Black Art Thriving: Meet the Artists
“Black Art Thriving” features art by André Renay (top row), Ms. Mac (bottom row), and more
As we celebrate 2 years of Salōn! this month, we want to extend that love and appreciation to highlight some of the talented artists we call family. Part of our mission is to show and grow community, and we’re excited to introduce this new art installation and activation series to keep those efforts alive.
Black Art Thriving is a mantra, claim, and optimistic truth for Black artists and creativepreneurs across the Bay. In the spirit of Juneteenth and what liberation looks like today, we invite you to celebrate living Black artists making their way in the craft. Curated for In The Black Shop, this summer-long art activation is designed to celebrate Black entrepreneurship, creativity, and community in the heart of San Francisco's historic Fillmore District.
[RSVP for the exhibit opening June 13]
The collection and its activations are efforts to support local talent, connect community, and make art collecting more accessible. Our four Thriving Artists—Black Picasso, Ms. Mac, André Renay, and Rhiannon Evans MacFadyen—currently live and create exceptional art in San Francisco and Oakland. Each artist brings their own visual identity, while together they tell the shared stories of Black joy, resilience and strength.
About the Artists
André Renay
andrerenay.com // IG: @renaydre
André is a San Francisco native whose work is rooted in the intersection of Caribbean spirit and urban energy. Raised in a city known for its cultural vibrancy, his mother’s Grenadian heritage and his father’s unwavering work ethic form the foundation of everything he creates.
Renay discovered painting as a profound outlet for emotional expression and a sanctuary where feelings found voice in strokes of color and form. That intimacy has never left his work. Each piece is an exploration of personal narrative and cultural identity, a synthesis of the many forces that shaped him.
His creative process mirrors the spontaneity of life itself. He never preconceives what will emerge, allowing the painting to reveal itself organically, an approach that reflects both his embrace of spontaneity and his belief in the complexity of the human experience. André Renay’s art is an invitation to journey through the vivid, ever-evolving landscapes of his inner world.
Black Picasso
blackkpicasso.com // IG: @blackpicasso101
Hakim Waters, the visionary artist and designer known as Black Picasso, honed his craft at the New England Art Institute. His innovative designs earned recognition from prestigious outlets such as Complex and Hypebeast, culminating in being named Boston's Best of 2018.
Now based in Oakland, CA, he continues to shape the cultural landscape, designing iconic logos, paintings, and clothing for luminaries including Rae Sremmurd, Erykah Badu, Dapper Dan, and Davido. His creative influence spans coast to coast, blending artistry with impact.
A committed advocate for mental wellness and artistic opportunity, Black Picasso collaborates with community leaders to uplift and inspire. Most recently, his Attack of the 50ft Woman T-shirt was prominently featured in four music videos by LaRussell and Hit-Boy during Black History Month. In 2025, he was honored with a Best in Show award at the Munson-Williams-Proctor Arts Institute's Juneteenth Community Art Exhibition for his powerful piece “Mae on Mars: Celebrating the First Black Woman in Space,” paying tribute to Dr. Mae Jemison and Black excellence in innovation and exploration.
Ms. Mac
msmacart.com // IG: @msmac._._._
Michaela "Ms. Mac" Mitchell is a Black mixed-media artist based in San Francisco, CA. Her work gives the audience permission to challenge the current “status quo” of what is to be considered a social norm, while asking you to think about what social norms shape what you value. She is a self taught artist who utilizes acrylic paint, black and white photography, ink, color pencil, and water color paper. Her work has been featured in the Life Learning Academy Auction, at the Waterfront Gallery on Pier 23, the Urban Ed Academy Auction, and SFOG First Friday gallery.
Rhiannon Evans MacFadyen
blackandwhiteprojects.com // IG: @curation.culture.community
Rhiannon (they/she) is a San Francisco–based curator, artist, and educator with 20+ years of experience across visual art, performance, video, sound, installations, and traditional arts. Rooted in intersectional identities, their work challenges Imperialist frameworks through ritual, experimentation, and their methodology of “productive discomfort.” Founder of Black & White Projects in the outer Mission and Curator in Residence at India Basin Waterfront Park in Baywiew Hunters-Point, Rhiannon is dedicated to building inclusive, creative communities and mentoring emerging artists. Rhiannon was a recipient of the inaugural CALI Catalyst Award, an Alternative Exposure Grant, and a 2026 awardee of a San Franciso Arts Commission artist grant.
"My work, especially the AfroFuture Past series, is about the ingenuity, collectve care, and radical resilience of Black Women in America. It's visceral here in San Francisco, where I was born, and where we have to stand our ground every day through gaslighting and anti-black policies and culture. Creating and gathering is how we thrive."
Visual art remains an important tool of expression, connection, escape and commerce in 2026. And through unity and support, our artists, businesses, and communities will continue to create, innovate, survive, and most importantly, thrive.
“Black Art Thriving” art installation and activations is curated by Tyree Worthy (Vibe Dealer Ty) of Salōn! The art opens Saturday, June 13, and will be on display through September 13. Keep an eye out for activations from the artists at In The Black Shop and more.
