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Artist Biography

Chaz Guest (born May 2, 1961, in Niagara Falls, NY) is a self‑taught American painter and sculptor whose work explores Black identity, cultural legacy, and historical narrative through a vivid fusion of sumi ink, oil, and unconventional materials. He is the seventh of nine siblings and grew up in Philadelphia, where he pursued gymnastics and studied graphic design at Southern Connecticut State University on a scholarship, later continuing at the Fashion Institute of Technology. After graduating in 1985, Guest moved to New York and then Paris in 1986, working as a fashion illustrator for Joyce magazine. It was there that designer Christian Lacroix encouraged him to paint, leading to his transformation into a full‑time fine artist
Statement

Artist Statement

My work is born from spirit, history, and imagination. As a painter and storyteller, I’m deeply driven by the need to honor the dignity and power of the African American experience—both real and imagined. I paint to reclaim narrative, to resurrect heroes, and to create new ones. Whether through portraiture, abstraction, or myth-making, I aim to uplift the unseen and immortalize the spirit of resilience.

I work primarily in oil, ink, and raw canvas, allowing texture and imperfection to speak. My signature character, Buffalo Warrior, is a recurring presence in my practice—a fictional hero born from the legacy of the Buffalo Soldiers, envisioned as a protector, traveler, and truth-seeker. Through him and other subjects, I reimagine Black history not just as past, but as prophecy.

I do not paint for decoration; I paint for declaration. Each stroke is an offering to those who came before, and a challenge to those who see. My art is not quiet—it is a voice, a drumbeat, a stand.

— Chaz Guest

Jennia - Exhibitions

Artist Exhibitions

Jennia - Works Available

Works Available

Jennia - Press

Press

IN THE PAINT — Artist Spotlight
Jennia Fredrique Aponte

Jennia Fredrique Aponte, an artist from Gary, Indiana, pays homage to Black dancers and forgotten icons through intricate paper mosaics. Using rare, recycled, and handmade paper collected from her travels, Jennia crafts each piece to honor ancestors and envisions a future of inclusivity and joy.

Sol Aponte And Jennia Fredrique Seek To Amplify Voices In Black Art

Led by the husband-and-wife duo, Art Melanated is making a way for creatives of color—one exhibition at a time.

Meet the Husband and Wife Duo Shaking Up the Art World

Sol and Jennia Aponte are diversifying the overwhelmingly white art world by hosting traveling exhibitions of work by Black artists, thereby creating a new paradigm.

Jennia - Events

International Debut

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International Debut

Meet us in Paris. We’re excited to announce that Art Melanated is making its international debut at the 10th anniversary of AKAA (Also Known As Africa) @akaa_fair Art Fair this October in Paris. As the only U.S. gallery selected to exhibit, we’re bringing the brilliance of our community to the global stage—and spotlighting a very special artist. Jennia Fredrique Aponte @jenniafredrique will present her first solo international exhibition, debuting her breathtaking new series: Clockwork Academy: School for Girls. Set in an alternate 1888, this visionary body of work reimagines Black girlhood at the height of the Industrial Revolution—where invention becomes identity, and sisterhood becomes power. 📍 AKAA Art Fair – Carreau du Temple, Paris 🗓 October 24–26, 2025

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