Zachary Sofia

Online Gallery Curator Ι Artist Agent Ι Entrepreneur

Zachary Z. Sofia is an artist and curator who resides in the Pacific Northwest. His experience as a curator spans fifteen years. In 2013 he produced a show titled “Myths, Fables and Legends” with the Hive Gallery and Studios in the old Piranha Shop in Seattle. This event showcased over 100 artists from the alternative art scene in Seattle and Los Angeles. He is experienced in self-marketing and sales and enjoys collaborating with other artists. He has also lived and worked in Los Angeles and is originally from Columbus, Ohio. He is Syrian-American and Loves all things Science Fiction!  Zachary is shown here with MARKART5's My Cherry Blossom: A Burning Cell Tower.  View the entire painting on our Launch Party pages

Open Sesame Gallery

The name "Open Sesame" is based on the story of Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves, a folk tale, which is Syrian in origin. In the original tale, Ali Baba, a poor carpenter, discovers a thieves den full of treasure and enters with the magic phrase “Open Sesame.” Zachary Sofia grew up listening to this and other Arabian Nights tales, and it reminds him of his Syrian heritage. Sofia envisions his gallery as a similar “cave of treasures”, where patrons can find their own to take home.

To expose emerging artists’ work to a broader audience, and to provide a networking opportunity for artists and patrons. 

Vision

To operate a physical gallery in which patrons and artists can interact in a community space.

Joshua Stomberg​

Graphic Artist I Custom Artist

Joshua Stomberg is a Freelance Graphic Artist from Stanwood, Washington. He sold his first logo to Hiway Home Electronics at age 13 in 1997, and has been selling his work freelance as a side-hustle (and main-hustle between seasonal jobs) ever since. He is also an experienced music producer, master bicycle mechanic, and currently working his day job at a skydiving dropzone as a video editor and driver, while training towards jumping as a videographer (which requires a minimum of 200 jumps!). Life is an adventure and this guy has stories to tell if you have the time. He currently resides in Colorado near Boulder.

General Manager I Writer I Website Coordinator

Patricia Hixson is a writer and musician that dabbles in the visual arts. She has lived in the Pacific Northwest her entire life, and earned her degree in Writing from Western Washington University in 2001. Her title with the Gallery is accurate as she generally and happily manages several aspects of the Gallery for Zachary. She is a contributing writer, has been the primary constructor of the website, serves as bookkeeper and social media contributor, and generally takes on any other role required to launch and maintain the Gallery.  

Creative Director I Social Media I Photography

Wendy started her career as a D&D game and magazine designer for Wizards of the Coast. She went on to work under Tony Benton at Clear Channel in Community Affairs which owned KUBE 93 FM at the time. She utilized her talents by creating and maintaining a website, creating print promo materials, assisting monthly with early learning fairs, and was assistant producer on early learning broadcasts. They were sponsored by Boeing, Bill, and Melinda Gates Foundation and even had visits from Bill Gates Sr at the events. Wendy stepped away from her creative career to care for her father and address her own health concerns. She also dappled in construction management, paraeducating in special education, and compliance management. She decided to go back into the creative field after her father told her on his death bed he loved her artwork and requested she go back into it. Six months later she was asked to help rebrand FitMyFoot insoles from Wiivv. Wendy is extremely grateful for past opportunities and this gallery is her way of connecting artists to the public during Covid. More than this just this website is in the works!! 

Writer

Herbert Russell is an actor with a host of mainstream and independent film and television credits listed on IMDb. Herbie also has a pinky toe in the rooftop jacuzzi of LA’s art scene via his association with Hijinx and has penned introductions and Q&As for artists such as in Jim Mahfood’s Visual Funk (IDW) and Los Angeles Ink Stains (Image Comics), as well as in Jason Shawn Alexander’s Undertow (101/Exhibit Press) and {SIC} (101/Exhibit Press). Herbie is married to a laser bunny and crackerjack public relations and content creator for wine, travel, lifestyle and food, one Ms. Kelly Visel. They have a cat named Sweet Pea and Herbie subjects them to jazz, the good stuff and some stuff that is questionable.