Peña

Grateful It feels necessary to take inventory of the things I’m grateful for this year. Not because the year is ending or a holiday approaches, but because the moment feels right. 2024 has been a pivotal year, and at this moment, I chose to focus on the good. This year, I received many opportunities to create images that share the stories of fellow artists in our community. With each opportunity that I received, I grew. With that growth came a solidifying view of the consequential impact that our local artists have in unifying and fortifying communities through their artwork and events. It is clear... art and artists shape and strengthen the fabric of our community, weaving connections that go beyond words. To those I list below, thank you for the growth, the inspiration, and the honor of sharing your work with others. To all artists, the work is never done and it’s more important now than ever before. It is needed. @annapayneart @oamipowersart @jane.the.artist @moosekat @art.as.method afiok @el.pueblo.inc @Iisabellu @Inaliuart @brophiebbro @NCCJC @Sondecarolina @Undercovermexi @_acolorfulchaos @ml_wilkie @ameighart @raleigh_arts #raleighnc #raleighartist #photography #ncartist #NC #grateful

Damen Silos 29 . . . . #streetphotography #street #canonusa #raleighartist #photography #urbanphotography #urbanexplorer #urbanexploration

Friday December 19th will be the opening of Sources of Joy, a group exhibition by @ilaac_nc , where I'll be exhibiting three pieces from a series that I began earlier this year. This series follows the day-to-day happenings of a local tire shop in Raleigh, that for years, would draw my gaze every time I drove past it or came to a stop at a nearby light. Its tumultuous hustle and bustle would call to me, like a moth to a bright light, promising to provide moments of candid connections that could be underscored with photography. Feeling humdrum about a manufactured and algorithmic "sense of community" and "belonging", a tire shop emerged as an oasis for individuality, identity, human connection and random chance encounters, leading me to say "oh, so here are all the people.” The opening for Sources of Joy will be Friday December 19th and again January 16th from 6pm-8pm at the Durham Arts Council, 120 Morris St, Durham, NC 27701. #raleigh #raleighnc #photography #streetphotography #people

Excited to be participating in Sources of Joy / Fuentes de Alegría, an exhibition by the Inter–Latin American Artist Collective (ILAAC). It means a great deal to be showing my work alongside such an inspiring group of artists. I’d love for you to visit and experience the full range of stories in this show. The exhibition runs from December 13, 2025 to February 8, 2026 at the Allenton & Semans Galleries at the Durham Arts Council. Exhibition openings will be December 19th and January 16th from 6pm-8pm, a Third Friday Durham Event. Hope to see you there!

We are excited to announce one of our two 2025 resident artists, Danny Peña. @pen_yah is creating a photogrraphic body of work based on his observations and experiences with Dia de Oakwood and culminates with a solo exhibit in November 2026 at Diamante Arts and Cultural Center. Peña is an artist and educator with a strong commitment to ensuring access to a high quality arts education. With a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art Education, Danny currently serves as the Director of Education and Community Programs at Artspace in Raleigh, NC, where he collaborates with various teams to develop and coordinate youth and adult workshops, classes, and events. Danny believes that fostering a love and appreciation for visual arts comes from opportunities to engage, teach, and make meaning with relevant and contemporary art practices. As a multidisciplinary artist, Danny applies his artistic skills in both his role as Director of Education and participating member of the arts community, most notably through his photography.  _____________________________________________________ Nos complace anunciar a uno de dos artistas residentes de 2025, Danny Peña. @pen_ya estará creando un cuerpo de trabajo fotográfico basado en sus observaciones y experiencias con el Día de Oakwood, el cual culminará con una exposición individual en Diamante Arts Peña es un artista y educador con un fuerte compromiso por garantizar el acceso a una educación artística de alta calidad. Con una Licenciatura en Bellas Artes en Educación Artística, Danny actualmente se desempeña como Director de Educación y Programas Comunitarios en Artspace en Raleigh, NC, donde colabora con varios equipos para desarrollar y coordinar talleres, clases y eventos para jóvenes y adultos. Danny cree que fomentar el amor y el aprecio por las artes visuales proviene de las oportunidades para participar, enseñar y dar sentido a prácticas artísticas relevantes y contemporáneas. Como artista multidisciplinario, Danny aplica sus habilidades artísticas tanto en su rol como Director de Educación como en su participación como miembro de la comunidad artística, sobre todo a través de su fotografía. @artspacenc @diamanteacc

Enjoyed leading a shadow box painting workshop @artsaccessnc in partnership with @artspacenc while I was in Raleigh for my residency. Arts Access is a non-profit dedicated to creating a positive impact at the intersection of arts, education, and disability. A vital piece of the accessibility puzzle! Thank you, @pen_yah , for the awesome action shot! 📸 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . #mollylastra #mollylastrapainting #painting #paint #art #fineart #artist #colorful #abstract #acrylic #color #handmade #happy #fun #create #creative #beautiful #pretty #nofilter #photooftheday #landscape #landscapepainting #nhart #raleigh #teaching #teachingartist #wcw #wednesday

No Facist, No KKKings

We're floating in space #stargazing #astrophotography #durhamnc #durham

I’m grateful to have received the artist support grant from @UnitedArtswake earlier this year to help grow my career as a freelance photographer. I purchased a new camera body to document creative happenings throughout the Triangle area, such as this most recent poetry slam @blackbirdbooksandcoffee . I look forward to continuing my work with this new equipment, as well as to share with the community meaningful reflections of itself. This project is supported by United Arts Wake County, Raleigh Arts, and the North Carolina Arts Council, a division of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. #UnitedArtsWake #WakeArts #Arts919 #raleighnc #raleighartist #raleigh #poetry #poetryslam

Sometimes, all you can do is stand still. . . . . . . #naturephotography #raleighnc #raleigh #bw #bwphotography #snowday #snow

Visiting an old friend. #time #photography #ncartist #NC #naturephotography

Golden Hour Self Portraits #raleighnc #naturephotography #photography #selfportrait #raleighartist #goldenhour #raleighparks