2008 Featured Artist - Annie Lee

Annie Lee is an internationally acclaimed artist and gallery owner known to art collectors the world over. Lee learned the ability to focus and stay on task from her childhood, because back then things were done on schedule--laundry on Monday, ironing on Tuesday, and so on. On Sunday the family would dress up and go to church. "Gimme Dat Gum!" recalls such a time. Annie thinks back with a warm smile on quarter parties, chicken in the box, saddle oxfords and the cute football player at Wendall Phillips High School, her alma mater.

A long time friend and school mate talked Annie into having her own show at his art gallery in 1985. The show was a tremendous success. Annie Lee is a humorist and a realist and her style has been referred to as "Black Americanna." Her works are in Bill Cosby's spin-off show "A Different World": Eddie Murphy's "Coming to America" and "Boomerang."

Ms. Lee has extended her creativity to designing high fashion dolls and doll clothing. She creating figurines of the characters she has developed, publishing the works of other artists, and opening her second gallery, one even larger than her first venture in Hazel Crest, Illinois.

Other artists and vedors appearing this year:

Vicki Acquah, Oladeji Re-Mix
Felix Adegeye, Artonement
Hawa Allen Accessories
Anthony Armstrong, Armstrong Art
Tacumah Azibo International Art-Legends
Abdul Aziz, Aziz Fashions
Thea Barnes, Thea’s Creations
Donald Black, 2008 1st Place Emerging Artist
Lee Bradley, The Gold Connection
Larry "Poncho" Brown
Karen Buster, The Art of Karen Buster
Kwame Clay, Jewelry and Accessories
Susan L Corum, Eunique-Chic
Chuks E. Okoye, Okoye’s Art Gallery
L'Taundra Everhart Mocabotanicals
Magalie Foster, Blackeye Pea Creations
Tony Frazier, TF International
Gwen Garth, 2008 2nd Place Emerging Artist
Richard Howell, 2008 3rd Place Emerging Artist
Sabrina Jack, “Art”thello & Bi’no
Lorraine T. Johnson, Lordzart
C.P.Kelley, Leather Designs
Joyce Lewis J & J Accessories
Tyrone Moore, Ty Moore Art
Western Mwamlima, Banana Leaf Art from Zambia
Woodrow Nash, The Rage Art Gallery
Christiana H. Olufolaju, Unique Gems
Thomas Osborne, T. Osborne Art
Anderson Peoples, Sr., Casey’s Art
Carl Perrin, Carmel Fine Arts
Jonathon Romain, The Art of Jonathon Romain
Phillip Snead, Rare Imaje
Helen Stubbs, Chriscerrine Accessories
Anthony Vines, MarVines Creative Arts Gallery
Michael A. Wallace, Michael Angelo Art
Jerome T. White, Jerome T. White Art Images
Michael Winston, Marker Magic
Gracie Yelverton, Gracie’s Accents