I’m a visual artist and storyteller whose practice explores justice, memory, and cultural preservation through film, photography, and new media. My work centers on environmentalism, femme representation, and the resilience of marginalized communities, often reimagining survival and resistance through speculative and futurist narratives.
Rooted in both visual art and strategic communication, my approach bridges storytelling and impact. My practice merges research, creative direction, and community-centered production. I’ve worked across film sets, galleries, and marketing environments, building experience in creative operations, outreach, and audience engagement.
Through my ongoing projects, I aim to create visual ecosystems that challenge extractive ways of seeing and instead imagine thrivant, interconnected futures. Whether through immersive scripts, short films, or mixed-media installations, my goal is to make art that moves between advocacy and aesthetic. In all, my aim is work that not only documents but transforms social contexts.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Exhibition Curator, Handwerker Gallery, Ithaca College, Ithaca, NY, USA
(JANUARY 2024 - MAY 2024)
Evolved the artist application process into digital forms instead of paper applications doubling the amount of applicants. Coordinated work drop off and pick up with 43 student artists along with preparing installing 60+ works in both digital and still mediums. Coordinated the open night which welcomed 200+ visitors, 10 classical performers, and 43 participating artists along with maintaining the exhibition throughout its month long showing to 500+ visitors. Guided artist’s through writing statements and organized given data in Excel for the exhibition catalogue mailed with materials (stickers and postcards).
Gallery Assistant, Handwerker Gallery, Ithaca College, Ithaca, NY, USA
(JUNE 2022 - MAY 2024)
Oversaw the maintenance of the 5 gallery displays per semester from global artists ensuring high-quality presentation for engagement. Collaborated with the gallery director, artists, and gallery staff to coordinate display arrangements to foster an engaging and visually appealing space for visitors. Informed visitors about exhibitions and the intent behind displayed works and encourages visitors to sign up for the email list and to follow our social media pages to foster a sense of community and ongoing engagement. Managed social media posts and campaigns by actively documenting and posting events and executing targeted pr campaigns to increase visibility and engagement. Facilitated closing at the end of the day by conducting thorough checks of exhibits to ensure security and integrity, while also cleaning the gallery to lessen the work for custodial staff. Helped with the installation process for new exhibits, painted surfaces, and cleaned up areas from old installations and new ones.
Artist Assistant, Sharon Young Studio, Sharon Young, PhD, London, United Kingdom,
(SPRING 2023)
Innovated display techniques for multimedia works to pull the interest of students throughout the Royal College of Art to showcase the most substantial works in Dr. Young's practice for her final PhD exhibition. Revised sections of the novel Ms. B: The Hysterical Episodes about contemporary hysteria for the documentation of the Freud Museum. Networked with various artists and institutions for collaborative projects and to better showcase Dr. Young’s research and community empowerment.
Community Outreach and Branding Intern, She Speaks Up!*, London, United Kingdom,
(SPRING 2023)
Facilitated greater diversity and inclusion in marketing and branding through revising mission statements to foster greater gender and racial diversity. Reformulated a branding kit for the organization.Developed the mission and purpose in relation to London’s intersectionality sphere of art. Developed the visual mood board and organized the visuals for the Murmuring artists’ zine premiered through Peckham ‘24’s A Bigger Book Fair. Served as an organizational ambassador at gallery exhibitions to share information about the organization's mission and purpose.
EXHIBITIONS
Curated
“Immaterialism_: Senior Exhibition”, Student Curator, Handwerker Gallery, Ithaca College, Ithaca, NY, USA, (5/2-5/19/2024).
“THRIVANCE: Capstone Exhibition”, Co-Curator, Johnson Museum of Art, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA, (3/26-5/19/2023).
“Once More with Feeling: Sharon Young PhD Exhibition”, Co-Curator, Hockney Gallery, Royal College of Art, London, United Kingdom, (2023).
“How Do You Create A Portrait Of A City?: Teen Open Call Exhibition”, Co-Curator, Contemporary Art
Center, New Orleans, LA, USA, (4/15-5/14/2018)
Featured
“Climate Changing: Group Exhibition”, Las Laguna Art Gallery, Laguna Beach, CA, USA, (02/2023).
“Remember Earth?: 9th Annual Gulf South Open Call Exhibition”, New Orleans Contemporary Art Center, New Orleans, LA, USA, (7/30/2022 - 9/25/2022).
"Sister St: Group Installation”, Contemporary Art Center, New Orleans, USA, (2018).
NEW MEDIA
Directed by De Lorenzo, Layla. Feature 2024 Handwerker Gallery Senior Art Show, Video, Ithaca College, Ithaca, NY, USA, 2024.
Hosted by Russell, Angela and Salha, Abdallah. The S.E.R.P. Podcast, Podcast, Lycee Malick Sy, Théis, Senegal, West Africa, 2019.
PUBLICATIONS
Exhibition Catalogues
Russell, Angela. Immaterialism_:2024 Senior Exhibition. Ithaca College Handwerker Gallery, 2024.
Books
Young, Sharon. Mutterings. Editor and Featured Artist,[Photo; She Speaks Up!*, Peckham ‘24], 2024.
LEADERSHIP
Senior Exhibition Curator, Handwerker Gallery, Ithaca College, Ithaca, NY, USA, (SPRING 2024).
TECHNICAL SKILLS
Adobe Suite (Photoshop, Lightroom, Premiere, After Effects, InDesign, Animator, Firefly, Midjourney), Exhibit-e, Meta Ads Manager, Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, Forms, PowerPoint), Google Suite (Sheets, Docs, Workspace, Presentations), iMovie, HTML
LANGUAGES
English: Fluent
Wolof: Conversational
EDUCATION
Ithaca College, Roy H. Park School of Communications Ithaca, NY (May 2024)
B.F.A. Film, Photography, and Visual Arts
Minors: Integrated Marketing and Communications & Art History
Cornell University, Herbert F. Johnson Museum Ithaca, NY (January 2024) Continuing Education Exchange
Benjamin Franklin High School - High School Diploma New Orleans, LA (May 2019)
Affiliations: First Generation College Student, College Track Scholar 2015-2024, MLK Scholar 2020-2024, Ithaca College London Center 2023, Emerson Collective Fellow 2022-2023, Marketing Edge First Generation Student Marketing Mentorship 2021, Tilting Futures (Formerly Global Citizen Year) Senegal 2019, AAJA 2018
Contact
Angela.russell556@gmail.com
Thank you!