(under)REPRESENT(ed) is an exhibition that features Parsons alumni of color whose creative practices explore the lived experience of race and aim to dismantle systems of racism.

Noelle Flores Theard is a Programs Associate at the Magnum Foundation. She holds a BA in Journalism from the University of Texas at Austin, an MA in African Diaspora Studies from Florida International University, and an MFA in Photography from Parsons School Of Design. Before joining the Magnum Foundation, Noelle taught in the Art History and African Diaspora programs at Florida International University in Miami and was the photography coordinator for photography at YoungArts, a foundation that supports young artists in ten different artistic disciplines. In addition she worked for many years as a stringer for the Miami Herald. She is a cofounder of FotoKonbit, a non-profit that teaches photography in Haiti in order to provide Haitians with training and opportunities to tell their own stories through photography. Noelle was the Director of Photography for Dr. Yaba Blay’s book and web project titled (1)ne Drop: Shifting the Lens on Race.

(under)REPRESENT(ed) is an exhibition that features Parsons alumni of color whose creative practices explore the lived experience of race and aim to dismantle systems of racism.

Leslie Jiménez is a Dominican-born multi-disciplinary artist and museum educator, based in NY.
Ms. Jiménez graduated from the prestigious Altos de Chavón School of Design, in the Dominican Republic. She was awarded a full scholarship from Parsons The New School, where she graduated with honors. Jimenez’ work has been selected for public art projects in Washington Heights and Harlem. She was invited to create a large-scale mural at El Museo del Barrio and recently collaborated on a tribute piece at Museum Mile Festival. Her work is included in the first Uptown Triennial in NY and it has been reviewed in the Financial Times and Manhattan Times. She is the recipient of the Sugar Hill Museum Residency award. Jiménez has been invited to talk about her work at El Museo del Barrio, CNN en Español, Rutgers University, City College, Art In FLUX and Parsons The New School.

(under)REPRESENT(ed) is an exhibition that features Parsons alumni of color whose creative practices explore the lived experience of race and aim to dismantle systems of racism.

Alston Green has enjoyed an extensive and exemplary career within the textile, home décor, and gifts and social expression industries. His passion and love for creating beautiful, functional products have prevailed throughout his career. Alston spent many years on Seventh Avenue, New York’s’ renowned epicenter of fashion, creating surface designs for children, women, men and home décor, as well as original patterns and textiles. Over time, he adapted his skills and talents when the greeting card industry came knocking. Alston developed and managed design exclusively for the Mahogany card and gift line, and worked on an assortment of products at Hallmark Cards Inc. in Kansas City Missouri – the world’s leading greeting card company. During his tenure at Hallmark, Alston had the opportunity to expand and redefine Hallmark’s ethnic products programs. In addition, he developed an array of products across the Hallmark brand. Alston’s bold, signature designs allowed him to soar to the top of his field, reshaping, redefining and reinvigorating the personal and social expression industry with products for the African American audience. This program radically changed how this underserved target market celebrates life’s occasions. Alston’s name was passed along to another social expression company on the west coast by way of design product brokers in China, who became aware of his work.

(under)REPRESENT(ed) is an exhibition that features Parsons alumni of color whose creative practices explore the lived experience of race and aim to dismantle systems of racism.

Inyegumena Nosegbe is an honors graduate from Parsons School of Design. She received her BFA in Communications Design in 2016 and delivered the commencement speech for her graduation ceremony. As a multidisciplinary designer, Inyegumena’s personal work materializes at the intersection of art, culture and the exploration of the evolving identity of the African Diaspora.

(under)REPRESENT(ed) is an exhibition that features Parsons alumni of color whose creative practices explore the lived experience of race and aim to dismantle systems of racism.

Ron Morrison is a designer, artist, and urbanist. Their practice works to create strategies using art and design that help people understand how urban systems work and how to act within their fissures and inconsistencies. From these dissonant spaces, we learn to rework and retune systems towards an increased potential for collaboration and action. With a strong background in community development and social advocacy, they believe that people should have full access to shaping their cities and communities and see design as a medium for creating knowledge and moving beyond paralysis in the face of complexity. From building open source platforms to upend the continued practice of solitary confinement to crafting community-based archives to combat gentrification, their work investigates cartographies of slow violence, dispossession, embodied data, and blackness. They have been a collaborator with design teams that implemented projects in New Orleans, Ghana, Colombia, Ethiopia, New York, and Venice and have had work featured in AIA New York, the UN World Urban Forum, and the Tribeca Film Festival. Ron holds degrees in Psychology and Gender Studies, as well as a graduate degree in Design and Urban Ecologies from Parsons School of Design. They currently teach in the School of Design Strategies at Parsons School of Design.

(under)REPRESENT(ed) is an exhibition that features Parsons alumni of color whose creative practices explore the lived experience of race and aim to dismantle systems of racism.

Jeff Ng (aka “jeffstaple”) is an established graphic and fashion designer, curator, branding expert, footwear aficionado, and all-around creative visionary. He founded Staple Design, Inc. in 1997: now a well-known streetwear brand (@StaplePigeon), creative consulting agency (Staple Design) and retail concept (@ReedSpace, founded in 2002). Some clients include HBO, Levi’s, Sony, Microsoft, Nike, Burton Snowboards, LVMH, Uniqlo, Kid Robot, Kia and ESPN. Over the years, Jeff has taken Staple’s motto, “A Positive Social Contagion” to whole new levels, spreading his instinctual design know-how and fresh knowledge across all media platforms and worldwide.

(under)REPRESENT(ed) is an exhibition that features Parsons alumni of color whose creative practices explore the lived experience of race and aim to dismantle systems of racism.

Kaitlynn Redell is a visual artist based in Los Angeles, CA. She received her BFA from Otis College of Art and Design in 2009 and her MFA from Parsons School Of Design in 2013. Her practice is invested in the exploration of race and gender in relation to the body and how the body becomes codified within these socially constructed categorizations. More specifically she is interested in juxtaposition and how “unidentifiable” bodies—that do not identify with standard categories—negotiate identity. She has participated in numerous exhibitions nationally and internationally including at El Museo del Barrio (NYC), Rush Arts Gallery (NYC), A.I.R. Gallery (NYC), Western Project (LA), Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery (LA), Charlie James Gallery (LA) and Museo Laboratorio – Ex Manifattura Tabacchi (Italy). Her work is currently on view at the 32nd Biennial of Graphic Arts: Birth As Criterion, in Ljubljana, Slovenia. In October, she will have work included in No Longer Negotiable at Nous Tous in Chinatown, Los Angeles.

(under)REPRESENT(ed) is an exhibition that features Parsons alumni of color whose creative practices explore the lived experience of race and aim to dismantle systems of racism.

Ayo is an artist and interactive designer living and working in New York. He studied Visual Arts and Philosophy at Rutgers the State University of New Jersey where he earned his B.A. His works range from painting and speculative design to physically interactive works, wearable technology and explorations of Afrofuturism. Okunseinde was the co-founder and creative director of Dissident Display Studios, an award-winning studio and art gallery based in Washington DC. As a collaborator with, amongst others, choreographer Maida Withers, Carmen Wong, and Yoko K., Okunseinde has created several interactive performance-based works and has performed in several countries including Mexico, Finland, and Croatia. Okunseinde art residency participation includes Finland’s Invitation to Helsinki, IDEO’s Fortnight, and Eyebeam’s Creative Residency. Ayodamola (Ayo) Okunseinde holds an MFA in Design and Technology from The New School, Parsons School of Design in New York where he is currently an adjunct faculty member.

(under)REPRESENT(ed) is an exhibition that features Parsons alumni of color whose creative practices explore the lived experience of race and aim to dismantle systems of racism.

Isaac Paris is a self-taught artist. He initially studied Communications Design for 2½ years at Pratt, however, he obtained his B.F.A. Degree, with Honors, at Parsons School of Design. Principal at I Paris Design. Clients have included Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Amistad Press, Inc., AVP (Anti-Violence Project, NYC), BAM (Brooklyn, Academy of Music), Authentic Hair Care Systems, Harlingen Veterinary Clinic, Essence Magazine, Foscarini Lighting, Italiana Luce International, Juilliard University of Music Dance and Drama, The New York Law School BLSA New Journal, RCA Records Label, Shang Records of Epic Records Label, Rory Sparrow Foundation, and Shaka King Menswear. He also works as a Senior Art Director/Designer at SGNET Solutions, LLC., Clients have included CAREGAIN Management of Health Care Benefits, The Diversity Advancement Project, Focustream (Video Streaming and Video Conferencing Technologies), Global Business Intelligence, Harlem Community Development Corporation, Heavy Hitters Music, The New England Journal of Medicine, Thinking Planet Productions, TIAA-CREF’s College Savings Plans, 1199 SEIU’s Child Care Fund and the Greater New York Child Care Fund.

(under)REPRESENT(ed) is an exhibition that features Parsons alumni of color whose creative practices explore the lived experience of race and aim to dismantle systems of racism.

Ken Tanabe is a multidisciplinary creative director whose professional practice unifies design specialties, technical disciplines, educational spaces, social change, and public engagement with diverse audiences. His eighteen years of creative experience includes work for Google, Beyoncé, and Emmy-winning studio Imaginary Forces. He has fourteen years of teaching experience at Parsons School of Design, where he received the Distinguished University Teaching Award. He is the founder of Loving Day, a design-driven social change project that is celebrated in dozens of cities as the world’s largest network of multicultural community celebrations. His work in design and social change has led to over eighty public speaking engagements at places like the Global PR Summit and the HOW Design Conference. Ken Tanabe and his work have been featured by CNN, NPR, BBC World, Print, Fast Company, and many others.