaker one. In attempts to find balance. Scott has exhibited in Dublin, Bangkok, Da Nang, Seoul, New York and LA. I mostly make paintings that include people he knows personally.
DEADsoon
Audio Artist | Sound Curator | Manager in Ireland
I make music. I make installations. I draw and I write. I make anything I can make. I even make things I don't know how to make. All in the hopes of freedom. All from a place of love. In darkness and in light.
I want everyone to be what they are. To be what they want. To dare. To brave. To live life through art and play. To love more than yesterday.
DEADsoon.
Nick Lepore
Graphic Design / Artist
I’m an artist and graphic designer based in Connecticut. My work explores form, color, and negative space through compositions that often include flowers, expressive hands, and abstract forms. Working across traditional and digital media, I use ink, pastel, acrylic paint, and digital tools to create imagery that embraces imperfect forms, bold color, and experimentation. I occasionally animate my work, extending compositions through movement and inviting viewers into a short story. My background in graphic design influences how I approach composition and visual communication, helping me balance artistic expression with thoughtful design.
Links
Instagram: @niklepore
Website: nickleporedesign.com
Tori Rassa
Tori Rassa is an artist based in Connecticut. She was an American History teacher until a battle with a potentially blinding disease led to her step away from the classroom and into the art studio. Despite the limitations of her condition, she now spends her time painting what she calls “Earthly delights” – acrylic paintings inspired by the natural world infused with a touch of magic.
Sejal Maurya
Filmmaker | Graphic Designer | Social Media Designer
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hyyhyk13/
I’m a filmmaker and artist from Goa, India. I make music videos, films, and random media content; exploring my potential and trying new things. All my personal work is a form of expression that communicates a certain feeling, or concept; that could be interpreted in various ways. I enjoy observing and learning about multimedia content, art installations, music, and I’m especially keen on learning about stage and set design for concerts and film.
Although my expertise lies in film post-production, I dedicate myself to the entire process of a film. I use these skills on a low for social media design and content creation, which allows me to learn more about video editing and art styles.
I sketch, paint, learn languages, study subjects that interest me [biodiversity, psychology] and play with/treat my neighborhood indies and cats.
I just appreciate everything; it’s thrilling to live this way.
Nafy Llanas
Nafy Llanas is a multidisciplinary visual artist, animator, and designer based in Monterrey, Mexico. By combining analog processes such as painting, stop-motion, and miniature art with digital media, her work explores time, nostalgia, and unique imaginary worlds where memory and the future converge.
She fuses conceptual art direction with graphic design to create striking visual narratives within creative and collaborative initiatives.
Links:
https://www.instagram.com/nafy.llanas/
https://nafyllanas.wordpress.com/
https://vimeo.com/nafyllanas
