Independent Curator and Arts Administrator based in Newark, NJ, whose work brings research, strategy, and community-centered engagement into practice for artists and nonprofits
Current Project
Wards of Newark: Then and Now
New Arts, a public arts studio at Express Newark at Rutgers University—Newark, proudly presents The Wards of Newark: Then and Now, a citywide exhibition of newly commissioned and archived photographs by Newark-born, multidisciplinary artist, Manuel Acevedo, from May to October 2026. Curated by New Arts faculty founder, Professor Salamishah Tillet, the exhibition explores themes of urban gentrification, belonging, and community, while also exemplifying Rutgers Newark’s exemplary record of publicly engaged scholarship and role as an anchor art institution in the City of Newark.
The exhibition revisits Acevedo’s first sustained photography series, Wards of Newark (1982-1987), in which he documented the diverse landscapes and communities of his hometown—a city shaped by periods of unrest and urban renewal initiatives that tore down existing housing to erect massive housing projects. Comprising thousands of black-and-white documentary images of Newark’s five wards — Central, North, South, East, and West, the photographs captured the richness of neighborhood life and lore, while also addressing the political issues of residential segregation, urban poverty, overpolicing, and the complexities of the early administration of Mayor Sharpe James—the city’s second Black mayor from 1986 to 2006.
Image: Manuel Acevedo, Untitled (after the Puerto Rican Day Parade), circa 1986.
What I Offer
Explore a range of services designed to support artists, organizations, and institutions at every stage—helping ideas take shape, projects move forward, and work reach the audiences it deserves.
-
Develop exhibition concepts, conduct archival and contextual research, and shape curatorial narratives that center artists, histories, and community-informed interpretation.
-
Provide strategic and operational support for exhibitions, public programs, and large-scale initiatives—managing timelines, budgets, vendors, and cross-team coordination from planning through execution.
-
Design and facilitate public talks, workshops, and engagement programs for diverse audiences, including students and community groups.escription
-
Craft clear, compelling communications across newsletters, websites, social media, and press materials, and collaborate with designers to ensure cohesive visual storytelling and strong public-facing identity.
-
Research, write, and edit catalogues, grant narratives, reports, and organizational publications that articulate mission, impact, and long-term vision.