MÁS KC & KC Fringe Festival 2025

Artist Bio:

I have been creating art since I could hold a pencil, and it allows me to express my inner thoughts and feelings as words cannot. My goal is to invite the viewer into the surreal, fantastical way I often view the world.

I created “Waves of Pain” during a bout of acute illness, and it allowed me to release the anger and despair I was feeling towards my body. 

Instagram: @reneejenart

Karina is an emerging artist captivated by the diverse ways we connect with ourselves and the world around us. Her painting, "The Eye of the Ring," is a direct reflection of a pivotal experience during a boxing training session-a moment when she learned to cultivate inner calm amidst the surrounding intensity. Through vibrant acrylics, Karina captures this powerful lesson, inviting viewers to discover their own point of stillness within life's unfolding motion. This is Karina's first showcasing at the Kansas City Fringe Festival! 

Follow her artistic journey on Instagram: @karinasolis_artist

Sara Dean Artist Bio:

Sara Dean is a native Texan, Kansas City planted artist. She finds inspiration in nature, humor, and bright colors. Her main muses are her 4 children, and any/every dog. Sara primarily works with acrylic paints, but enjoys exploring and creating in a variety of media. Sara is self taught and believes art is an essential part of our humanity. She hopes her art will inspire others to create their own art. Instagram: @saradoesartstuff

In, From, To, Near The West Bottoms
With an interest in photography spanning nearly six decades, Brian Creal has largely avoided it as a profession to avoid the risk of burnout. Instead, he prefers to shoot for fun and focus on subjects he has an interest in and cares about.

Such is the case with Kansas City's West Bottoms. He never expected this project to reach the "exhibit" level...wouldn't really have even called it a project when it began. After years of driving past, glancing over and thinking "that's cool looking", Creal finally decided to come down and take a few shots.

Almost immediately hooked, he loved the juxtoposition of the old and the new; stately vs. crumbling; old-time graphics sharing space with grafitti; the curves and angles. And it wasn't just exclusively stuff inside the bottoms: The KC skyline from James Street, railroad lines and highways and bridges into and out of and around, all combine to make a visually rich area.

He has since moved away from the area so further shots are unlikely. There are, however, several more images that didn't get included and will sooner or later (probably later) be posted online.

Brian Creal Bio
oohsinoz@gmail.com

Vania Soto is a Latina visual artist and muralist based in Kansas City. Her work explores themes of cultural identity, heritage, and community through vibrant realism and surrealism. Inspired by her own experiences as a first-generation Mexican-American, Vania’s art often honors matriarchal strength and the stories of underrepresented voices. She is the founder of Monarca Art Space, a gallery and creative hub in the West Bottoms that champions local artists, youth education, and cultural equity. Her murals can be seen throughout Kansas City, transforming public spaces into living reflections of resilience, beauty, and belonging.

Instagram: artista_vaniasoto

vaniasoto@live.com