Student Disability Commission

Deaf Artists Spotlight

Image Description: Dark green background with black and white photo of hands making the “ART” sign in ASL. Pink and blue thread making a zig-zag curve in the background. Text in top left in a tan star shape reads “DEAF ARTISTS SPOTLIGHT”. Text in bottom right in an orange star shape reads “Tuesday, May 18th. 3-4pm PDT. Logos in top right corner are ASUW, SDC, D-Center, and ASL Club. Logo in bottom left corner is green ‘Disability IS Diversity’ box.

In collaboration with the American Sign Language Club at UW and UW’s D-Center, we are proud to announce our upcoming event: “Deaf Artists Spotlight”! There are 4 Deaf artists featured, and they will be having a discussion about their careers, the ways in which their identities influence their art, and highlighting some of their favorite creations!

Event Recording

If you have any questions, please contact Christine Lew at asuwsdc1@uw.edu.

Panelist information 

Kellie Martin (ze/zir, they/them)

black and white photo of person with curly medium length hair, nose and lip piercings, wearing sunglasses. Background has orange and green curvy lines. Pink star shape in top right corner has text that reads "Kellie Martin". Grey and white DIS DIV logo in bottom left corner.
Image description: black and white photo of person with curly medium length hair, nose and lip piercings, wearing sunglasses. Background has orange and green curvy lines. Pink star shape in top right corner has text that reads “Kellie Martin”. Grey and white DIS DIV logo in bottom left corner.

Kellie Martin is currently a graduate at Savannah College of Art and Design, studies in Creative Business Leadership specializing in the nonprofit sector. I am an Art and Design Director for the program with Deaf Spotlight for almost four years now. I am Deaf and queer artist that likes expore with varied mediums in Illustrations, Digital Art, painting, performing arts, and storytelling. I am honored to have an opportunity to collaborate with so many talented hearing and deaf artists from the local communities and across the world.

My next project to focus on is to create more my arts to bring the dialogue about depth of the mental health awareness, queerness and deafness identity, and exploring in the artistic approach within deaf community that can build a bridge within the hearing communities. I do hope to create more videos to share my thoughts, my experiences and artistic storytelling. I am also working on my applications for art in residences to continue my art studies.

Social Medias/Websites:
Facebook: Kellie Martin

Instagram: @kelliemartinart

Twitter: kelliemartinpdf 

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/martinkellie/

Website: www.kelliedimartin.com 

Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/KellieMartinArt

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjNhI-hRO896DV_jgY_ln6Q

Isabel Laínez (she/her)

Image description: black and white photo of person with long dark straight hair, smiling, wearing striped shirt. Background has orange and pink curvy lines. Green star shape in top left corner has text that reads “Isabel Laínez”. Grey and white DIS DIV logo in bottom left corner.

My name is Isabel Laínez, and I am a Latina graphic designer & Illustrator. It allows my loving mind to be creative everyday without a skeptically reservation for challenges. It encourages me to expand my skill set into more than what I am accustomed. 

Social media/website:

Instagram: @izalaix

Website: www.isabellainez.com

Brittany Castle (She/her)

black and white photo of person with long dark straight hair, smiling and wearing glasses. Background has orange and green curvy lines. Pink star shape in bottom right corner has text that reads "Brittany Castle". Grey and white DIS DIV logo in bottom left corner.
Image description: black and white photo of person with long dark straight hair, smiling and wearing glasses. Background has orange and green curvy lines. Pink star shape in bottom right corner has text that reads “Brittany Castle”. Grey and white DIS DIV logo in bottom left corner.

Brittany Castle is a Deaf graphic artist and owner of business, 58 Creativity.  provides the service and sells American Sign Language art/products. Her artworks are inspired by her Deaf culture and the use of sign language to create a visual emotional connection in her work.

Social Media/website:

Website- http://www.58creativity.com/

Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter- @58creativity

Jessica Flores (She/her)

black and white photo of person with dark straight hair, wearing large hoop earrings and glasses. Background has pink and green curvy lines. Orange star shape in top right corner has text that reads "Jessica Flores". Grey and white DIS DIV logo in bottom left corner.
Image description: black and white photo of person with dark straight hair, wearing large hoop earrings and glasses. Background has pink and green curvy lines. Orange star shape in top right corner has text that reads “Jessica Flores”. Grey and white DIS DIV logo in bottom left corner.

Jessica Flores is a Latina comedian, deaf advocate, illustrator, improviser, occasional YouTuber, “retired” graffiti artist, and more. Basically, she does like a TON of stuff and often gets confused on what to even call herself!

Social media/website:

Website:https://www.jessicamarieflores.com/

YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/jessicafloreslimemoney

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Jessicafloreslimemoney/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/limemoney/?hl=en

Shop:https://www.bonfire.com/store/jessica-marie-flores/