Meet the artists currently working with Umbra
Co-Owner He/Him
Mike Welton
Mike Welton is the co-founder of Umbra Arts, a fine arts collective in the Twin Cities, which he started with his partner, Josh Kelly. As a practicing artist with 27 years of experience, Mike uses his signature series of signage art to reflect on life as a gay man. His work with Umbra Arts captures and shares personal and collective LGBTQ+ stories, blending his unique visual language with themes of identity, resilience, and community.
For over 35 years, Mike has actively contributed to LGBTQ+ media and culture. His journey began with producing the "Pride Guide" from 1989 to 1992, followed by his role in transforming GAZE newspaper into GAZE Magazine from 1992 to 1995, a publication later acquired by LAVENDER magazine. His commitment to LGBTQ+ representation through these platforms helped amplify queer voices in Minnesota and beyond.
As Umbra Arts continues to grow, Mike envisions it as a vibrant community where diverse artists and perspectives can shine. He believes that by bringing together unique voices, the collective can highlight both the individuality and shared experiences within our communities, encouraging understanding and connection in an ever-evolving world.
Founding Member He/Him
Andrew Bertke - Everett Allen Photography
Andrew Bertke, working under the name Everett Allen Photography, has been capturing portraits and documenting the leather and kink communities since 2013. His portrait work explores themes of identity, intimacy, and power, with a focus on honoring the self-expression of queer individuals. Known for his collaborative and respectful approach, Andrew creates compelling, emotionally resonant images that reflect the strength and vulnerability of his subjects.
In addition to his portraiture, Andrew is the lead photographer for International Mr. Leather, the world-renowned annual contest held in Chicago. He has also provided long-standing photographic coverage of regional events such as Twin Cities Leather and the Mr. Minneapolis Eagle contests, and previously served as the official photographer for Mr. Wisconsin Leather and Iowa Leather Weekend. Beyond contests, his work documents the broader leather community—including bar nights, leather club activities, and social gatherings—preserving the everyday moments that shape and sustain leather connection.
The Everett Allen Photography name offers a distinct identity for Andrew’s creative work within kink and leather communities, supporting both artistic focus and professional clarity.
Founding Member He/Him
Tom Reynen
Tom Reynen is a photographer with deep roots in St. Paul, now living and creating in Shoreview, MN. His work, which spans nature photography, architectural details, travel scenes, and abstract digital photography, has been featured in numerous galleries across the Twin Cities. In addition to these subjects, Tom specializes in male portraiture, capturing unique and powerful perspectives through his lens.
A passionate advocate for the local arts scene, Tom serves as President of Gallery 96, a nonprofit organization that supports and promotes diverse artistic expression in the northern St. Paul suburbs. He is also the former President of the St. Paul Art Collective, known for organizing the iconic Spring and Fall Art Crawls.
Tom’s photo studio is located in the historic FOK Warehouse, just across the river from downtown St. Paul in the Harriet Island neighborhood. Through his work, Tom blends artistry with community, bringing creative energy to both his photographs and the local art landscape.
Member He/Him
Andy Bensen a.k.a Trygve
A lifelong dreamer, Trygve has wandered through careers in IT, software development, animation, game design, and education—but personal art has always remained at the heart of his journey. No matter the path, the creative thread has stayed strong.
During the colder months, Trygve shares his knowledge and passion by teaching drawing, painting, ceramics, and graphic design. In the summer, he turns inward, diving deep into his own artistic explorations—experimenting, making, and growing. His work reflects a life of curiosity, reinvention, and the quiet power of staying true to one’s creative core.
Member They/Them
Emerald Von Hulsing - Jackalope of All Trades
Emerald Von Hulsing, also known as the Paint Slinger and Jackalope of All Trades, is a multidisciplinary artist who has been creating for over 20 years. Their work spans photorealistic painting, found object sculpture, textile and costume design—anything they can get their hands on becomes a medium. Von Hulsing explores themes of trauma, gender and body dysphoria, grief, queerness, and the surreal horror of growing up in the 80s and 90s. Their art is both personal and political, confronting the dystopian world we’re falling into with sharp wit, texture, and emotion. Whether working with yarn, bone, pearls, or paint, their pieces dwell in the space between discomfort and beauty, humor and mourning—inviting viewers to reflect, unravel, and rebuild.
Member She/Her
Juliet Parisi - Beauty Through Chaos
Born and raised in the punk rock pulse of California’s Bay Area, this ocean-loving, nature-connected artist now calls the Midwest home. For the past 20 years, she’s discovered new beauty in the landscapes around her—capturing that quiet wonder while still holding space for her deep love of the West Coast.
Her work blends surrealism with lived experience, drawing inspiration from the natural world and the emotional currents within. Growing up immersed in San Francisco’s urban sprawl, she was captivated early on by the raw energy of graffiti and street art. That influence still pulses through her creations today.
Fusing academic technique with street-style grit, she creates a unique visual language—one that’s deeply personal, emotionally honest, and rooted in place. Her pieces are a love letter to the worlds that shaped her: coastal cliffs and city walls, wild nature and urban rhythm.
Member He/Him
Edwin Marc
I'm a self-taught artist with a few classes at MCAD under my belt, but most of what I’ve learned comes from staying curious and letting the work lead me. I love experimenting with different media—seeing where it takes me, what surprises show up. That sense of discovery is part of the magic.
I found my real creative voice when I stopped trying to force it and just followed what I love: the world around me, and men in all their complexity and beauty. That focus opened up a space where I could be honest, playful, sometimes raw—and always connected.
Art, for me, is about feeling, exploration, and not always knowing the answer. That’s what keeps it alive.
Member They/Them
O.B.
O.B. (they/them) is a collage-based artist working at the intersection of visual narrative, political memory, and protest. Their practice transforms headlines, archival materials, and propaganda that questions American mythology and state power.
Through tactile collage, O.B. reclaims space and rewrites history in real time, often blending humor, reflection, and resistance. In addition to their protest work, Oliver is expanding their storytelling through playful protest and personal essays/poetry. Influenced by Dada, punk agitprop, and queer joy, they want their art to ask:
"What does it mean to remember? What does it mean to resist?"