Adalky F. Capellán is a New York born and raised artist and 2013 graduate of DePauw University. Many features of her artwork are strongly influenced by her experiences growing up in the neighborhood of Washington Heights and as an Afro-Latina woman. She was the recipient of the 2013 William Meehan Award in recognition of her use of traditional mediums in non-traditional ways. Her signature technique emphasizes the overlapping of contours with shapes and textures, allowing her work to trigger action via visual narratives of mobility that are not limited by medium or form.

Over the past 5 years, Capellán has been involved in grassroots collaborations that use art as a medium of creative expression for marginalized voices. Her work was featured in a pop up gallery for the launch of the participatory magazine titled Interrupt Magazine, which focused on subverting marketable conceptions of beauty and celebrating the diversity of women’s bodies. Most recently, she was a member of the Atelier Artist Residency sponsored by the Northern Manhattan Art Alliance (NoMAA), Broadway Community Housing, and No Longer Empty. Inspired by rapid gentrification taking place in her neighborhood, her work focused on illustrating housing rights with the intention of empowering those who felt helpless when faced with displacement.

Space to Connect Programming
Capellán has hosted a diverse set of Space to Connect workshops including Watercolor workshops at the Islamic Cultural Center and Abstract Drawing and Painting classes for the workers of NDWA.  She currently hosts monthly drawing and painting classes for the residents of 535-539 E162nd St in Washington Heights.