Artist of the Month

Margaret DeRitter

Join us for a reading from our October Artist of the Month, Margaret DeRitter! Margaret (she/her) will share excerpts from her poetry collection, "Singing Back to the Sirens," and from the anthology "Love Is for All of Us: Poems of Tenderness and Belonging from the LGBTQ+ Community and Friends." Get a chance to speak with the poet and purchase book copies after the reading.

This event will take place on October 19th from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. at OutFront Kalamazoo. Light refreshments will be provided.

About the Artist
Margaret DeRitter (she/her) is the author of the full-length poetry collection "Singing Back to the Sirens," which has been described by Pulitzer-winning poet Diane Seuss as a collection of "achingly beautiful and gutsy poems" that "represent an autobiography of love." DeRitter was also a winner of the 2018 Celery City Chapbook Contest for "Fly Me to Heaven by Way of New Jersey." Her work has been published in numerous literary journals and appears in the 2025 anthologies Love is for All of Us: Poems of Tenderness and Belonging from the LGBTQ+ Community and Friends, We've Got Some Things to Say: Reshaping Narratives Around Sexual Violence, and Living Our Blessings: Aging, Mortality and Gratitude. Margaret worked full time as a journalist for 30 years, including 22 years at the Kalamazoo Gazette, and has taught journalism at Kalamazoo College and Western Michigan University. She lives in Kalamazoo and serves as copy editor and poetry editor of Encore magazine.

Website / FB / Insta

Coming Soon!

Leray Photography

  • Leray Photography, short for Leasia Rayona Photography founded by passionate artist and photographer Leasia, is dedicated to celebrating the beauty of human connection, emotion, and storytelling through the lens. A graduate of Western Michigan University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Photography, Leasia combines her technical expertise with a keen eye for capturing moments that resonate deeply.  Rooted in the belief that photography is a powerful medium for expression and healing, Leray Photography offers a unique perspective influenced by Leasia’s artistic journey and commitment to community engagement. Her work often explores themes of vulnerability, self-acceptance, and personal transformation, aiming to create imagery that speaks to the heart.  Beyond her photography business, Leasia is inspired by her vision to curate meaningful art experiences. She’s an advocate for using creativity as a tool to overcome trauma and foster emotional growth,  “a mission she championed not only in her art but in her efforts to create and support authentic environments with the goal of “Creative Freedom.” Whether working with clients to document their special moments or crafting visual stories for broader audiences, Leray Photography captures more than just images—she preserves memories, sparks connection, and shares stories that matter.

    Instagram

  • Stop in at OutFront Kalamazoo during November’s Art Hop to meet our November Artist of the Month, Leray Photography! Founded by passionate artist and photographer Leasia Rayona (she/her), Leray Photography explores themes of vulnerability, self-acceptance, and personal transformation, aiming to create imagery that speaks to the heart. Meet Leasia and enjoy a selection of her original pieces from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. on November 7th at OutFront Kalamazoo!

Interested in being our next artist of the month?
Apply now at the link below!

How to Apply

Each month, OutFront Kalamazoo uplifts a Kalamazoo-area LGBTQIA+ artist as OutFront Artist of the Month. The benefits of being our Artist of the Month include:

  • Being featured on our social media

  • Being featured on a website page of all past featured artists

  • Displaying your artwork and promotional materials in the OutFront Kalamazoo office for a month

  • Being the OutFront Art Hop artist OR  being featured in an OutFront special event in non-Art Hop months

All Kalamazoo-area LGBTQIA+ artists of all mediums (visual, performance, written, etc.) are encouraged to apply through the form linked below. If you need help with any aspect of the form, please indicate so or call our office, and we are happy to assist you.

Apply Now!

Past Artists

2024

  • Valentine Payne (she/her) is a young African-American artist who uses colorful acrylic paint on canvas. Her painting style is a mix of abstract and cartoon. Valentine also creates exquisite digital art logo designs. Her art has been on display at various schools and venues. She sells her art and does custom pieces.

    Follow Valentine on Instagram at @prettycrispy1

    Valentine was the OFK Artist of the Month in July 2024.

  • Meetri'a Angelo (she/her) is that author of A Stroke of Recovery, a memoir recounting the author’s road to recovery following a devastating stroke.

    Learn more about Meetri'a and purchase a copy of her book at https://www.meetriaangelo.com/about-the-author

    Meetri'a was the OFK Artist of the Month in August 2024.

  • Max Matthews (he/him) usually works with watercolor, but likes to experiment with mediums, textures, and styles. He takes a lot of inspiration from the fantasy genre, particularly dark fantasy, as well as his experience as an individual in the LGBTQ+ community.

  • Raymond Falkiewicz (they/he) is a local illustrator and photographer. They have been drawing for as long as they can remember, but began taking it more seriously in 2012. His current specialty is felines and digital illustration, but he enjoys trying new things to expand his horizons. In 2016, they fell in love with the art of photography; they especially enjoy nature photography and activism photography. Raymond decided to expand his skills to a small-business level in the spring of 2024, taking on art shows and crafting events. Outside of artistry, they enjoy reading, taking nature walks, and traveling with their girlfriend. 

    Learn more about Raymond’s work at https://linktr.ee/mxraymondf.

  • Austin Rounds is a twenty-two-year-old artist who has used his art as an outlet and a way to express himself when the world around him may feel off kilter, beautiful, and even challenging. Being autistic has not always been easy, but it is a part of who Austin is, and only adds to his creativity.

    We launched Austin’s Art Gallery after Austin’s graduation from High School in 2020 (austinroundsgallery.com).  

    Austin was published as the sole illustrator for the book, Michigan Monsters and Macabre Series Two (available now) by Wicked Harvest Books last September (2022).

    Austin is currently working on his second book (Quilliam Series) about a young hedgehog with autism. This children’s book will be loosely based on Austin’s experiences in Elementary School, which will including his struggles, triumphs and supports.

    Austin continues to work on commissioned pieces of art and enjoys working with a variety of styles and mediums. Austin has been participating in the Kalamazoo Art Hop since June of 2021 and has been the feature artist at multiple venues including the Kalamazoo State Theatre, Arcus Gallery, and Kalamazoo Valley Museum.

    Austin has been interviewed for Kalamazoo Lively Arts by PBS. Austin had multiple art exhibits at the Kalamazoo Valley Museum and the Center for New Media (downtown Kalamazoo) in the fall of 2022. Austin has also been featured in two panel discussion (Western Michigan University and KVA Museum) summer/fall 2022.  

    Please enjoy the marvelously creative and unbridled art of Austin Rounds.

  • Audrey Lynn is a local, self taught artist that enjoys embarking on all styles of art from cake decorating to DIY projects to just simply drawing or painting. As of now she is trying to figure out screen printing so she is able to take her art from the paper and put it onto many other mediums.

    Since finding her own style, she has entered into two competitions at her local VAMC, where in the second competition she was able to take a first place ribbon in all three of the categories she had entered.

    Audrey : "Someone at the second competition had came up to me and congratulated me for getting a hat trick, I looked at the individual a bit confused by what they had said and then verbally expressed my confusion."

    They said : " Oh, you haven't heard? You took first place in every category, Congratulations!"

    "Needless to say, I was a little shocked."

    That second competition helped open a networking door where she was asked to be one of twelve veteran artist to display their work for veterans day at one of the local VFW's later that year.

    Audrey mainly uses art as a form of therapy and self expression,

    Quote from artist "When I start to draw or paint, once I like... get in the flow of it.. in the moment, the world starts to get a little quieter; my racing thoughts subside a bit, and I let what I feel or have recently felt find it's way so graciously to the paper/canvas. Bonus, since I was never "classically" trained in art, I am not handcuffed to staying within any certain boundary to complete my piece."

    Currently, her plan is to start a business in the beginning of 2025 so she is able to start selling her art to the greater public. As well as getting a few pieces ready to submit for the artist installation or artist corner at the Electric Forest music festival in 2025.

2025