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THE 2022 FEATURED ARTISTS

Shayla Renee Williams

Shayla Renee Williams’ vibrant work is charged with emotion and tells the stories of contemporary women through narrative portraits. She sees her work as being deeply therapeutic, and as her most important form of expression. She’s been featured in numerous FLAVA FRESH ! exhibitions, and is a FLAVA FRESH ! series award winner. Williams recently branched out into illustration and writing and published two children's books in 2020. 

Karome Walker

Karome Walker is the artistic director of Meraki Dance Company, Indy’s newest professional company and youth program. Walker is committed to bringing love, creativity, and soul to the community through elite training and entertaining shows.

Chantel Massey

Chantel Massey is a storyteller, poet, author, teaching artist, and educator based in Indiana. Poems from Bursting At The Seams (VK Press, 2018), her first book of poetry, has been performed across various platforms. Massey, also founded the literary arts organization, UnLearn Arts, cultivating and amplifying the craft and wellness of BIPOC writers in the Midwest and elsewhere.

Marrialle Sellars

Marrialle Sellars, a Top 20 “American Idol” competitor in 2014, made her Art & Soul debut in 2021, seven years after a successful audition for “Idol” panelists Jennifer Lopez, Keith Urban, and Harry Connick Jr. Then a 17-year-old Lawrence Central High School student, Sellars sang Bruno Mars’ “Grenade” on the TV talent search. She describes her music genre as “a unique and powerful sound mixing sultry R&B and slow pop.” Naked (Acoustic) - EP is her first original album.

Featured artist photos by Wildstyle Paschall. 

Video Series: Featured Artists get to know each other

Watch as Shayla Williams and Chantel Massey interview each other, and as Karome Walker and Marrialle Sellars interview each other. All four women talk about mental health and wellness, their art and why they were so excited to be part of Art & Soul. Videos by Mike Lee.

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Thank you to our funders

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Lilly
Indiana Arts Commission
CICF
Clowes Charitable Foundation