OUR TEAM

Joseph Cuillier is a multidisciplinary artist who examines language, space, abstraction, and Black radical pedagogies through social practice, installation, textile, and design. His practice at the intersections of education, visual art, and design centers on deconstructing histories to build counter-narratives. Currently based in New Orleans, LA, Cuillier received a Master’s from Pratt Institute and previously held faculty positions at Parsons School of Design and Pratt Institute in New York City. Cuillier is the co-director of The Black School and Black Love Fest with Shani Peters.Cuillier’s work has been exhibited, collected, and presented internationally at the New Museum, NY; The Museum of Modern Art Library, NY; Bauhaus-Building Dessau, Germany; The Bronx Museum of the Arts, NY; Wallach Art Gallery, Columbia University, NY; The Rubelle and Norman Schafler Gallery, Pratt Institute, NY; among others. Cuillier has been an artist-in-residence/fellow at Sweet Water Foundation, IL via the Chicago Architecture Biennial, IdeasCity New Orleans, LA; Spillways Antenna. Works, LA; the New Museum, NY; The Laundromat Project, NY; and A Blade of Grass, NY.

Mónica Olivares (she/her) is a first generation immigrant from the Dominican Republic. She holds a Bachelors of Fine Arts from Louisiana State University with a concentration on Graphic Design. There she focused on studying natural burials for her Senior Show and designing book covers for the LSU Press. She also has a background in Student Affairs Administration from University of West Florida. While in Pensacola, Monica hosted panels on Black & LGBTQ+ history with the Office of Equity & Diversity for their residential communities. She’s currently creating a Professional Development Curriculum that will prepare our apprentices on how to prepare to be independent graphic designers after they’ve graduated from apprenticeship.

Jihad Doucette is a creative entrepreneur native to and based in New Orleans, LA with skills in design software, illustrating, and project management. As a mentor for young designers and a freelance graphic designer, he has worked closely with local and national clients to find creative solutions to problems and meet clients’ design needs. As founder of Chimera clothing, Jihad has also worked to create a lifestyle brand, which supports up-and-coming artists by providing them with a platform to express themselves through fashion and performing arts.

Kacy George is a digital designer, creative manager, and art teacher with over seven years of experience in developing and implementing innovative solutions that blend art history, theory, and design principles. As a digital designer at The Black School, Kacy works the diverse team of educators, artists, and activists to create creative solutions.
He holds a Master’s in Visual Arts Education from Hunter College and a double-major BA in Media Communications (Advertising & Public Relations) and Digital Design from The City College of New York. He is currently pursuing an MSED in Educational Leadership at Brooklyn College. Kacy also brings experience as a Design Intern at Dear Future, Digital Media at the Whitney Museum of Art, and Art Education Intern of American artist Nari Ward.