Paint Love, Inc. is holding its fifth annual Artist Challenge fundraiser on April 18 at the hip and luxurious Penthouse of The MET Atlanta from 7-10 p.m. This year, seven artists will begin with only a blank canvas in a race against the clock to each complete a painting in just three hours. Audience members are able to make donations to help artists “unlock” the supplies they need to finish their painting in this unique and fast-paced live painting event - all benefiting Paint Love’s arts programming.

Funds raised through the Artist Challenge will provide critical support for Paint Love’s arts programming, which is provided free of charge to Title I schools and organizations serving metro Atlanta youth facing poverty or trauma. Paint Love’s programming is sustained by local, acclaimed artists who not only share their craft to teach an art project or skill, but also engage children in creative self-expression with purposeful themes.

The Artist Challenge returns to the penthouse at The MET Atlanta in Atlanta’s West End, a growing art collective and community. This year’s event will be co-hosted by Dad’s Garage performers Amanda Lee and Amber Nash, who is best known as the voice of Pam Poovey on the animated hit, “Archer,” and is also scheduled to co-star in a feature film with “Whose Line is It Anyway’s” Colin Mochrie called “How to Ruin the Holidays,” slated for production in late 2020.

This year’s artists include:

Angela Bortone – a Domincan-Italian painter and muralist influenced by the complexity of emotion and its effect on the body while mixing realistic subjects with loose fluid spontaneous marks.

Julio Ceballos – a Colombian painter inspired by elements found in nature who reimagines his objects with a surreal twist.

Charmaine Minniefield - a muralist whose work intentionally pushes back against erasure, displacement, misrepresentation and marginalization by reclaiming cultural histories. Her work can be seen throughout the City of Atlanta and beyond.

Jenevieve Reid – a teacher and consummate student inspired by ancient art, mythology, nature, color and texture. Her paintings symbolize humans coexisting with nature through a contrast of spray paints, oils, screen prints, brushstrokes, graffiti and flowers.

Cathryn Bozone – a fine artist and designer inspired by the world and nature. Her works typically depict brightly colored flora, fauna and bugs – oftentimes magnifying the overlooked small things in life.

Muhammad Yungai – an art teacher whose vibrantly colored murals depict inspirational, joyous and diverse images of people of color. His work adorns the walls and hallways of classrooms, lobbies and buildings across America.

AP Faust – founder of Adam Good Job ATL, a home enhancements and creative services provider, and COLLVGE, a creative agency meant to foster community and collaborations amongst visual artists and music makers.

“Last year’s spring Artist Challenge and fall Silent Art Auction were tremendous successes, raising a record breaking of $31,892 for future arts programming. We’re hoping that by combining our two events we will be able to maximize our fundraising efforts,” said Laura Shaw, executive director - Paint Love. “We are fortunate to be a part of such a generous community that supports our mission to serve the youth of metro Atlanta.”

Tickets for the fifth annual Paint Love Artist Challenge are available for $35 and can be purchased here. The 2020 event will include a silent art auction, usually held in the fall, with works donated by local artists. Live music will be provided while DJ Ralo Pena will be also be spinning tunes. For more information about sponsoring the artist challenge or donating to the Art Auction, contact Laura Shaw at [email protected].