Megan Foldenauer (they/she) is a native Midwesterner who came to Ypsilanti in 2005. They are an alum of The School of the Art Institute of Chicago (BFA) and Johns Hopkins School of Medicine (MA) and has been a medical and biological illustrator since 2002. In addition, they completed their BS at EMU and their PhD in Anatomy at Wayne State School of Medicine in Detroit.

In April of 2023, they opened Ypsi Art Supply in downtown Ypsilanti, MI, an independent art supply and creative gift emporium for the incredible SE Michigan art community.

Megan teaches classes related to artmaking and the human body and can often be found sourcing new subjects to inspire their mixed media work. A lover of reference books, lists, collections, color charts, and the science of art supplies, they exist thoroughly at the intersection of art and science and couldn’t be happier.

Lena B. Ellis-Boatman (xé/xem) is a printmaker, visual artist, and art educator. Rhizome Studio is xyr business adventure as an artist. Lena will be coordinating the Y.A.S. studio classroom (send xem your questions!). Lena teaches art for a range of ages and experience levels, to which xé brings xyr experience in various educational and nonprofit settings. At the college level, Lena has taught studio foundations, printmaking, book arts, life drawing, and fiber arts courses at several institutions, including Michigan State University, the College for Creative Studies, and Washtenaw Community College. 

Lena's artwork is centered in printmaking and fibers. Starting from this print-media foundation, xé incorporates installation, sculpture, drawing, sound, artist’s books, video, photography, and mixed media. Lena holds a BFA from Bowling Green State University and an MFA from Michigan State.