DAAS CO-OP presents Unity: The Ties That Bind Us, a Group Exhibition co-coordinated with Love Your Rebellion, in the Month of May.
Fort Myers, FL – In the month of May, DAAS CO-OP Art Gallery & Gifts is showcasing a very special exhibition entitled Unity: The Ties That Bind Us, featuring Tylor Marie Hooks, Aaron Grinnan, Illahatan Habibi and Ketty Diaz. An opening reception is scheduled for the evening of Friday, May 1, 2026, from 5:30pm to 9:00pm. The exhibition will be on display until May 31, 2026.
Ketty Diaz is a Cuban born multidisciplinary contemporary artist and educator with over 15 years of experience. Currently based in Fort Myers, Diaz graduated from the Saint Alejandro National Academy of Fine Art (Cuba). She practices painting, drawing, photography, engraving and sculptures. Her work explores themes of connection, resilience and shared human experiences, blending cultural roots with universal visual language. Diaz has exhibited internationally including Cuba, Mexico, Spain and in various cities in the United States.
Aaron Grinnan is an emerging artist living in Southwest Florida. “This is my first group show, and what I am presenting is quite different from my usual style.” – comments the artist regarding the most recent works created for the exhibition. “These are some of the first conceptual pieces that I’ve truly felt passionate about, and I’ve been painting in this medium for over a year now.” – adds the artist.
Tylor Marie Hooks is a mother, wife, and business owner in Southwest Florida who has been exploring photography for over 15 years. Her expertise lies with event photography, but her love for creativity while drawing inspiration from the abstract expressionist movement drives her to produce her unique body of work. Her mission is to capture the vibrancy of the human spirit and showcase emotion stopped in time.
In her artist statement, Hooks explains that photographing painted bodies is an act of care and resistance. It says: this body has been through things. This body still shows up. The splatter becomes both a reminder of harm and a sign of resilience. It humanizes oppression by rooting it in real skin, real people, and real lives while also honoring the strength it takes to be seen at all. Each splash of paint can feel like something life has thrown at the body: expectations, borders, stereotypes, violence, survival. These marks aren’t chosen, but the act of showing them is. “By putting paint on their own skin, people take back control of how their bodies are seen. What could look like damage becomes an expression. What could be read as shame becomes visibility.” – explains the artist. “The paint overlaps the way real lives do. Identities don’t exist separately, and neither do the struggles tied to them. Colors run into each other, just like gender, race, class, sexuality, and immigration status run together in everyday life. The beauty is in that overlap, the proof that no one is just one thing.” – she concludes. Local artist Illahatan Habibi is also participating in this exhibition. The members of DAAS CO-OP look forward to welcoming everyone during the opening reception on the first Friday of May.
DAAS CO-OP Art Gallery is located at 10051 McGregor BLVD, STE 104 in Fort Myers, Florida (Alliance for the Arts campus). The gallery’s business hours are Wednesday to Sunday from 10am to 2pm, and first Friday from 5:30pm to 9:00pm. Information about the venue can be found at daascoop.com or by calling 239-955-0422.
