Lavett Ballard is an artist, art historian, curator, and author. She holds a dual Bachelor’s in Studio Art and Art History with a minor in Museum Studies from Rutgers University as well as an MFA in Studio Arts from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia.
Her artwork has been exhibited in galleries, public and private institutions nationwide. She was a regional finalist for both New York & Philadelphia for the Bombay Artisan Emerging Artist competition. Her art has been included in literary, film, theater productions, and TEDx’s Philadelphia ‘City’ Catalogue.
Ballard’s work is a diverse collection of narrative illustrations of people of African descent in a historical context. She uses formal elements of paint, charcoal, oil pastel, and collage, and combines them with reclaimed items.
Ballard works in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York.
Reaching her threshold and becoming ultimately frustrated with hearing the same narratives but from different authors, Tasha Dougé turned to art as a means of expression and unrestricted messaging – she can take something that is familiar and nostalgic to the audience and then completely transform its meaning. Driven by conceptual ideas and with the use of mixed media, Tasha makes art that challenges the audience to grapple with the ideals of tradition and conventional ways of thinking. By using interactive materials, Dougé has been able to integrate her audience into her some of the works during the process or as an integral part to bringing the piece(s) to life. With women’s empowerment initially being the focal point, her work has evolved to address issues of social injustice, activism, racism and those that overall speak to the Black experience. Tasha continues to create provocative works that will elicit authentic, raw and at times, uncomfortable feelings. It is with those feelings that Tasha wishes to spark open and honest conversations that will lead to change and furthermore, REFORM.
