Current Students

Isabel Padilla Bonelli is a multidisciplinary artist, curator, and cultural worker from Puerto Rico, currently based between Puerto Rico and Chicago. Her work explores themes of belonging, community art-making, and the Afro-Caribbean diaspora, with a focus on dismantling colonial practices within arts institutions. Her academic interests include textile studies, printmaking, Black and Caribbean visual media, and architecture.

She earned her BFA from Cornell University, minoring in Fashion Studies, and is pursuing an MA in Arts Administration and Policy at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Isabel co-founded and ran Art Crawl, a series of student gallery shows at Cornell, and has led community-based art workshops in Puerto Rico and New York City. At SAIC, she currently serves as a graduate assistant in both the Fashion Resource Center and the Arts Administration and Policy program. Her most recent role was as the program assistant for Fundación Cortés in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Her goal is to support Afro-Caribbean artists and develop residency programs and art spaces in Puerto Rico, while exhibiting internationally.

Instagram: @isabelsinstants  

Website: https://www.isabelpadillabonelli.com/

Selena Wolfe is a Chicago-based arts administrator and writer. She earned her BA in Communication and Media, as well as a certificate in grant writing from DePaul University. Selena began her career in the nonprofit sector as marketing and development coordinator at the Junior League of Chicago and as a freelance grant writer for organizations such as SWOP Chicago and the Zacharias Sexual Abuse Center. More recently, Selena served as marketing manager at the One of a Kind Show, a large-scale market and celebration of handmade art held twice a year at Chicago’s historic Merchandise Mart. In this role, Selena managed the show’s social media, oversaw the creation and execution of show marketing campaigns and materials, and worked closely with sponsors and partner organizations like Marwen and the Old Town School of Folk Music to facilitate their show programming and ensure a successful and seamless festival experience.

Moving forward in her career as an arts administrator, Selena is especially interested in continuing her work in the nonprofit space by creating and facilitating programming and events, identifying and pursuing development opportunities, and working directly with the communities being served to create meaningful progress and lasting change.

Jai Williams is a photographer and filmmaker. Previously a freelance photographer in Washington, D.C., her work has been featured in both domestically and internationally. Recently receiving her MA in Southern Studies and MFA in Documentary Expression, Jai focuses on the erasure and reclamation of Black land ownership and the spiritual connection of the African diaspora within the Southern landscape. As a current Arts Administration and Policy graduate student, Jai aspires to not only look through an ethnographic lens concerning Black culture, but to contribute and create policies for art equity and equality for all.

Llewyn Blossfeld is an arts administrator, art historian, and artist based in Chicago. He has previously worked in the Blanton Museum of Art and at the Green Family Arts Foundation as a gallery and collections assistant. Llewyn completed an undergrad thesis paper on Joan E. Biren’s book Eye to Eye: Portraits of Lesbians, and project managed guides to exhibitions in his department at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago where he has also given public and private tours. He believes in disability justice and bringing decolonization, anti-racism, and support for LGBTQ+ artists into his museum work. Llewyn earned a BA in Art History and Museum Studies from the University of Texas at Austin and is pursuing an MA in Arts Administration and Policy and an MA in Modern and Contemporary Art History at SAIC while working there as a teaching assistant and at the MCA in Visitor Experience.

Sarah Jane Podzielinski, from Fort Wayne, Indiana, joins the MAAAP program eager to learn how her diverse skillset can make a meaningful impact within the arts sector. Holding a BA in Anthropology from DePauw University, with minors in Studio Art and Peace and Conflict Studies, she explores the intersections of culture, community, and identity within the arts. While at DePauw, Sarah demonstrated her versatility by creating artwork, managing the recording studio, and leading sound for productions like The Rocky Horror Show and The Addams Family. She expanded her theater experience as an audio and video intern with the Indiana Repertory Theatre and as a sound assistant for the Indianapolis Shakespeare Company’s Riverside. She also gained nonprofit experience interning with Amani Family Services and the Community Foundation of Wabash County. Currently an archives assistant at the Art Institute of Chicago, Sarah is committed to growing as a leader and applying her multidisciplinary perspective to arts administration through the program and beyond.

Originally from Chicago, Sutcha-Eamah Wallace has a diverse academic background, having attended private, charter, and Montessori primary schools. She graduated from King College Prep and attended The Fashion School at Kent State University, where she majored in Fashion Design with concentrations in Sustainable Fashion, Historical Costume, Art History, and Pre-Law. While attending The Fashion School, Sutcha was a member of Modesta, a Black fashion organization run by students, and a fashion editor for Yosmic Magazine. She was also a member of Black United Students and vice president of Kent State University's chapter of the NAACP. In her professional career, Sutcha worked at The Pattern Makers Cleveland atelier as an assistant pattern maker and as an assistant fashion designer for Binta Sagale Diallo. She has also done freelance creative art direction, photography, and dance. She lended her immense visual skills as a interim visual merchandiser/general manager at Brooks Brothers while still pursuing her artistic endeavors.

Tzu Ying Cheng is from Taiwan and has been immersed in art culture since her teenage years. She earned her BA in Broadcasting and Television from National Taiwan University of Arts, where she developed strong skills in photography and video editing. During her sophomore year, she served as the official photographer for Taipei Fashion Week, significantly enhancing the event's overall exposure. Tzu Ying also gained valuable experience working in an art gallery, where she discovered her passion for management and exhibition planning, thriving in dynamic environments. She led social media campaigns for the Night Art Fair Taipei, successfully attracting nearly 5,000 attendees in just three days. Currently, she is pursuing a program in Arts Administration and Policy at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, eager to contribute innovative ideas to the contemporary art scene.

Seth Indigo Perry is an arts administrator with a background in exhibition and collection management. An advocate of art as a community-building mechanism, Seth leverages administration as a creative, collaborative process to establish meaningful networks. Relocating to Chicago from North Carolina, Seth has held positions at the Turchin Center for the Visual Arts, the Blowing Rock Art & History Museum, and the Catherine J. Smith Gallery. Recent projects include ARS POETICA I at the Blowing Rock Art & History Museum and Community Frame Loom Weaving at the Boone Buskers Fest. Seth holds a BFA from Appalachian State University and is currently pursuing an MA in Arts Administration and Policy at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.

Clare Haffner is a first-year graduate student in the Dual Degree Master’s program in Art History and Arts Administration. A Chicago native, Clare received her Bachelors of Fine Arts in Studio from the School of the Art Institute in May of 2024. Specializing in analog media such as film photography and development, Clare is highly interested in the preservation and restoration of media. Clare currently works as SITE Galleries' archive assistant, where she has cataloged, digitized, and helped to organize over 500 film color positives from over a 20 year span. She hopes to continue her archival work within gallery and museum spaces, aiming to find what is lost and preserve what is found.

Héloïse Paillard is a writer and curator from Paris. She is a graduate of Central Saint Martins, London, where she earned a BA in Culture, Criticism, and Curation. She is now pursuing a dual degree in Art History and Arts Administration at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. With a background in the arts sector, she has experience working in museums, galleries, and auction houses across Europe. Héloïse has developed skills in curating, organizing exhibitions, and managing art publications, as well as contributing to high-profile events. Héloïse's work often intersects with themes of social justice, particularly in gender studies and Latin American art, and she is also drawn to the study of epistemology, which informs her critical approach to art. Fluent in French and English, with proficiency in Spanish, Héloïse combines her academic background with hands-on experience to bring a thoughtful, interdisciplinary approach to the art world. She is eager to continue expanding her expertise in both practical and theoretical aspects of arts administration.

Maggie Borota is an emerging arts administrator who holds an AA from Scott Community College in Bettendorf, IA, and a BA in Visual Arts Management from Buena Vista University in Storm Lake, IA. She grew up infatuated with creating art, whether it be visual, written, or performance, and using it to cultivate a connection between herself and her community at large. This led her to begin the Arts Administration and Policy graduate program at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Previously she has worked in the Buena Vista University Gallery, as an intern in the Education Department at the Figge Art Museum, and as a mural apprentice for Quad City Arts. Maggie is interested in continuing her work in spaces like these while also examining what it means to create sustainable, impactful, and community-driven changes to overall better the arts sector.

Karyna Vovkotrub was born and raised in Kyiv, Ukraine, and is now based in Chicago. She is an independent researcher and artist. After earning an undergraduate degree in History and Theory of Art: Art Criticism (with a Presidential Grant) from the National Academy of Fine Arts and Architecture of Ukraine, she worked at a contemporary non-profit gallery. This experience inspired her to expand her knowledge in art administration, and she is currently pursuing a dual degree in Arts Administration and Art History. Passionate about modern and contemporary Ukrainian art, Karyna is deeply committed to researching and sharing it with the world and bring the knowledge to Ukraine to modernise institutions.

Soo Kim is a curator, interactive sculptor, and art administrator committed to creating inclusive, engaging art spaces. Born in South Korea, she works across diverse media, with clay as a primary material, to create interactive experiences that foster playful engagement. After attending Idyllwild Arts Academy, Soo pursued her BFA in Ceramics and Sculpture at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and is now completing her MA in Arts Administration and Policy. Her leadership in projects such as Road to Utopia: Threshold at the Korean Cultural Center of Chicago and her experience founding “object by soo” in Seoul demonstrate her ability to merge personal narratives with universal themes through art. Her administrative roles with Chicago local galleries have deepened her commitment to promoting cross-cultural dialogue, accessibility, and community engagement in the arts. Soo’s practice highlights the transformative potential of art to provoke joy, interaction, and understanding between diverse audiences.

Caitlin Abigail Cooner is a second-year graduate student in the dual degree program. She grew up in Houston, Texas, and recently graduated from Rhodes College with an MA in art history and a minor in religious studies. Her interests lie in the intersection of art and politics in modern and contemporary American art, with a focus on feminism. She has previously interned with various arts organizations including the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art, the Dixon Gallery and Gardens, and Studio Gallery in Washington D.C. Through these organizations, she has gained experience working in museum curation, education, development, and event planning. She is currently working as a teaching assistant in the art history department at SAIC. She is hoping to use her degree to learn more about arts administration and find her niche in the art world. She is interested in pursuing a career in museum administration to promote the work of artists who have been excluded from the art historical canon.

Gemma Kim is a second-year graduate student in the dual degree program at SAIC. Originally from Montgomery County, Maryland, she received her BA with a double major in Art History and English at the University of Maryland (UMD), College Park in 2019. At UMD, her thesis focused on the manipulation of facial imagery and facial disfiguration in contemporary U.S. literature as it relates to critical race theory, mental and physical displacement, and questions of multiethnic identity within narratives of diaspora. Gemma currently works as a graduate curatorial assistant at SAIC Galleries, assisting with thesis and specialty exhibitions. Her interests include the effects of diaspora on the production of art, the spatial relationships between art and the public, and issues of equity and access in arts institutions. She is interested in pursuing a career in arts administration to be able to facilitate better accessibility and inclusivity within the arts and the communities they serve.

Shi Tang (Tessie) is a curator and artist currently living and working in Chicago. She has a degree in public art and during her undergraduate years she explored the use of different media in the public sphere as an artist. She also worked in different art institutions, gaining experience in exhibition research, public education, and more.

She notes that today's relational space has been infested with total objectification. She wants to explore how art can be used as a new social intermediary to generate new life possibilities in communities, and the role of art institutions and boards in this regard.

Tessie is a second-year student in the Dual Degree Master’s program in Art History and Arts Administration at SAIC. She is looking forward to comparing community construction research in China and Chicago, exploring the differences between cultures in the context of globalization and the ways in which art is integrated into communities in different institutional and social contexts.

Adama Ka is Senegalese, and has 15 years of experience in the financial sector. She began her career at the World Bank and spent two decades between Paris and Luxembourg, working in the consulting, banking, and private equity sectors.

She moved to Chicago in 2020, where she launched an itinerant art gallery focusing on the curation of exhibition projects in Chicago and internationally, with artists who create works exploring issues of gender, race, environment, and social inequality. She is the founder of Racines Consulting, a consulting firm providing services to financial institutions, governments, and cultural organizations.

She holds a master’s degree in international business with a major in finance. Passionate about the intersection between art, business, culture, and finance, she is looking to combine arts administration skills and her background in finance to support the cultural sector. 

Abreihona Lenihan is an art historian, museum educator, arts administrator, curator, and creator of spaces that invest in and support Black art, artists, and communities. Since 2019, Abreihona has worked in the Carnegie Museum of Art education department as a museum educator, docent coordinator, and youth programs coordinator. In the summer of 2022, Abreihona was a selected fellow of the High Museum of Art for the Museum Careers Summer Academy Program. In 2022, Abreihona received a Bachelor of Arts at the University of Pittsburgh with a History of Art and Architecture and Museum Studies degree. In the fall of 2023, Abreihona will be a first-year graduate student at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in the Arts Administration and Policy and Modern and Contemporary Art History dual degree program supported by the 100% New Artist Society Scholarship. Her research focuses on 20th and 21st-century art and artists of the African diaspora who explore the relationship between black visual satire and popular culture.

Ekaterina (Katrin) Korneva is an artist by mindset and an entrepreneur by training. Her professional goal is to support aspiring artists and create a more inclusive and diverse creative environment in her community. Katrin was born in Russia and spent several years after high school traveling around Europe, East and West Asia, and now the United States. She recently graduated from Arizona State University with a degree in Business and Arts Entrepreneurship and moved to Chicago to search for opportunities in the art market.

Ashley Allen is a writer, creative, and arts and cultural administrator from Grapevine, Texas, who aims to highlight and support artists in the hope of fostering a more inclusive, equitable, and connected cultural landscape. Before relocating to Chicago, she worked as an administrator in student disability services at Trinity University and wrote exhibition reviews, artist interviews, and other pieces of cultural criticism for a variety of publications, including Glasstire, San Antonio Current, and the e-flux Education (formerly Art & Education). She earned her BA in Art History with a minor in Medieval and Renaissance Studies, graduating in 2022 from Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas. Ashley has experience in nonprofit development, administration, and communications, having completed internships at Artpace San Antonio and the Irish Georgian Society. She is currently supporting artists in her roles as development and communications intern at Arts of Life, and as artist relationship associate at Marks On Canvas.

Riley Gunderson (they/them) is an emerging curator, art historian, arts administrator, and writer. Their work uses visual and written means to explore themes such as history, materiality, perception, and process, specifically regarding queer, trans, and feminist identity. Through their work, they hope to increase equity within the arts by broadening the narratives surrounding who makes art, why they make it, and whom they make it for. Riley's work has been featured in a variety of exhibitions and publications, including 10011 Magazine, The New School, Greenpoint Gallery, and The Bridgeport Art Center.

Aijun Hao (A.J.) is currently a first-year graduate student at SAIC. She has an undergraduate degree in Visual Arts Management from Columbia College Chicago. Originally from China, she loves exploring the topics of cultural fusion and conflict. She primarily focuses on accessibility in art institutions and is passionate about supporting emerging minority artists and helping establish their careers. She practiced Chinese traditional dance for six years and is currently learning street dance. In her third year in Chicago, she aims to further explore the city and expand her vision in various contexts as an arts administrator.

Virginia Zonca, an Italian art historian and aspiring art advisor, earned her BA in Art History from The Courtauld Institute of Art in London, UK. Currently, she is a first-year candidate for the MA in Art Administration and Policy at SAIC. Beyond her academic career, Virginia gained valuable experience as an intern at the Peggy Guggenheim Collection in Venice, a cataloguer and researcher for a private collector, and as a junior writer at an online newspaper in Italy. In the future, Virginia aims to bridge the gap between art, its value, and its viewers, ensuring alignment with contemporary frameworks of critical discourse.

Leah Duval holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music with a minor in African American Studies from Florida State University. Throughout her academic journey, she actively engaged with non-profit music organizations and performance spaces in her hometown of Macon, GA. Her contributions encompassed event planning, community program development, and the management of social media content, all of which underscore her deep connection to the world of music.

Charlie Nawara is an emerging arts administrator with a passion for helping in underserved and underrepresented organizations within the world of art. With bachelor's degrees in Art History and Communication Studies, Charlie focuses on building strong relationships and placing an emphasis on organizational culture to support a more progressive art industry. Through a variety of experiences in the arts, some of which include working with Young Rembrandts, the MCA and Intuit museums, and more, Charlie has fostered skills in afterschool education, visitors services and relations, project consulting, and art handling, amongst others. Whether eventually working with individual artists or contemporary organizations, Charlie’s education at SAIC will be put towards positive social change and community building in a ever-changing field.

Nicole Laboy Zapata is a graduate student in the Arts Administration and Policy Program at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Originally from San Juan, Puerto Rico, she completed her undergraduate degree in Anthropology with a minor in Art History at the University of Chicago. Nicole's academic interests revolve around archaeology, material culture, and material studies. She has gained valuable experience through internships at institutions like The Blanton Museum of Art, The Smart Museum of Art, and Museo de las Américas. Her future goal is to return to Puerto Rico and foster artistic and cultural exchange across the Caribbean.

Evan Fan is a dedicated art historian, an emerging art administrator, and a cat guardian. She is originally from China, born with a dual linguistic background. After pursuing a BA in Art History (Presidential Prize) at Lake Forest College with rich experience in art catalog, Evan has demonstrated a keen interest in Modern to Contemporary Art and Architecture and delved into the realms of modern nationalism and contemporary studies. Also, Evan has culminated in an individual research project focused on Marxism and Maoism. Her last position was in research and evaluation at The Field Museum in Chicago.