Born April 1963 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

RODRIQUEZ JUAN HILL

As a youth growing up in the urban city, Hill discovered through his teenage years that he had the ability to create works of art that were uplifting and meaningful to others. During this time, he was hesitant to showcase his work for fear of rejection in the art community. In June 1976, Hill enrolled at the Selma Burke School of Fine Arts in Pittsburgh. By age 15, he had completed two years and subsequently transferred to the Art Institute of Pittsburgh from June 1978 through June 1979. By this time Hill had developed a mentor relationship with a noted artist from the community and it was through his positive encouragement that he recognized his talent and potential. Hill also had the luxury of enhancing his design and sculpture skills by creating clay models while working for his farther, Frank J. Hill II, at his design and casting company in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The family business was known as the Hilday Statuary Company and was in operation from 1972 to 1980.

Over the past several years Hill has been featured in numerous art exhibitions with some of Chicago and New York's most noted artists including Bruce B. Jefferson, Andy Kane, Cliff Wirth and Kirby Briske. Collectors include Maudelynn Ihejirika, William H. Bigham, Ben Vereene and many Chicago land celebrities. His technique varies from Impressionist to Cubism. He describes his more recent paintings as "seasoned".

"I would like the world to share my expression of life as depicted through my paintings. I hope these visions, as seen through my eyes, will stir and uplift your soul."
- Rodriquez J. Hill

Bolingbrook, Illinois

AVERY HILL

Avery Hill is a young artist~ born 1986. She feels her artistic career was inevitable, as she has been drawing since the age of 14 when she entered her first amateur drawing contest- winning 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place prizes in both junior and adult categories for her charcoal portrait drawings. "I feel like it's not really a choice," she comments. "It's something I have to do and it is a privilege to create and be able to share it with others."

Avery feels that appreciation and love of art lie in the eye of the beholder, and that everyone has something to contribute. "For me, art is like a lot of things in life, there's always something new to learn so hopefully one's work is always evolving, changing, growing."

Avery's artwork has received recognition from both local and national audiences. She has been published in Calliope Literary Magazine, created mural of school mascot for Cedar Hill Independence School District, Cedar Hill, TX, an NAACP ACT-SO Gold Medal winner, Viewers Choice Award recipient , Bolingbrook Mayor, Roger Claar, Viewers Choice Award winner, Great Frame Up, Darien IL, National Scholastic Art, Golden Key Award, Elmhurst Art Museum and has lent her talents by creating brochures, pamphlets and fliers for area churches, community groups and businesses.

Avery's works have been displayed nationwide, and with strong gallery support and private collector enthusiasm, she continues to create a prolific body of work that is enjoyed by many.

WILLIAM H. BIGHAM

William Bigham received his BS in May 1980 and his MS in 1982 degrees in Mechanical Engineering from Tennessee State University, Nashville, TN., and later took classes for a Master's Degree in Business Administration at Centenary College, Shreveport, LA.

William has been collecting and studying arts and antiques since 1982. He opened his first gallery, The African Home Gallery in Aurora, Illinois in 1998. His gallery was highlighted in several issues of Chicago Home & Garden and Jet magazines.

William H. Bigham opened his second, the William H. Bigham Galleries on January 17, 2003 in the Westfield Fox Valley Mall, Aurora, Illinois. In this 4500-square foot space, he showcases the works of multiple artists, as well as authentic African artifacts. He opened his third gallery on December 13, 2007 in the Chicago South Loop on 1528 S. Wabash

He designs custom art awards for companies and organizations. In 2005, he was commissioned to design a Lifetime Achievement award for the President of the United States. He creates new concepts for framed art and designs custom furniture. His paintings consist of acrylics and mixed media. His gallery was recently highlighted in January 2007 issue of Ebony magazine.

In addition to offering artwork for sale, the gallery also provides a wide range of personalized services: such as hosting private conferences, meetings, and receptions, as well as providing personalized interior design consultation.

During his career, he has designed and built two homes, designed highways and bridges for the Federal Government, project managed nuclear plant construction, served as the lead telephone set designer for AT&T Consumer Products and Lucent Technologies. In 1989, he started his first business, a floral design company. In 1991, he was selected to work on Capital Hill as a Congressional Fellow for the Brookings Institution.

In April 2003, William received the 2003 Annual Award for Business Excellence for a Minority-Owned Company from the Business Ledger, The Business Newspaper for Suburban Chicago.

The gallery's main focus is to continually increase consumer awareness and knowledge of acquiring and collecting fine art.