05-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Hamilton Spectator
Artists to paint under pressure at Art Gallery of Hamilton
Nine artists of colour will sit in downtown's Art Gallery of Hamilton, painting anything they want for a live crowd.
Dozens of attendees will peruse the competition floor, looking at each masterpiece and voting on their favourite.
They will then get a chance to buy the acrylic paintings.
This will be the scene on Thursday, July 10 from 6 to 9 p.m., when Melanin and Masterpieces will run its first live painting competition.
'Finding ways to come together, to appreciate art in the Hamilton way that we do so well is ultimately the goal for Melanin and Masterpieces,' said the founder, Khadija Hamidu.
Only five finalists of the seven artists will go on to the second of two rounds before the winner is crowned.
Every ticket holder will vote in the competition and be able to buy the paintings after the awarding.
'Be ready to observe some art and make some tough decisions,' said Celia Vernal, the art gallery's lead of public programming.
The competing artists are Justine Agada, Amani Omar, Seromo Okoro, Vanessa Hill, Clairandean Humphrey, Chris Perez, Sakina Ali, Makhdoom Khan and Emmanuel Akolo.
The winner will get a consultation with art gallery staff on marketing their art, a one-year membership to the gallery and a spot at an upcoming exhibition.
'Widening the art community, it's something that we're proud of,' said Vernal.
Melanin and Masterpieces is a spinoff of Melanin Market, which Hamidu created in 2021.
Its inception was inspired by the death of George Floyd the previous year, she said.
'I want to be able to talk about the art and culture in our city and represent all the amazing artists and entrepreneurs,' said Hamidu.
She started out by running vendor markets featuring Black-owned businesses and artists. She has since ventured into Melanin Mermaids, a eight-week program to teach Black women how to swim.
The live painting competition is part of Hamidu's effort to offer more, inspired by attending art battles in Toronto.
Hamidu moved to Hamilton 10 years ago to attend McMaster University and she has never left.
'The beautiful thing about Hamilton is that it's such a huge city, but has such a small-town mentality where everybody can connect with everybody,' said Hamidu, who was born and raised in Toronto.
In her time living in Hamilton, Hamidu has made a mark on the city.
In 2024, the City of Hamilton awarded Hamidu an 'Arts Champion Award,' one of four awarded that year.
Once she connected with the Art Gallery of Hamilton, Hamidu picked the seven artists from her arsenal of contacts.
The live painting competition is not the end of Melanin Market's expansion, said Hamidu.
She hopes to run a Black wellness group, hosting yoga classes, and reopen Melanin Mermaids in the fall.
'I created Melanin Market to find ways to champion, cultivate space and create a cultural experience for people of colour to come together,' said Hamidu.
General admission tickets to the painting competition are $25, or $20 for gallery members.
Go to
to buy.
Cheyenne Bholla is a reporter at The Hamilton Spectator.
cbholla@
