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THE
ANNEX
GALLERY
Jay Becker is the co-founder and president of BLDG, a Covington-based creative consultancy that fuses research, strategy, design, and public art to address real challenges in business and civic life. After nearly eighteen years in finance (CBOE and CBOT), he launched BLDG in 2012 and has since led emblematic initiatives—among them Tobacco 21 (a Fast Company finalist, 2019), the “Love the Cov” mural, and the Five Points Alley interventions—braiding place identity, community engagement, and measurable outcomes. His method—devoting two-thirds of the process to strategy and inquiry before design—has made BLDG a true Creative Refuge, accelerating brand, narrative, and city alike through work that is rigorous in conception, precise in execution, and generous in impact.
Cedric Michael Cox is a Cincinnati-based painter and muralist celebrated for his vibrant works that merge surrealism with representational abstraction. A graduate of the University of Cincinnati’s DAAP and a Glasgow School of Art fellow (BFA, 1999), Cox draws inspiration from music, architecture, art history, and nature. His rhythmic canvases interlace geometric, floral, and curvilinear motifs, while his large-scale murals animate schools and communities across Cincinnati. Exhibited at institutions such as the Contemporary Arts Center, the Columbus Museum of Art, and 21c Museum Hotel, his practice also includes retrospectives, major public commissions, and recent installations for hospitals and cultural venues.
Mark Duc Nguyen is an independent production artist and graphic designer known for shaping clear art direction and crafting engaging advertising experiences. With years of studio and freelance work, he blends rigorous ideation with refined visual design to deliver campaigns that are both memorable and precise. His practice often weaves in illustrated animation elements—subtle motion cues and characterful accents that make each project feel singular—while maintaining brand coherence across print, digital, and social touchpoints. Comfortable from concept through final production, Nguyen partners closely with clients and teams, translating strategy into visuals that move audiences and advance objectives with polish, agility, and intent.
Thomas D. (“Tim”) Heldman is a CPA and Partner at Mellott & Mellott (Cincinnati). After seven years in Tax and Audit roles at Big Eight accounting firms, he established his own practice in 1985, which he led for over three decades before merging with Mellott & Mellott in January 2016. A 1978 graduate of Washington & Lee University, Heldman brings deep experience in tax practice, auditing, and professional-firm leadership—pairing an entrepreneur’s perspective with financial advisory rigor. At Mellott & Mellott, he serves Tri-State clients with technical expertise and executive judgment.
M. Katherine Hurley is a Cincinnati-based landscape painter nationally known for oil and pastel works. She earned a BFA in 1974 from the College of Mount St. Joseph, continued at the Art Academy of Cincinnati, and studied with colorist Wolf Kahn; she is a Signature member of the Pastel Society of America. Widely published, she held a solo exhibition at The Butler Institute of American Art (2005). Working from her Pendleton Art Center studio, she pairs studio practice with teaching and instructional videos, and—together with Jens Rosenkrantz Jr.—co-founded Bridges Not Walls, a U.S.–Cuba artist exchange.
Yemi Oyediran is a Cincinnati-based filmmaker and musician whose work weaves art, community, and musical memory. His feature documentary King of Them All: The Story of King Records (PBS, 2025) charts the label’s groundbreaking legacy and its integrated workforce at the heart of American popular music. Alongside his creative practice, Oyediran has taught at the university level and engages audiences through film projects and jazz performance.
An artist and cultural activist, Jamey Ponte has, since 2003, developed socially impactful initiatives in Kenya and the United States as founder of House of Friends, an incubator for art and community projects based in Kibera. His work combines curating, mural practice, and design with youth mentorship programs; he has given talks and presented exhibitions at venues such as Wave Pool and Oasis/Grace Church in Cincinnati, building networks between Kenyan creators and U.S. audiences. He serves on the board of Black Art Speaks.
Jorge Rodríguez Diez (R10) is a Cuban artist, curator, and editor based in Cincinnati. He serves as Chief Curator of the Museum of Contemporary Art of the Americas (MoCAA) and Executive Director of The Annex Gallery, developing exhibitions and programs focused on the Latin American diaspora and the intersections of art, image, and the city. As editor-in-chief of The Annex Updated, he leads a bilingual platform for criticism and visual narratives. His practice bridges curatorial direction, editorial design, and writing, emphasizing collaborative projects and connections between local and international scenes.
Jens Rosenkrantz Jr. is a photographer, cultural organizer, and co-founder of The Annex Gallery at Cincinnati’s Pendleton Art Center, a venue dedicated to partner-driven exhibitions and civically engaged projects. After an earlier career in finance and hospitality, he launched his photography and curatorial practice, presenting shows such as Small Towns and Long Views (FotoFocus 2018–19). He has served as Board Chair of the Clifton Cultural Arts Center and, since 2025, as Treasurer of the ArtWorks Cincinnati board. With M. Katherine Hurley, he co-founded Bridges Not Walls, a U.S.–Cuba art exchange.