An Art Show for a Good Cause: “The King Has Spoken” Exhibit Opens at Bloomfield College

Proceeds from each sale will benefit the Scott H. Kaplan ’02 Endowed Scholarship Fund for Creative Arts & Technology students

Six men are pictured posing for the camera, some are in suits while others are in dress shirts and collared shirts.

The Scott H. Kaplan ’02 Art Gallery at Bloomfield College hosted the opening reception for The King Has Spoken exhibit on September 25, 2025.

The show features six male artists — Kervin André, José Camacho ’91 (Montclair BA Fine Arts), Jo-El Lopez, Suliman Onque, Ron “Reap” Powell, and Levi Robinson — whose works explore themes of identity, resilience, and self-expression.

Guests enjoyed a night of conversation, color, and creativity as the artists reflected on what it means to create with purpose, share stories through their work, and honor their heritage and lived experiences.

A Celebration of Art, Purpose and Legacy

The King Has Spoken highlights not only the incredible talent of the featured artists, but also their shared commitment to community impact.

Man is pictured in front a of a painting. Painting consists of five black men in distinct clothing.
Haitian-American artist Kervin André explores legacy, identity, and the evolution of Black masculinity through his work — challenging the world’s perception of Black men and honoring their strength and resilience.
Painting of a woman with her arms around a man, both decorated in jewels.
Inspired by history and heritage, Kervin André’s art reminds viewers that Black history began long before slavery. ‘Art should comfort the disturbed and disturb the comfortable,’ he says, quoting Cesar A. Cruz.

 

Man is pictured smiling with a blue suit and white shirt underneath.
Puerto Rican-born artist José Camacho ‘91 works primarily in mixed media, transforming everyday subjects into textured reflections of culture and identity. A Montclair State University alum, he continues to explore the creative process as both craft and conversation.
Two women are pictured looking over paintings, one one is intensely examining a black and white painting.
 “I’m more interested in the process of painting rather than the final image,” says Jose Camacho ‘91. Inspired by plantains from the Caribbean — especially Puerto Rico — he reworks the image again and again, abstracting it into layered texture and form.
Man is pictured showing a painting to a woman. The main has a black headband, glasses, and a black necklace around his neck.
Acrylic artist Jo-El Lopez channels identity, resilience, and social justice through his work — including his series Filthy Lucre, which confronts the prison industrial complex and the exploitation of brown communities. To young artists, his advice is simple: ‘Create what you know, and don’t be afraid of who you are.’
Man is pictured with a blue suit, red bow tie, holding a water bottle explaining something.
 “The King Has Spoken’ can speak in many ways — I’m speaking through my art,” says artist Suliman Onque. ‘I want to whisper through my heart, laugh through my heart, smile through my heart. I’m gonna reach you through my art.”
Three paintings are hung on a wall. All three of them with a red background and wearing a gold crown.
With his King Series — Royal You, Royal Sadness, Royal Laughter, and Royal Confidence — Suliman Onque explores themes of identity, pride, and inner strength through acrylic and mixed media. “We are royal,” he says.
Man is shown in front of two paintings with a hat on and glasses, hand is out as he is explaining something.
Through his mixed media pieces, Levi Robinson invites viewers to reimagine how we see language, music, and culture — blending the sublime with the familiar to explore complex questions of race, religion, gender, and politics.
Man is pictured in a blue collared shirt smiling with a painting behind him.
Jamaican-American artist and engraver Ron ‘REAP’ Powell carries his roots with pride — his initials, given by his parents, serve as a lifelong reminder to ‘reap what you sow.’ The son of farmers, he approaches his art with the same care and intention, cultivating creativity from the ground up.
Painting of a man with his hand over his eye and fur hoodie over him.
Ron ‘REAP’ Powell brings his work to life through layered texture and dimension — incorporating materials that make his paintings literally rise from the surface, a tactile reflection of growth, legacy, and self-determination.

Honoring Scott H. Kaplan ’02

The Scott H. Kaplan ’02 Art Gallery is named in honor of Scott H. Kaplan, a Creative Arts & Technology student who passed away in 2003 from complications of muscular dystrophy, just one year after graduation. Known on campus as a passionate advocate for accessibility and inclusion, Scott’s creativity and spirit inspired those around him.

Man is pictured in a cast behind a woman sitting down in a chair, while there is a crowd applauding behind them.
In Scott’s memory, his parents, Ellen and Marc Kaplan, helped establish the Scott H. Kaplan ‘02 Art Gallery, which officially opened in 2013.

All artwork displayed in The King Has Spoken is available for purchase. A portion of proceeds from each piece sold will support the Scott H. Kaplan ’02 Endowed Scholarship Fund, which provides financial assistance to Bloomfield College Creative Arts & Technology students.

Visit The Scott H. Kaplan ’02 Art Gallery

Location: Bloomfield College Library, Second Floor

Address: 74 Oakland Avenue, Bloomfield, New Jersey

Hours: Tuesday and Thursday, 2 – 6 p.m

Access to the gallery is also available by appointment during normal library hours.

Contact: KaplanGallery@bloomfield.edu

I’m a _____, tell me more…

Journalist: Contact the Media Relations team for assets or to schedule an interview with the researcher about this topic. See more Faculty Experts and hi-res media assets available for download.

Contact the Media Relations Team

Media Relations

The Media Relations Office is the official source of information for Montclair State University and is the primary point of contact for members of the media requesting institutional information and/or interviews with faculty, staff and administration. We promote the accomplishments of the University’s 13 colleges and schools which include research and academic achievements, community initiatives and overall institutional advancements. We also serve as a go-to resource for the news media on timely and breaking news stories and provide outlets with story ideas and faculty expertise that would be of interest to their viewers, listeners, and readers. Below is the contact information for each Media Relations staff member. We look forward to helping you with your media relations needs.

More News & Stories

All News & Stories