Our Team

Who We Are

Our dedicated Board of Directors, staff, Gallery Committee, and Emerging Leaders are movers and shakers who work tirelessly to support local emerging artists in their professional and personal growth. We come from diverse backgrounds – the arts, fundraising, affordable housing, technology, business and marketing development, entertainment, finance, and public advocacy. We are passionate about maintaining and creating new initiatives to support emerging artists, and over the years, we have seen countless artists launch their careers from within our walls. Meet our team.

Team Members

Cheyanne Sauter

A proud L.A. native, Cheyanne Sauter has been a nonprofit professional for over 20 years. Her true calling lies in working with and supporting artists, and in July 2013 Cheyanne joined Art Share L.A. as an Interim Director to revitalize the nonprofit. In two years, she developed a programmatic model that supported 200 visual & performing artists annually. Today, Art Share L.A. has a staff of six and offers diverse programming that engages hundreds of emerging artists to create, exhibit, and share their work with thousands of art lovers annually. Cheyanne has served as a member of the executive team for the Cultural Stakeholders Committee, whose goal is to provide visibility for the arts and preserve and promote Los Angeles’ cultural and heritage. She currently sits on the boards of the Los Angeles River and Business Association (LARABA) and the Arts District Business Improvement District (ADLA).

Terry Ellsworth

Terry joined Art Share L.A. five years ago when it was rebuilding itself from the ashes administratively, financially, and physically. As a long-time Arts District resident and community staple, he brought decades of extensive art experience to the organization and saw the building’s incredible potential in revitalizing the Arts District. Today, he is proud to see Art Share L.A. living up to its mission, and can be found walking the hallways of the building sharing his stories or hanging up artwork for gallery shows. If you have any questions about the Arts District and all its glory, he’s the person to ask.

Nina Dias

Born and raised in the beautiful island of Sri Lanka, Nina immigrated to the U.S with her family in 2003. After graduating from The Ohio State University in 2014, Nina began her career in administrative work, however, always had a passion for non-profit work. Nina first got involved in grassroots work specifically working as an organizer for President Obama’s campaign ‘Organizing for Action’ and later went on to canvass for Amnesty International in Los Angeles. Furthermore, Nina’s love for social media marketing and office management lead her to join the amazing Art Share team in January 2018. In her free time, Nina enjoys watching Ohio State football games (GO BUCKS!), exploring the best taco trucks and going on hikes with her 70 pound Rhodesian Ridgeback.

Lucia Lopez

Lucia Lopez is the Development Manager for Art Share LA. Prior to ArtShare, she held roles in advocacy and development for the Pequot Museum in CT, FirstWorks, and New Urban Arts in RI. Born in Guatemala and raised in Pakistan, Lucia’s background makes her profoundly appreciative of diverse communities and public access to vibrant arts spaces. Today, you can find Lucia exploring the Los Angeles arts scene, biking along the LA River, or watching bad movies with her husband and cat.

Ethan Marks

Ethan Marks is the Events Manager for Art Share LA. Relatively new to LA, he is becoming an active member of the new music scene as an experimental trumpet player. He performs with WasteLAnd, the wulf., and the Carillon Quartet, and he has produced many concerts and performance events, many of which at Art Share. He has been playing the trumpet for nearly two decades and holds degrees in trumpet performance from the California Institute of the Arts (MFA 2017) and The University of Texas at Austin (BM 2013). Before joining Art Share, he taught post-tonal music theory at CalArts. When not engaged in the arts, Ethan can be found playing with his two cats, Leela and Morbo, and trying to leash train the latter with mixed results.

Katie Frager

Katie Frager is the Gallery Program Manager for Art Share LA. As an arts enthusiast and creative writer, she is excited to take her previous commercial gallery experience into the non-profit sector. Prior to joining the team at Art Share, Katie was directing an art gallery and mural agency in downtown San Francisco, focused on street and contemporary urban art. She is passionate about being an aid to artists in the development of their professional careers. She holds a BA in Art History from USC. Her other loves include her fluffy dog-child, classic cocktails, and camping with her boyfriend.

Board Members

Kevin Rodin

President

Kevin Rodin is a social entrepreneur with diverse experience in real estate and community economic development. Over the past ten years, he participated in successful economic development initiatives and sustainable real estate developments across California, including affordable, student, and artist housing.

In 2015 Kevin founded Community Development Resource Group (CD-RG), a strategic and financial consultancy focused on driving resources to disadvantaged communities. CD-RG has built particularly strong competencies in the Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities (AHSC) program, also known as Cap and Trade.

Prior to founding CD-RG, Kevin worked at the largest affordable housing developer in the nation, leading the initiative to redevelop public housing in Los Angeles.

Kevin is currently the President and Board Chairman of Art Share L.A., a nonprofit artist housing organization in Downtown Los Angeles. The building is a converted warehouse that contains 30 affordable studio units over a theater, gallery, and community space.

In 2015, Kevin founded LA Towel & Linen Service, a social enterprise in a disadvantaged community that employs hard-to-hire adults and pays living wage.

Prior to entering community development, Kevin worked at Cornerstone OnDemand (Nasdaq:CSOD) on their product development team.

Kevin earned his Master’s in Public Policy from the University of Southern California, and his BA from the University of Pennsylvania. He is a member of the Urban Land Institute. He is a LEED-Accredited Professional.

Dave Hunt

Vice President

Dave Hunt is president and founder of DG Hunt & Associates, an art consulting and project management firm specializing in large scale art-in-architecture programs. With a background in design and architecture, his practice is rooted in the cultivation of relationships and collaborations between the “art world” and the “real world”. Over the years he has worked with a wide range of artists, architects, developers, and public art organizations throughout Southern California and beyond, but his primary focus continues to be in the arts and business communities of Downtown LA. (Started July 2015)

Eric Needleman

Treasurer

Eric is a principal at The Spirited Group, a hospitality company that owns and operates venues throughout the Western US. Based in Los Angeles, the company currently has 20 locations throughout Los Angeles, San Diego, CA and Austin, TX.

Eric began in the hospitality industry in 2004, with his investment in the Golden Gopher. He then partnered to open Seven Grand, a bar that is largely credited with establishing the cocktail renaissance in Los Angeles, and Caña Rum Bar, which specializes in small batch rum and classic rum cocktails.

Prior to his career in hospitality, Eric was in commercial real estate. He was the asset manager of a 400,000 square foot portfolio of retail shopping centers and participated as a principal in the close of $100 million+ of commercial property transactions. Eric began in real estate with Gilmore Associates as the project manager for the Old Bank District redevelopment, the pioneering adaptive reuse project in Downtown Los Angeles.

Eric is on the Board of Directors of the LA Conservancy and Art Share LA. Eric graduated from the University of Colorado with a degree in Finance.

Mark Walsh

Secretary

Mark Walsh has lived and worked in the Arts District since 1987 as a sculptor and freelance designer. He owns the Downtown Artist Space, which rents out workspace and tools. He also produces web videos that promote the arts in Los Angeles. (Started July 1, 2014)

Pamela Ashlund

Pamela Ashlund is the Director of Finance at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles. She is a current resident of the vibrant Downtown LA’s Historic Core. With over twenty years of nonprofit experience, Pam is passionate about connecting the community with much needed resources and services. She values keeping in touch with the art community and, toward that end, founded and curates a Street Art and Graffiti gallery on Instagram. See her work at @graffcatz on Instagram. (Started July 1, 2016)

Tanner Blackman

Tanner Blackman is a partner at Kindel Gagan Public Affairs Advocacy and an adjunct instructor of Urban Planning at USC’s Price School of Public Policy. He has previously worked as Planning Director of LA’s Council District 14, a lecturer at the Future Initiatives Program (SCIFI) at the Southern California Institute of Architecture, and an urban planner for the City of LA, where he led efforts to end Los Angeles’ Mural Moratorium. Tanner is a board member of the Do Art Foundation, serves on the Exhibits Committee of the Architecture & Design Museum (A+D), and advises various non-profit arts organizations. (Started July 1, 2015)

Michelle Coulter

Michelle Espinosa Coulter is a Senior Project Manager with Meta Housing Corporation.

Since 2006, she has managed the development of 21 affordable housing projects, with 1540 units, and $530 million Total Development Costs. She is responsible for public and private financing, design development, and program development. She has expanded Meta Housing’s arts colony model from projects that improve the physical, mental, and social health of seniors through arts programming, to projects that give refuge from Southern California’s housing crisis to low-income working artists and their families. By serving Art Share Los Angeles, she hopes to increase and improve housing opportunities for artists.

Ms. Coulter holds a dual M.A. in Urban Planning from UCLA and M.S. in Accounting. Prior to her career in community development, she enjoyed a 7-year career in public accounting and with the Federal Reserve Bank.

Michelle lives in Eagle Rock, is married to Chris Coulter, who is a principal in the Glendale school district. They are the very proud parents of a daughter, Siena.

*** Meta is a mission-driven, for-profit organization whose communities cultivate pride, resilience, and happiness, not just in our city and financing partners, but in the thousands of residents who call Meta communities home. Our tenants aren’t just financially supported with our affordable housing, our service providers constantly customize tutoring, life skill training, and health and nutrition programs, so that our tenants are happy and engaged civic participants.

Shana Nys Nys Dambrot

Shana Nys Dambrot is an art critic, curator, and author based in Downtown LA. She is the Arts Editor for the LA Weekly, and a contributor to Whitehot Magazine, KCET’s Artbound, Flaunt, Fabrik, Art and Cake, Artillery, Palm Springs Life, Riot Material, West Hollywood Lifestyle, Jenkem, and Porter & Sail. She studied Art History at Vassar College, writes essays for books and exhibition catalogs, curates and juries a few exhibitions each year. SND is a dedicated Instagram photographer and author of experimental short fiction, and speaks at galleries, schools, and cultural institutions nationally. Shea sits on the Boards of Art Share-LA and the Venice Institute of Contemporary Art, the Advisory Council of Building Bridges Art Exchange, and the Brain Trust of Some Serious Business.

Daniel Lisi

Daniel Lisi is the CEO of Game Over, an independent video game development studio. Lisi produces a range of literary events, gallery exhibits, and film projects in Los Angeles. He is the author of World of Warcraft, a book on the social and cultural effects of the online game World of Warcraft. (Started June 1, 2015)

Emerging Leaders

Emmanuel Soriano

Chair

Emmanuel Soriano is a partner at commercial real estate group Industry Partners, focusing on the positioning and leasing of creative office and retail space. A DTLA resident, Eman is adamant about the community of residents, artists, businesses and organizations that make downtown such an exciting and inspiring place to experience. He enjoys the afternoon urban stroll, a cup of coffee and a good read. Eman currently serves as the chair of Art Share L.A.’s Emerging Leaders board.

Andy Bauch

Andy is a computer scientist and artist whose opposing interests led him to found Andy Bauch Studios, which creates original and commissioned works from thousands of recycled LEGO Bricks. He is also Chief Technology Officer of the Arts District-based startup Wizely Finance. Previously, he started and managed technology at several early stage companies, created security software for the U.S. Treasury, and built video player software and server farms for Disney. He shares his LEGO art at @andybauch.

Carrie Cheung

Carrie Cheung is the founder and CEO of DTLA Rendezvous, a community building organization in Downtown Los Angeles (DTLA). Since 2012, she has been creating and hosting a variety of events throughout the year to engage the DTLA residents and workers to meet with others, explore the neighborhood, and support local businesses and organizations. Carrie has a passion for meeting and connecting people, traveling, and spending time with family and friends.

Claire Dilworth

Claire Dilworth was influenced by her fine artist parents to become involved in the art world at a young age. In addition to working at Dia Art Foundation in New York within the Publication and PR departments, she collaborated on projects for D.A.P. / Distributed Art Publishers, Inc., PAPER Magazine, and the Walter De Maria Archives. Claire is currently managing LA-based artist Mike Nesbit, specializing in PR, events, and graphic design for the studio.

Justin Fredericks

Justin Fredericks has run business development for tech companies in the past decade, including TNS Media Intelligence (acquired by WPP), Shopflick (acquired by Sugar, Inc.) and Marriage.com (sold in 2004). Most recently, Justin cofounded Paper and Fabric, an e-commerce company that features the work of artists on limited paper and fabric prints. He is also an advisor to and sits on the boards of several companies and nonprofits. Justin received a B.A. from UCLA and a J.D. from Harvard Law School.

Michael Kang

Michael Kang is the Director of Strategies at LeBasse Projects (LBP), a full-integrated consulting firm specializing in cultural and creative development. In his current role, he oversees LBP Strategies, the in-house agency set up to reflect the worldwide burgeoning interest in culture-driven placemaking and regeneration projects. LBP Strategies promotes the idea of a cultural masterplan or strategy for buildings, districts, and cities as a whole as they compete for inward investment, contribute to local economic development, and craft forward-thinking & innovative identities. Michael received his B.A in Urban and Environmental Policy from Occidental College and currently lives in Los Angeles with his 90lb mutt, Walter.

Romy Aura Maloon

Romy Aura Maloon is a first generation American, born of South African parents. Her art work is an attempt to ingratiate and reconcile the disparate identities and geographic spaces of her upbringing and ancestral background. Working as a caterer and event coordinator, her material use is often associated with social events, décor crafting and site-specific exploration. Formerly the Event Manager for Atlanta Contemporary, she currently works as the Creative Marketing Manager for Jamestown LP Los Angeles and consults for Dashboard, a national curatorial and commissioning arts organization.

Romy’s art works have been exhibited throughout Georgia, Florida, and New York including at Atlanta Contemporary. She participated in Tomorrow Stars, the Verge Art Miami Beach in conjunction with Art Basel Miami. She was a 2015 Walthall Artist Fellow. Romy studied Fine Arts at the Ringling College of Art and Design in Sarasota, Florida. She currently lives in Los Angeles and has grand plans to paint some big walls.

Mark Schrustin

Mark Schustrin is a professional auctioneer, Founder and CEO of Bid27 Art Auctions, and fundraising consultant for non-profit organizations worldwide. Bid27 is an art auction company dedicated to emerging artists and collectors providing a new and exciting platform to sell work. As an Emerging Leaders board member, Mark provides insight to collecting art for the burgeoning collectors who support Art Share L.A.

Lizette Vargas

Lizette Vargas is a sunny Los Angeles native and a marketing manager skilled in graphic design, strategic social media, PR, and marketing. Lizette is actively involved with nonprofit organizations including Saint Vincent de Paul and Art Share L.A., where she sits on the marketing and PR committee supporting community and economic development. She is currently working with local businesses and business improvement districts on community initiatives in downtown Los Angeles. Follow her at @DTLAWanderer.

Gallery Committee

Heidi Johnson

Heidi Johnson is an accomplished public relations strategist, artist manager, and self-made entrepreneur. She has worked in the entertainment industry, public relations, community relations, event and communication planning, and the art/design world for over twenty years – a blend of experiences and skills that led her to found her own PR firm, Hijinx Arts. Most recently Heidi has worked as the publicist for the LA Art Show, DesignerCon, and Corey Helford Gallery while additionally helping to coordinate and promote exhibitions with Night Gallery, Gregorio Escalante Gallery, the Lancaster MOAH, Paul Kopeikin Gallery, Cat Art Show LA 2: The Sequel, and many more. She has worked with artists and gallerists that include Scott Hove, Dosshaus, RISK, Robbie Conal, Hueman, Blake Little, Jim Mahfood, and Harmonia Rosales. But this is just the tip of the iceberg – Hijinx continues to work with brands such as Nike, Converse, American Express, and NYX Cosmetics while maintaining relationships with LA Magazine, LA Weekly, Juxtapoz, Hi Fructose, KCRW, CNN, KCET, The LA Times, the Huffington Post, and more.

Mike Kelley

Mike Kelley is a Designer/Art Director with 20 years experience working on campaigns for numerous fortune 500 companies. He’s been involved professionally in the contemporary art world for 15 years as a gallery owner, curator and cultural producer. In 2004 he launched Junc Gallery, that quickly established itself as being a launching pad for noteworthy artists early in their careers. In addition Mike has experience volunteering in the arts non-profit sector, working as a coordinator for exhibitions and events with galleries and museums locally and across the U.S. Mike also teaches design and professional development classes including “Gallery Practices” “designed to help artists navigate the career minefield of exhibiting artists” at the Art center College of Design. Mike earned his BA in Fine Art at the Center College of Design.

Shana Nys Nys Dambrot

April Rushing

April Rushing started her career as a production assistant at Entertainment Tonight. Her television and film career includes, stints in production, accounting, contracts and distribution. After ten years on the corporate side of entertainment she decided to answer the call of her inner creative and become a publicist. In 2016 she started Rushing Media. The public relations and event staffing company is based in the Los Angeles area and services clients worldwide. Her PR clients range from hospitality, luxury, art and events. She has staffed events for brands including Ford and eBay. She has a BA in Mass Communications from Loma Linda University.

Isabel Rojas-Williams

Isabel Rojas-Williams, an Art Historian and curator, served as the Mural Conservancy Los Angeles Executive Director from 2011-2016. A native of Chile and resident of Los Angeles since 1973, she became an immediate and passionate fan of the mural movement here. She is a longtime civic activist who served as Mayor Villaraigosa’s liaison to the Latino, the Asian, and the African American Heritage Committees. Isabel earned her graduate degree in art history from Cal State Los Angeles, and joined the faculty there in 2007. Among her numerous research works are “Los Angeles Street Mural Movement, 1930-2009,” her master’s thesis, and a research video on David Alfaro Siqueiros, “Siqueiros: A Muralist in Exile,” (exhibited at MOLAA 2010-2011), which led to her participation on the Mayor’s Advisory Committee for the Siqueiros Mural and Interpretative Center project that was completed in 2012. Isabel had a major role in helping write the mural ordinance signed by Mayor Garcetti in 2013, which lifted the 2002 mural moratorium in Los Angeles. Among her numerous awards, in 2014, Los Angeles City Council honored Isabel Rojas-Williams as one of the fifteen “Latinas in the Arts” who has made an impact in the cultural landscape of Los Angeles. On January 2016, Isabel was chosen by Los Angeles City Council and City Impact Lab as one of the exceptional “2016 Impact Makers to Watch.” Rojas-Williams participated as an Art Historian, an academic advisor, a speaker, and a curator in five of the 2017 Getty Pacific Standard Time: Los Angeles/Latin American exhibitions (Getty PST: LA/LA).

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