This past summer we welcomed the first thirteen artists representing our 2023 Massachusetts Statewide Capacity Building Grant Program which includes, in total, twenty-six artists.
We are thrilled to now welcome and highlight the second half of this cohort, thirteen emerging and mid-career artists representing a diverse array of talent from across the state. We hope you’ll take a few minutes to read, meet and follow these artists as they progress through our program!
Amaryllis lopez (lawrence)
Amaryllis Lopez (she/her) is a Puerto Rican arts educator and cultural worker based in Lawrence, Massachusetts. Her work is fueled by her afrofeminist imagination, love of words, and desire to preserve joy. Lopez is an experienced teaching artist with a decade of social justice curriculum building and facilitation, non-profit leadership, and graphic design experience. Her work with communities and schools is grounded in asset-based orientations and a demonstrated commitment to educational equity and social justice. She earned her B.A. in English with minors in Latin American & Caribbean Studies and African American Studies from Bridgewater State University in 2020.
amya meshelle (brockton)
A 22 year old LGBTQ Visual Artist, born and raised in Brockton MA, Amya Meshelle (she/her) is looking to break boundaries with her work, and showcase her talents and strengths as a self taught artist. Amya’s main mediums are watercolor, oil and acrylic paint, but she often utilizes mixed media techniques in her artwork that express the voice, thoughts, and feelings of her inner child. Growing up disabled, biracial, queer, and a woman - Amya often struggled with mental health, identity, and expressing herself. Art has been a way for Amya to communicate and connect with not only herself but with others.
borirock (fitchburg)
BoriRock (he/him) is a Puerto Rican and Dominican artist from Dorchester, Massachusetts, fresh off the release of his 15th full-length project in two years. Also known as El Hooto, The Puerto Rican Jay-Z, Hootie Hustle, Pastor Hoot, and Teflon Hoot, Bori has steadily grown his fan base across Boston and the underground of NYC over the last two years. Through a combination of comedy, braggadocio, and disarming vulnerability, Bori has captured the hearts of anyone who spends time getting to know him and his brand. As someone who truly cares about his community and the younger artists that will follow him, he has quickly become a vanguard and a leader in a city that has historically had little infrastructure or desire to boost artists towards a career of global recognition and financial success. Bori continues to use art to change the circumstances of his life, and he is an inspiration to others to do the same.
dimitri suriel (worcester)
Frankie, a name given by my Dominican father, serves as a shield, concealing inner pain. It's the name I use in most aspects of life, projecting confidence. However, few are familiar with my middle name, Dimitri, given by my Puerto Rican mother and known only within my family. Dimitri carries our family's trauma, often overlooked and misunderstood.
Through poetry and photography, Dimitri finds a voice to articulate our shared experiences, uncovering memories intertwined with both pain and beauty. Drawing inspiration from poet Martín Espada, I aim to explore our family's trauma more deeply, providing a language for collective healing and unearthing hidden stories.
Dimitri is no longer hidden, which is why I write under the pen name Dimitri Suriel. Poetry feels like a comforting visit to my grandmother's embrace, a safe haven. Photography, initially meant to complement poetry, has grown into a passionate pursuit, capturing the beauty of everyday life and family moments. In my journey, my goal is to evolve into a captivating storyteller, fostering healing for myself, my family, and my community, all while embracing Dimitri.
kei (BOSTON)
After releasing her 2021 debut EP, “baby steps”, kei (she/her) was quickly embraced by the New England music scene where she continues to thrive. Her follow up second EP “terrible twos” (May 2022) paid homage to her influences, Rico Nasty and Bktherula and cemented kei’s status as one of Boston’s most promising emerging artists. Following her ‘terrible tour’ leg spanning Boston-New York-Los Angeles, and the success of her breakout single “berserk”, kei was not only crowned Jack Daniel’s Best New Artist of the Year at the 2022 Boston Music Awards, but also admitted to the 2023 cohort of Harvard University’s No Label Academy where she garnered co-signs from the likes of BIA and IDK. She has also garnered a reputation for energetic live shows; from gracing the stage at Future Forward Festival to opening for Asian Doll, Lola Brooke, BKTHERULA, IDK, Grandmaster Flash, Blvck Svm and Van Buren Records, kei is quickly becoming a force to be reckoned with.
laila franklin (boston)
Laila J. Franklin (she/her) is a dance maker, performer, teacher, administrator, archivist, and writer based in Boston, MA, by way of Washington, DC. Her work explores kinetic imagination through the rigor of juxtaposing virtuosic and intimate performances. Laila’s choreography has been presented through Public Space One (IA), Loculus Sideways Door Festival (MA), Bates Dance Festival Works In Progress Showing (ME), Lion’s Jaw Dance and Performance Festival’s The Thing (MA), the Boston Conservatory, and the University of Iowa. She is a recipient of a Boston Center for the Arts Dancemakers Residency (2023/2024), Dancemakers Lab Residency (2022/2023), and Run of the Mills Residency (2022); and a Boston Conservatory at Berklee Alumni Choreographic Commission (2022). She was the recipient of an Iowa Arts Fellowship (2019-2021) and a Dance/USA Archiving and Preservation Fellowship (2023). Her performance and collaboration credits include projects with Miguel Gutierrez, Michael Figueroa, Melinda Jean Myers, Dr. Christopher-Rasheem McMillan, and Stephanie Miracle. Laila has been working as a teaching artist since 2018, and also serves as a consultant and collaborator for social justice education projects and programming. She holds a BFA in Contemporary Dance Performance from The Boston Conservatory and a MFA in Dance from the University of Iowa.
lilah boyd (brockton)
Lilah! (she/her) is a musician whose talent knows no bounds. Raised in Brockton, her latest single, "Brolic Freestyle," showcases her captivating cadences and unique rhyme patterns, setting her apart from the crowd. Her music delves into personal experiences, shedding light on important issues and celebrating individuality. Beyond her solo work, Lilah's contributions as a writer and producer have been recognized on various projects such as BLK ODYSSY's "Diamonds & Freaks", GRIP's "Five & A F*** You", Khary's "THIS IS WEIRD", and many more. With Lilah's infectious energy, undeniable talent, and commitment to authenticity, she is undoubtedly an artist to watch. She continues to make waves in the music scene, spreading joy and creativity to her audience.
michael tejada (lawrence)
Michael Tejada’s (he/him) love of filmmaking started around 2016, when he began documenting his friends creating art around his hometown of Lawrence, Massachusetts. Michael made his first narrative short film in 2019, titled “BOYS WILL BE BOYS” which was nominated for multiple film festivals across the world. In 2020, he made his second short film titled “ERIKA”, which was also nominated and selected to be featured on the popular filmmaking hub No Budge. He recently released his third short film titled “JUNE 22ND”. Michael continues to navigate the film industry as he takes jobs working on various productions. He's currently in post-production for his next blockbuster short showcasing bachata and Dominican culture titled, "BAILANDO".
naledi masilo (cambridge)
South African vocalist, composer, and teaching artist Naledi Masilo (she/her) captivates audiences with spirited and deeply rooted encounters. Her music immerses listeners in a fusion of jazz tradition, storytelling, and her African heritage. Naledi's talents extend beyond singing, as she effortlessly communicates in over 7 languages, incorporating dance and spoken word into her artistic expression.
Mentored by esteemed figures like Dee Dee Bridgewater, Dominique Eade, and Jason Moran, Naledi is an alumni of the New England Conservatory and has been artistically recognized with residencies at the Kennedy Center and the Banff International Jazz and Creative Music workshop. Through her art, Naledi strives to inspire action and touch lives.
Collaborating with young virtuosic musicians from around the globe, Naledi's band creates an immersive sonic journey, blending original compositions and storied covers influenced by South African Jazz and Black American Music. Anticipation mounts for her forthcoming debut EP, scheduled for release in Spring/Summer '24. Naledi Masilo is a rising star with a compelling story that will leave a lasting impression.
qudrat wasefi (cambridge)
A visionary young Afghan composer and Trumpeter, Qudrat Wasefi (he/him) harnesses the power of music to defy adversity and advocate for positive change. Born into a conservative family, where music was considered sinful, Qudrat’s journey to become a renowned trumpeter, composer, and poet was transformative. At eight years old, he joined an AFCECO orphanage in Kabul, where his love for music flourished. He studied music at the Afghanistan National Institute of Music and founded a choir for children from AFCECO orphanages, composing patriotic songs that embodied Afghan resilience.
Qudrat channeled his emotions into impactful compositions that resonated globally. He released the moving music video “The Children of War,” capturing the resilience and innocence prevailing amidst adversity. His composition “A Candle of Hope in the Darkness” united Italian musicians, and performances with the “Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra” and a string quartet in Melbourne showcased the fusion of music’s universal language with Afghanistan’s cultural tapestry.
This year, Qudrat’s musical contributions expanded further. He represented Afghan music at a prestigious Boston concert, honoring his homeland’s artistic heritage. Notably, he orchestrated Afghan song “Ay Shakh-e Gul” for the “American Festival Chorus,” at Utah State University. In early 2023, he founded the “Afghanistan Freeharmonic Orchestra”, aiming to reunite Afghan musicians who have lost connection or hope amidst their homeland’s challenges. His music serves as a catalyst for peace and freedom.
thanh “nu” mai (worcester)
Thanh “Nu” Mai (they/he/Nu) is an artist/art organizer/social activist. Their works are a way for them to connect with their roots and help empower others. Nu co-founded Vănguard - a zine for LGBTQ+ in Vietnam to engage and promote awareness of this community. The zine volumes are displayed and researched in various journal libraries around the world. In 2019, Vanguard was archived by the Library of Congress. Nu has been invited to speak at the Địa Project, the US Embassy, Northeastern University and M.I.T University. Nu is also the co-founder of the first art hostel in Ho Chi Minh City called Cháosdowntown, which hosts performances, exhibitions, talks and collaborations for local and international artists. Nu’s works focused on various ways to heal the Vietnamese diaspora from oppression.
tyler rai (holyoke)
Tyler Rai (she/they) is a dance artist, writer, ritualist, and producer who works across live performance, narrative essays, and experimental sound works. She draws connections between grief and mourning practices, biological and cultural inheritances, geologic time, and ecological change to reveal the poetic entanglements between spirituality, mythology, embodied experience, and earth’s ecological systems. Her work has been presented at The Philadelphia Fringe Festival, Governors Island, The Jewish Museum of Maryland, ARC Pasadena, Judson Church, SPACE Gallery, and The School for Contemporary Dance and Thought. She received a Massachusetts Cultural Council Artist Fellowship Finalist Award and is a graduate of Beth Morrison Project's Producer Academy. She has been an artist-in-residence at the Santa Fe Art Institute, Bennington College, UMass Amherst, Earthdance, The Sable Project, and Works on Water. She is constantly surprised by the power of wonder and is invested in care-across-species as a survival strategy through the Anthropocene.
xray aims (boston)
Xray Aims (they/them) is a multidisciplinary performance artist, a queer and disabled person, who works with collaborators in long durational pieces. These intersect art and kink in an effort to connect humans to one another, and beyond. Their work engages with beauty, pain, the built environment and the body. Movement, communication and the audience are key. In 2020, as the pandemic took over, and collaborating with others became too fraught, Aims followed a dream and went to work on a solo installation called BasketArt Court. Using deconstructed bike tubes, they wove them into a long rope-like structure, from the backboards to the middle square knot, in the court near their home. This then evolved into a 2021 film that screened at several festivals. Recently, they have gotten back to the practice they love, with collaborators, and completed two performances, one at nighttime and one at daytime, both outside for the first time, in NYC at Le Petit Versailles. As an artist their work has been performed/installed in solo and group shows in the U.S., Canada and Europe. In this year alone, they have been awarded the Collective Futures Fund and the Mass Cultural Council: Cultural Sector Recovery Grant, along with Boston Center for the Arts: Studio Residency Program 2023-2026. Xray Aims was born, and lives, in Boston and earned two Bachelor Degrees, in Fine Arts and Architecture, from Rhode Island School of Design.