Staff

Bryan Northup (Grayson), (he/him) is a queer eco-artist and writer with a multidisciplinary background in 3D visual arts and poetry. He received his B.A. (Fine Art Photography) at California College of the Arts.
Since 2015 Bryan has created sculpture, abstract wall reliefs and installations with single-use plastic as art medium.

Bryan’s artwork has been exhibited both nationally and abroad in galleries including Czong Institute for Contemporary Art (CICA) in South Korea, Epiphany Center for the Arts, Bortolami, Berry Campbell Gallery, South Bend Museum of Art and the International Museum of Surgical Science. In addition to his studio practice, over the past 20 years, Bryan has worked as gallery director, content creator, marketing manager, curator and exhibition preparator for art organizations as well as private collectors.

Bryan relocated from the San Francisco Bay Area to Oak Park in 2008 where he and his husband became the adoptive parents to four young men over the span of 6 years.
In that time, Bryan joined the staff at OPAL and from 2009 to 2018, worked in many capacities;  creating in-house and graphic design, monthly member newsletter, web design and maintenance, social media marketing and planning, coordinating and installing monthly exhibitions.

Phoebe Hurd (they/she/ze/hir) is an interdisciplinary artist and writer currently based in Chicago. Born and raised in Connecticut, Hurd attended Sarah Lawrence College in Bronxville, NY where they studied Art History and Studio Art. Phoebe has had the opportunity to study under great visual artists such as Vera Ilitova and Yvegeniya Baras, and writers such as Jacob Slichter.

Their work explores a variety of mediums, including oil paintings, collage, fabric arts, and sculpture. Phoebe’s work is often inspired by a deep connection to the natural world, with water being a primary source of inspiration. Phoebe views water as a connection to the spiritual inner and outer world, and often incorporates water imagery and movement into their pieces.

As a butch lesbian, Phoebe’s work also explores themes of identity and the relationship between the self and the world. Their work can be found in several private collections.