Kate Whitmore
Kate Whitmore Kate Whitmore has always enjoyed arts and crafts and has taken painting and drawing classes. She joined VisAbility Art Lab in 2021 with her husband, who’s also an artist. Kate loves being part of the community and has developed a passion for drawing and design. Her art is brightly colored and often features animals and seasonal themes. She occasionally creates in paint, but always returns to her favorite medium – colored markers.
D’Anté Whitlow
D’Anté Whitlow D’Anté Whitlow grew up in Detroit; he started taking art seriously when he was in third grade. In middle school, he discovered pop culture – a perfect fit for his art, which is influenced by TV shows and features heavy lines and superhero-style comics. D’Anté moved to Maryland when he was 14. He graduated from Gaithersburg High School, earned a certificate in fine arts from Montgomery College, and works at Creative Edge Signs and Graphics, where he designs logos and signs. He’s been a VisArts gallery assistant since 2014 and in 2016 he joined VisAbility Art Lab, where he creates imagery that depicts figures, animals, and logos. He brings paper and a pencil everywhere.
Louis Von Rago
Louis Von Rago From an early age, Louis Von Rago was told that his artwork was special. He attended a gifted artists’ program in high school and studied graphic design and commercial art at Broward Community College, the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale, and the Art Institute of Pittsburgh. Louis is prolific and works on his numerous artistic endeavors at VisAbility Art Lab and in his home. He completed a mural in Cleveland Park, painted a lunch truck, and loves to upcycle furniture with paint. His art delights with bright colors and playful animals and figures.
Justin Valenti
Justin Valenti ustin Valenti is an artist from Gaithersburg, Maryland. He works in digital media, drawing, painting, printmaking, and ceramics. His artwork showcases his interest in nature, animals, and pop culture. In his digital pieces, he superimposes images and symbols to create unusual contexts for viewers to explore. Justin has published four books and designed a playground mural for Wheaton Regional Park. He received the 2023 Maryland Governor’s Award for Disability Culture, is an advocate for people with autism, serves on the Arc of Maryland’s board of directors, and is a drummer for the band Neurodiversity. He graduated from Project SEARCH and works at NIH. Learn more at jkvalenti2014.wordpress.com/home/
Hunter Tschiffely
Cara Thompson
Cara Thompson Cara Thompson realized she loved creating art when she was a senior in high school. She joined Visibility Art Lab in 2018, where she gets support and feels inspired to create as a way to express herself. Cara enjoys drawing, painting, and experimenting with shapes, textures, colors, and patterns. Outside of VisArts, she likes writing stories, is a reality TV fanatic, swims regularly, and spends time with her family and friends.
James Edward Styslinger
James Edward Styslinger James Edward Styslinger is a painter and sculptor based in Gaithersburg, Maryland. Working primarily in acrylic on canvas, he creates compositions inspired by nature, movement, and inner reflection. He earned an A.A. from Montgomery College in 1994 and a B.S. in Mathematics from the University of Maryland, College Park, in 2006. Diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder in 1991, James has pursued his creative and academic goals with resilience and determination. Alongside his art practice, James finds inspiration in athletics and meditative walks that deepen his connection to the natural world. His work transforms personal experience into imagery that evokes presence, emotion, and clarity.
Ella Smith
Ella Smith Ella Smith has been making art since she was two-years-old. She’s explored ceramics, fused glass, liquid acrylics, and watercolors and is particularly fond of painting; her detailed compositions feature brightly colored shapes. Ella joined VisAbility Art Lab in 2022. She graduated from the GTP program at Montgomery College and has continued to work with the MOST program. She also likes to exercise and swim.
Yelena Simpson
Yelena Simpson Yelena Simpson immigrated to Maryland from Russia when she was seven; that’s when she started drawing. Following high school, Yelena took an in-home art class before she discovered VisArts; she started taking classes at VisArts and joined VisAbility Art Lab in 2019. Although she’s explored a variety of modalities, Yelena prefers painting and drawing. Many of her images explore popular culture and social media. Yelena has worked at Dawson’s Market and a restaurant in Olney. She enjoys basketball and won a gold medal with her Special Olympics group.
Lindsey Schaufelberger
Lindsey Schaufelberger Lindsey Schaufelberger has always loved art and has studied at VisArts, Ivymount School, and in private studio sessions. She enjoys many art forms and particularly likes painting, ceramics, and mosaics. Her works feature birds, animals, and figures in bright, bold colors. Lindsay joined VisAbility Art Lab in 2016. When she’s not creating art, she works at Brookdale, a senior center. She also spends time in Maine, where she hikes and collects items for collages.