Artist Changemaker Program

Sangeeta Bora (she/her) is a visual artist from a small town in the Uttarakhand area near Nainital in India. The peaceful hills and struggles of the women there has had a big influence on her opinion of the world. Growing up, she saw first-hand the unappreciated work of mothers and housewives who devote their lives to their families while being mostly ignored by society. These encounters motivated her to depict their lives, hardships, and importance in forming communities through her art.

Tendo (she/her)is a social activist whose journey of six years centers around the fusion of media production & advocacy. With a commitment to justice and human rights, she has emerged as a powerful youth voice for justice in Uganda. Using media as her canvas, Tendo weaves stories that illuminate societal issues and through compelling storytelling, she amplifies the narratives of marginalized communities. From advocating for disability rights to gender mainstreaming, her work inspires tangible change.

Martha Tadesse (she/her) is a humanitarian photographer from Ethiopia. Since 2016, she has collaborated with various local and international non-profits, traveling extensively across Ethiopia and other African countries. Her work is driven by a deep commitment to social issues, with a strong focus on human rights. Martha is currently focused on her long-term passion project, Wonderfully Made, which examines the intersections of faith, sexuality, and queer resistance within Ethiopia and its diaspora. Explore more of her work: www.marthinolly.com

Payal Sapana Paints is a collaboration between Pallavi and Sapana, reimagining Mithila art through feminist lens in Nepal. Their work blends tradition with contemporary themes of gender, identity, and social justice. They have tried to challenge societal norms and change narratives. Their art serves as both expression and advocacy, preserving heritage while pushing for inclusivity. PayalSapanaPaints transforms Mithila art into a space for dialogue, bridging the past and present to inspire change. Explore their rich paintings on their website: https://www.payalsapanapaints.com/

Victoria Ojiayo (she/her), alias Tory Bird, is an artist from Kisumu, Kenya who engages several forms of art in her practice. She prides in being a recording and performing singer and song writer, dancer and dance choreographer, film and theatre actress, film director, script writer and a voice over artist. She uses her art for advocacy and is vocal about women’s rights in her community. Through her art, she expresses African women’s stories from the past, the present, and those yet to come. Follow her on Instagram to explore more of her work: @tory_bird

Ouedraogo Dorcas is a painter whose work is deeply inspired by the cultural richness of her country. She paints on various surfaces, ranging from canvases to pottery, bags, and everyday objects, adding a unique cultural and artistic touch. Engaged in her community, she organizes painting workshops with children in her locality and community painting days, believing that art is a universal language that educates, unites, and inspires.

Paddmini Chakma (she/her) is a photographer and activist from the Chakma Indigenous community in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, Bangladesh. Through visual storytelling, Paddmini challenges misrepresentation, explores identity, and advocates for social justice. Her work deconstructs stereotypes and brings visibility to the lived realities of minoritized communities, resisting dominant narratives that erase Indigenous voices. Through photography, she amplifies marginalized perspectives, sparking dialogue on power. Explore Paddmini’s moving images on her website: https://padmachakma98.wixsite.com/paddmini-chakma-2/home and follow her on Instagram to see her critical movements-based work: @paddmini_chakma

Ana Simić (she/her) is an artist from Serbia. Her work examines women’s social positions in patriarchy through drawing, performance, installation, and video, using ink on cotton canvas. She has exhibited at Štab Gallery, Dom omladine, the Contemporary Art Gallery in Pančevo, and Gallery ‘73. Simić has shown in group exhibitions across Serbia and received the Vladimir Veličković Foundation recognition and the 2023 “Stevan Knežević” Award for Drawing. She is currently pursuing masters at the Faculty of Fine Arts in Belgrade. More of Ana’s work can be explored on instagram: @anqsimic

Nichole “Palao’an Trongko” Quintanilla (she/her) is a Chamoru poet, weaver, and indigenous rights activist from Guåhan. She is a published author and spoken word artist who represented her island internationally at the Brave New Voices competition in 2013 and the Festival of Pacific Arts in 2016 as well as numerous local “ NA’LÅ’LA’ ” concerts throughout her career. She aspires to open a youth center for the performing arts on Guåhan. Read her poems in full here: https://sites.google.com/gdoe.net/figofamalaoan

Lazorenko Anastasiia (she/her) is a cinematographer from Lysychansk, Ukraine. Since childhood, she has been passionate about sports, creativity, and video production. Due to the war, she moved to Lviv, studied at What If Creative School, and joined Femworkshop and Fem.Bilkis. She is working on video projects and exploring filmmaking roles. Her biggest project is Yo, Hutsulshchyna, a documentary on Hutsul culture and Parajanov’s legacy. She creates films that inspire, provoke thought, and leave an impact. Follow Yasya on instagram: @ya_shashlichok