Welcome! We're excited to have you here. Explore our site and discover all that we have to offer. If you have any questions, free to reach out!
Color Me Africa Fine Arts.
CREATE | INSPIRE | EMPOWER
Contact:info@colormeafricafinearts.com
Chicago Illinois USA
Proudly Operating as a 501(c)(3 Nonprofit Since 2017
OUR TEAM
EXECUTIVE MEMBERS
Meet Soraya Sheppard
Founder & Executive Director
Color Me Africa Fine Arts was born from my personal journey—as an immigrant, an art collector, and a woman deeply connected to Africa and its creative spirit.
I was born in South Africa and left my homeland to escape the realities of apartheid. That journey eventually led me to the United States, where I built a life shaped by resilience, entrepreneurship, and a lifelong love of art. For many years, Africa lived in my heart from afar.
Twenty-five years later, I returned to South Africa seeking reconnection—with my roots, my culture, and my people. What I discovered was both powerful and painful. While artistic talent was abundant, many artists were still navigating systems marked by exploitation, corruption, and limited access to global opportunities.
I began listening. I spent months in conversation with artists and arts organizations in both Johannesburg and Chicago, learning about contemporary art trends and the unique struggles Black artists continue to face in a post-apartheid world. Those conversations changed me—and they shaped a vision.
That vision became Color Me Africa Fine Arts.
CMAFA exists to build bridges between African visual artists and the world. Our mission is rooted in advocacy, equity, and visibility—creating platforms where African artists can share their stories, exhibit their work internationally, and be valued for their creativity on their own terms.
This work is deeply personal to me. It is about honoring Africa’s artists, preserving cultural narratives, and ensuring that talent is met with opportunity—without exploitation.
Welcome to Color Me Africa Fine Arts.
Nadia Pillay
Nadia Pillay, born in South Africa and the youngest daughter of Soraya Sheppard, is an artist in her own right and one of the original founding members of Color Me Africa Fine Arts Gallery. Grounded in a lifelong love for the arts and a deep belief in her mother’s vision, Nadia was instrumental in the gallery’s formation. Her commitment to creative excellence, cultural preservation, and community-building helped shape Color Me Africa into a space dedicated to honoring African and diasporic artists from its very beginning.
Chuck Bowen
Chuck Bowen is a longtime art collector, civic leader, and cultural advocate whose work has helped shape Chicago’s political, educational, and artistic institutions for over four decades.
Beginning his collecting journey more than 45 years ago at art festivals—purchasing handmade ceramic cups when original artworks were financially out of reach—Bowen developed a lifelong commitment to supporting artists and preserving culture. He later served for over 30 years on the board of the African Festival of the Arts, one of the most significant celebrations of African culture in the United States.
Bowen’s professional career includes service as a Precinct Captain, State’s Attorney Investigator, Sales Agent for Somerset Importers of Canada Dry, and founder of the National United Affiliated Beverages Association (NUABA), an organization dedicated to advancing equity for Black-owned businesses in the liquor industry. He also served as a Cook County Commissioner from 1982 to 1986.
As Senior Executive Assistant to Mayor Richard M. Daley, Bowen led efforts to save the historic 35th Street Armory from demolition, transforming it into a premier Military Academy in Bronzeville. Recognized nationally, the academy is a leading pathway to West Point for Chicago students. Bowen further expanded the institution’s impact by creating Art at the Academy, a cultural program showcasing 35 African American artists from the Chicago area, ensuring that art, history, and cultural identity were embedded within the educational experience.
Bowen’s life and work connect local action to global history. He hosted Nelson Mandela during Mandela’s first visit to Chicago and has maintained relationships with world leaders, artists, athletes, and cultural figures across generations.
Guided by discipline, discretion, and deep respect for the work itself, Chuck Bowen’s legacy continues to resonate across art, education, and civic life.
SEAN TENNER
Vice President
Sean Tenner is an original founding member of Color Me Africa Fine Arts Gallery and has been a dedicated supporter of its vision since first learning of Soraya Sheppard’s story in the Chicago Sun-Times.
A native of Naperville, Illinois, and a graduate of Georgetown University in Washington, DC, Tenner brings nearly two decades of experience in organizational strategy, advocacy, and nonprofit consulting. His work has supported community-focused initiatives and mission-driven organizations at the local and national levels.
Throughout his career, Tenner has been committed to advancing equity, storytelling, and public engagement—values that closely align with the cultural and educational mission of Color Me Africa Fine Arts Gallery. As Vice President, he contributes strategic guidance and long-term vision to help elevate African and African diaspora art, artists, and narratives within the broader cultural landscape.
