Denton Burrows might be a jack of all trades — an illustrator, graphic designer, entrepreneur, and public artist — but he's definitely mastered more than one. 😉

This artist received guerrilla art training as an undergrad at @lehighu, under a mentor who encouraged a fluid exploration of art. Leaning into the lack of rigid training in color theory and composition — @dentonburrows was pushed to forge his own way in the art world. Blending bold black lines with a love for surrealism, Denton carved out an individual, yet evolving style. Since his experimentation with the visual arts, Denton stacked on more classical training with a master of illustration and then again exploded his portfolio with a jump into public art.

Denton pushed his artistic practice to the next level by taking on the outdoors as his ideal canvas. With a commitment to public art, Denton leans into ever-changing circumstances. Each project pushes this artist to consider the unpredictable and meet it with a decade plus of exploration, trial and error. Aside from the dynamism of his preferred medium, Denton believes in the ability of public art to bring communities together and convey BIG messages. This conviction that art helps us make and find meaning led to his foundation of Dripped On Productions (@drippedon) and Dripped on the Road (@dotheroad) mobilizing both his own work as a muralist and making possible more public art through an innovative artist residency program.

Denton's work lives in murals across the country and world, but also in the hands of unassuming beer lovers — if you've been to @brudaddysbrewingco you've gotten just a taste of this creative's sick work on some of your favorite brews. Stay with us for a fuller look into this artist's work and keep your eyes open for forthcoming projects in the Lehigh Valley and beyond as the artist keeps living out his dreams of making BIG art work in the world. 🗺️

Brian Wcislo, our first spotlight of the Thousand Percent Club and an OG 4O1! Creative, inspires us with his #PuraVida lifestyle in the mountains of Costa Rica. A talented photographer, painter, and designer Brian captures life's most thrilling moments, including surfers 🏄 , yogis🧘‍♂️, and Costa Rican vistas. Lately, however, Brian's been busy at work creating learning management systems (LMS) for everyone from local yogis to the big business behind your favorite latte. ☕️ 😉

Long before chasing waterfalls as an expat in Costa Rica and closing the deal on his learning application for Starbucks, Brian Wcislo knew he'd dedicate himself to a creative career. At just eight years old a neighbor paid him $20 for one of his paintings, which launched a life long career as an artist.

For those of you who remember the 4O1! Creative days, Brian was a proud founding member of the agency which nodded to his and Curtis Johnson's college dorm. Since then, Brian has supported a number of businesses including the development of his virtual training company and even a yoga studio.

Brian's words of advice? Focus on fulfillment, not just enjoyment. Boca Brian built a life in Costa Rica photographing, videographing, and developing websites for yogis and surfers. While this work still gives him a rush, he's most fulfilled developing virtual education platforms. LMS equips companies and individuals to train their employees and share their wealth of knowledge through efficient, user-friendly, and aesthetically pleasing applications.

Ryan Lynn graduated from Kutztown with a degree in graphic design where he started a pretty traditional career in agencies around the region. Though drawing always made up a part of his personal life, it would be years before he turned this passion into a career. The rigid needs of corporate clients left little room for illustration, that was until the team at 401 Creative invited Ryan to think outside of the box. Since then, this designer and illustrator has done work for MillerCoors, the Eagles, and countless CLU clients.

While this creative didn't PLAN on being an illustrator, his openness to opportunity has helped him curate a career that he truly enjoys.

Ryan's portfolio of work boasts so much to be proud of, he looks especially fondly on his illustrations for NFL teams that have pushed his talents and problem solving skills beyond even his wildest imagination. He revels in the way in which his long standing partnership with Miller Coors and now the Eagles invites him to constantly innovate and find eye-catching ways to communicate the competitive spirit and intensity of the game.

For Ryan, there is no bucket list. He says, “bucket lists mean there's an end.” Instead, his goal is to keep getting to do work that he likes and stay open to opportunity — a strategy that's worked pretty well for him so far.

A skilled developer and entrepreneur, Ryan Johnson studied graphic design at an arts school in California. While his peers sought jobs, Ryan launched a small marketing agency with a school friend, creating ads for local businesses, including MMA events. After years at the helm, he joined a Quad Cities agency for a decade.

At the agency, Ryan led a modest project for a local celebrity, delivering a one-page site that expanded into a major ongoing partnership with The Tribune. His entrepreneurial spirit undiminished, Ryan founded Pixouls in 2019, a nimble development agency known for its high-quality work.

Pixouls marked a full circle moment for Ryan. As a child, attending a blues festival ignited his passion for creativity. Years later, he developed the website for the Mississippi Valley Blues Fest, paying homage to the music that inspired him. He also partnered with the Delaware and Lehigh National Heritage Corridor to create Tales of the Towpath, an interactive educational website used in Pennsylvania schools.

Ryan's drive to learn and innovate remains strong. He's particularly excited about exploring how generative AI can revolutionize design. He's optimistic about its potential and has already integrated it into his professional and personal life. Ryan continues to seek projects that fuel his creative growth and sustain his entrepreneurial spirit.

After more than 30 years in the advertising industry, Denis Aumiller returned to his fine arts roots. 📸 Collecting vintage photos, tin types, and more Denis arrests his audience with portraits from another time and repositions into out of this world settings. His art invites you to pause — something we could all use a little more of.

Partner and creative director of Lehigh Mining & Navigation, Denis has spent a majority of his career developing advertising materials for industry lioneths like Martin Guitar and Olympus and mentoring the Lehigh Valley's next generation of creatives along with his team at LMN. This adventure, however, wasn't part of the original plan. With a background in fine arts and urban planning, agency life came after he navigated a post grad career. Since then, he's leaned into the ride.

For Denis, art transports him to a meditative state. Whether he's collecting imagery for future art projects, plucking away at guitar strings, or editing his next work — the process welcomes a sense of peace and zen. In this form, art is healing and an invitation to get back to one's imagination.

Over his long advertising career, Denis recalls fondly a few projects which invited that zen state into his office — especially his opportunity to direct Ballad of the Dreadnought, a short documentary celebrating Martin Guitar's legacy.

This multi-hyphenate creative pushes us to step into creativity that doesn't just look good, but makes us feel good in the process — without all of the pretense and pressure to make art. And most importantly, tells a story.

What's next? Creating and a hell of a lot more of it. Denis looks forward to future galleries and seeing his art in others hands. Follow along to witness his ever-evolving journey from Ad Man to Artist.

Marco Calderon moved to the Lehigh Valley from Mexico with little knowledge of the English language, but skill which eventually made him a highly sought after photographer in the region. His camera opened doors for him, first, as a second shooter for weddings and other events. An eager learner, Marco took every opportunity to be paid for work he loved and build his skillset. Along the way, he partnered with the Pennsylvania ACLU to capture portraits of immigrants living in the Lehigh Valley. This work ultimately launched his trajectory as a portrait photographer. And in his own words the project helped him understand his place in the Lehigh Valley.

For Marco, photography is a practice of listening and learning. His secret gift: also knowing that not every moment needs to be captured. As a professional in capturing life's most significant moments, Marco has also mastered the art of pausing and remaining in the present — a skill that sharpens his photographer's eye.

So what's left for this creative? Marco has big plans for developing portrait collections which speak to our world's most pressing issues at a local level. Just like his work with the ACLU, Marco believes that strong portraits can tell big stories and mobilize us all in our hometowns. One project he dreams of working on is capturing the rich gospel history right here in the Lehigh Valley — a project dreamed up during heightened discourse around racial justice in recent years. We look forward to what stories his camera will tell.