Saturday, February 10, 2024, from 11:30 AM ET to 1:00 PM ET
A panel of Black female artists speak about their experiences as Black female artists. Discussion includes how they made history in 2022 exhibiting their art at the Carnegie Museum in Pittsburgh PA. 

Panelist Biographies

Lynne b. is a Pittsburgh-based mixed media painter who also works with found objects and assemblage. A sometimes curator and researcher, she continues to work with underground film makers, writers and other visual artists in New York, Berlin and Australia. Besides Pittsburgh, Lynne has exhibited in New York and Berlin.

Janet Watkins is a self-taught artist.  Her career began just a few years ago after retiring from a 30 year career in banking.  She is a ceramic artist as well as a mosaic artist. She creates one of a kind beautiful, functional, sculptural pieces from clay and porcelain.  She enjoys embellishing her work with salvage materials such as metals, bottle caps, vintage telephone wire and whatever else she finds in the trash.  Each one of her hand-built pieces are uniquely whimsical and beautifully detailed.  She was awarded Juror’s Choice the first time she exhibited her work in a gallery. She is a member of the Women of Visions Organization, and a member of the Craftman’s Guild of Pittsburgh, where she currently serves as a board member.  She was a panel speaker during the 2023 National Ceramics NCECA Conference. She co-curated the 2023 MAVUNO Exhibit in Sewickley PA.  Her works are amongst several Private Art Collections in the region. Many of her larger sculptural pieces have been exhibited in galleries including the Carnegie Museum of Art, Wilmer Jennings Gallery NYC, University of Pittsburgh Fine Art Gallery, Society of Contemporary Craft BYN, August Wilson Gallery, Moka Gallery, Kelly Strayhorn Art Gallery, Sewickley Library Art Gallery, Pittsburgh Center Arts & Media Gallery, and Touchstone Gallery.

Marlana Adele Vassar is a Pittsburgh artist whose philosophy of balancing style and substance has attracted a diverse audience to her work. She weaves symbolism and rich details into figures and patterns, resulting in works that are personal yet open to interpretation. Her artwork and process are implemented through traditional art techniques such as painting, drawing, and sculpture, which are often translated into designs and installations. Known for her lavish style and attention to detail, Vassar has earned numerous accolades for her works. Her art has been featured nationwide in museums, galleries, and public projects, including the Carnegie Museum of Art, The August Wilson Center for African American Culture, and The Urban Institute of Contemporary Art. Her most recent public projects include commissions with the City of Pittsburgh, the University of Pittsburgh, and the City Theatre Company, along with many notable art projects and additions to private collections.

Dr. Mildred R. Mickle, Associate Professor of English at Penn State Greater Allegheny,  specializes in African American Studies, American Studies, Creative Writing, Women’s Studies, Theatre, and Poetry. She is an amateur watercolorist, and she has been doing bellydancing and theatre performances when she can fit them into her busy schedule. She also is a member of Women of Visions, a collective of Black female artists that has been active for over 40 years. She has exhibited her paintings at the Hermann Museum, the Spinning Plate Gallery, Bunker Arts, Brew House Association, and the Carnegie Museum.