Bill Cournoyer

Bill Cournoyer is an independent creative consultant and founder of The Meeting—a private exhibition space, art advisory, and consultancy firm located in New York’s West Village. The Meeting has presented the debut solo exhibitions of Andy Bennett, Nick Hoecker, Samuel Farrier, and Tod Lippy, as well as the first New York solo exhibitions of Andrew Chapman, Buck Ellison, Christopher Culver, Henry Belden, Hongyan, Jack Ryan, and Patrick Carroll. Cournoyer held the position of Assistant Director of the Giorno Poetry Systems (2021-2022) where he curated and managed The Bunker, the Giorno Poetry Systems' debut public programming event series. In 2023, Cournoyer conceived and curated Downtown Dealers, a new conversation series that brings together New York art dealers across generations, recently acquired by Independent Art Fair.

Hasani Sahlehe

b. 1991, St. Thomas, USVI. Lives and works in Atlanta, GA, USA. 2015 BFA, Savannah College of Art and Design, Savannah, GA.

“Artist Hasani Sahlehe creates colorful abstract paintings that emphasize the physicality of the painted surface, drawing parallels between painting, music, and architecture. His recent techniques involve applying color to raw canvas using contrasting methods, creating a tension between textures. Sahlehe's work that references monumental architecture resonates with me the most, additionally creating a relationship to sculpture. The building block forms reflect ancient cultures or natural environments, perhaps with windows inviting us to peek into another time or space.”

Artwork Image: Song Ideas, 2024; acrylic gel and airbrush on raw canvas.

Kathe Burkhart

b. 1958, New York, NY. Lives and works in New York, NY. 1984 MFA, California Institute of the Arts, Valencia, CA.

“Kathe Burkhart has been an influential artist since the 1980s, focusing on gender roles, sexuality, and identity through various mediums and cultural references. Her fabulous, ongoing, and most well-known project—The Liz Taylor Series—critiques patriarchal systems by recontextualizing images of Elizabeth Taylor, challenging stereotypes and commodification of women. Burkhart's punk influenced works incorporate bold text and graphic imagery to explore themes of power and agency, emphasizing a radical female subjectivity, reflecting cultural movements. I would highly recommend reading her thorough and generous artist statement to gain additional insight into her practice. I’m a fan.”

Artwork Image: Sick Puppy, 2019; mixed media, acrylic on canvas, metal mash panel, cable ties, hooks, temporary tattoos.

Alexander Shchurenkov

b. 1984 Russia. Lives and works in New York, NY.

“Alexander Shchurenkov's artistic practice reflects on the emotional and political landscapes of queer life, influenced by his experiences in Russia and the US. His work addresses themes of isolation, addiction, and the construction of identity in the face of rising anti-queer sentiment globally, particularly in Russia and the US. Shchurenkov's decision to utilize a visual language akin to minimalism, subtly but powerfully creates suggestive narratives through austere means, allowing the viewer to respond to the work through their own history. Lastly, the use of visual metaphors of sex and glamour gives the work an edge which lingers long after the experience is over.”

Image: After (Silk), 2024; high-polished stainless steel, metal doorknob, vintage Hermès silk tie.