About Belred’s Creative Series
We’re excited to announce BelRed’s Creative Series, our year-round initiative to present free or low-cost arts and cultural experiences at the BelRed Arts Studio for the community to learn, explore and create together! Check back here to see what arts-related activities, programming, events, classes and workshops are coming up.
This series is made possible through the support of the Bellevue Arts Commission and City of Bellevue.
Black History Month Artist Talk & Exhibition - Celebrating 100 Years
WHEN: Saturday, February 7, 2026 | 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM
WHERE: BelRed Arts Studio, 1615 133rd PL NE, Bellevue WA, 98005
COST: Free, with pay what you can admission
ABOUT
In honor of the 100th anniversary of the formal national celebration of Black History Month in the U.S., we’re putting together an intimate exhibition centered around Black artists as culture-bearers, storytellers, and visionaries told in their own words and artistry. We’ll reflect and engage in dialogues about legacy, process and the future of Black creativity.
Enjoy small bites, drinks and lively conversations blended with artist dialogue and community exchange. Register today!
Produced by the BelRed Arts District Community Alliance, programming and curation By Elevate
FEATURED ARTISTS
LaMecca Bostwick, Interdisciplinary Artist & Fine Arts Student
Lamecca is a interdisciplinary artist and part time Fine Arts student at Shoreline Community College. She specializes in abstract and impressionist watercolor paintings. However, she does love to explore layering mediums and creating art that’s driven by my emotional state and music on a variety of surfaces, including found objects, canvas, wood, and watercolor paper. Her work has been displayed locally in coffee shops and a gallery, and she loves sharing her art through both original pieces and merchandise like postcards, totes, paint-with-me art kits, and hoodies. She has sold her originals at local art fairs, pop-ups, and online.
Barry Johnson, Visual Artist & Documentarian
Driven by a commitment to visibility, visual artist barry johnson's work is an investigation into Black identity and its relationship to space. Through his art, he strives to directly confront the historical erasure of Black figures, using the portrait and the figure to capture a narrative of complex human experience. Space often serves as the powerful, yet shifting, backdrop for this exploration. Johnson uses his platform to amplify marginalized voices and reclaim narratives neglected in the art world. His figures—a reflection of his personal experiences and those of the people around him—are not just visible, but are infused with resilience, vulnerability, and complex humanity.
His art is in collections around the world, including the State Department collection in Washington, D.C., MoPOP, Amazon and he has been exhibited across the United States. He has held residencies at Amazon, Facebook, and BASE Experimental Space, in addition to creating multiple public artworks across the Pacific Northwest.
Elisheba Johnson, Co-manager of WA NA WARI / Art Historian, Curator & Artist
Elisheba Wokoma is a curator, public artist, administrator, and disruptor. Feeling left out of the traditional art world, Wokoma has dedicated her career to building bridges for artists of color to grow and thrive in our local arts community. Wokoma, who has a BFA from Cornish College of the Arts, was the owner of Faire Gallery Café, a multi-use art space that held art exhibitions, music shows, poetry readings and creative gatherings. After closing Faire, Wokoma went on to work at the Seattle Office of Arts & Culture on capacity building initiatives and racial equity in public art. Wokoma currently co-manages Wa Na Wari, a Black art center in Seattle’s Central Area that uses the arts to build community and resist displacement. Wokoma’s personal art practice examines the beauty and triumph of Black life in America through mixed media and poetry.
ABOUT ELEVATE
ELEVATE is a community-centered consulting and production studio specializing in arts programming, cultural events, and creative placemaking. Founded by Fancy Vargas, ELEVATE works at the intersection of art, community engagement, and strategic storytelling partnering with cities, cultural districts, museums, and creative institutions to design experiences that are thoughtful, inclusive, and deeply rooted in community voice.
With a focus on elevating underrepresented artists and fostering meaningful dialogue, ELEVATE curates intimate conversations, multidisciplinary showcases, and culturally responsive programming that transforms spaces into places of connection. Through its work, ELEVATE helps organizations activate their missions, strengthen community relationships, and create lasting cultural impact.
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CITY OF BELLEVUE