Alaya Manning
Alaya Manning Alaya Manning has always been an artist and has been greatly inspired by and influenced by animated shows. Her images are created in mixed media using markers, crayon, pencils, and watercolor. “I like to draw characters because it’s fun. I sometimes draw food characters. It’s fun to make cute outfits for them.”
Uriel Levitt
Uriel Levitt Uriel Levitt has enjoyed creating art since he was young. He was a winner in the 2016 VSA International Art Program for Children with Disabilities and joined Visibility Art Lab in 2018. Uriel laughs and is playful as he explores his ideas. He’s fond of spooky themes and likes to illustrate characters from Five Nights of Freddy. At Visibility Art Lab, Uriel enjoys drawing, painting, ceramics, and exploring with found objects. He’s very proud of his business, Shred Support, and participates in several groups at his synagogue.
Ivan Leavens
Ivan Leavens After Ivan Leavens graduated from school, a cousin who’s an artist inspired him to try art. Ivan uses pencils, crayons, collage, and mixed media to create his works and adds lots of details and layers to each piece. Ivan also likes to write journals. Outside of art, he journals, volunteers, and works as an ambassador at Main Street. He enjoys books, movies, music, and spending time with family. “I can express who I am and always can add and build off whatever happens. I like to draw anything that comes to my mind. I like flags and I like colors.”
Aya Kuzbari
Aya Kuzbari Aya Kuzbari is an artist who makes fused glass jewelry, occasion cards, and paintings. She feels relaxed and calm when creating art. She enjoys making art because it’s inspiring to her and others, and likes designing pretty things that make people happy. Aya graduated from Ivymount School in 2008 and from Montgomery College’s Graduate Transition Program in 2015. She completed the Project SEARCH program in 2017. In addition to working at VisAbility Art Lab, Aya works at Strathmore.
Maven Kahn
Maven Kahn Maven Kahn is an outsider artist specializing in sculpture and mixed media. She’s worked with the Washington Glass School, interned with jeweler Nick Barnes, and has been with VisAbility Art Lab since 2016. Maven had a solo show in VisArts’ Common Ground Gallery in 2018 and has participated in many group art shows at VisArts and other galleries. She started teaching at VisArts in 2023. “My heart is often most absurd. I play with music, and I play with words, I form with clay, and I build with wire, and I make whatever my heart desires. I make fine art of the low brow kind. I manifest what’s in my mind. My art is colorful, strange, and queer.”
Heather Ingle
Heather Ingle Heather Ingle has been drawing since she was a child; she started after her mom gave her a sketch book. When she was 12, she took an art class; other than that, she’s a self-taught artist. Heather joined VisAbility Art Lab in 2023 and draws mostly in colored pencils and occasionally with a pen. Sometimes, she creates digital drawings of cartoons.
Andrew Holton
Andrew Holton Andrew Holton has always enjoyed art and aims to create as he sees things. His art reflects his love of nature, animals, and fish. Many of Andrew’s images depict fish in their natural underwater habitat. His work is filled with vibrant colors and lots of details. Andrew has explored painting, drawing, and ceramics and is excited to be working on the potter’s wheel.
Thea Hensler-McGinnis
Thea Hensler-McGinnis Thea Hensler-McGinnis is from the Washington, DC area. When she was about eight-years-old, she realized that art was her thing. She likes to draw and paint using a lot of intricate designs. Since she joined VisAbility Art Lab in 2024, she’s discovered an interest in creating with fused glass. Thea spends a lot of time in school programs and likes to play soccer when she has time.
Camille Galli
Camille Galli Camille Galli has been making art for a long time and joined VisAbility Art Lab in 2023. She enjoys exploring with paint, fused glass, and collage. Her art features animals and bright colors. She loves to make things for others and is proud when her work is on display and sold.
Sam Fratantoni
Sam Fratantoni Sam Fratantoni joined VisAbility Art Lab in 2019. He’s always enjoyed creating and took art classes in school. One of his art teachers inspired him to create at home. Sam makes art with found objects, sews felt figures, builds with wire, explores with collage, and creates with ceramics and paint. His art is about the world around him. Outside the studio, Sam works in hospitality and enjoys performance art and outdoor activities like running, swimming, walking his dog, and using his remote-control car. “I like to create with found objects. I like to draw in my sketchbook. Art is fun!”