Dejá Belardo

Dejá Belardo, (she, they) is a curator and painter based in New York City. They were born and raised in St.Croix, U.S Virgin Islands. Their diverse cultural background influences their commitment to the social and cultural power of art. The duality of being an artist and an arts professional allows Dejá to have a dynamic knowledge of how to serve the best interests and growing needs of artists. Deja's goal as a curator is to support boundary pushing artists as they establish themselves in the art historical canon, especially those who have been historically marginalized.

Currently, they hold the position of Associate Curator, Visual Art and Civic Programs at The Shed, NYC. Dejá's professional experience has included major arts institutions in New York City like the Whitney Museum of American Art, Pace Gallery and they also completed the Museum Professionals Seminar with The Studio Museum in Harlem and was recently a part of the Arts Leadership Praxis at Studio. They have participated in jury panels for residencies, spoke in public program panels and have worked on independent projects with various emerging artists, galleries and non profits in the Caribbean, New York and across the U.S, as well as maintaining a studio practice of their own.

What drew you to the M.A. in Arts Politics?

I was drawn to the Arts Politics M.A. Program because I wanted to engage in discourse with like minded peers, professors, and industry leaders around the changing landscape of art and culture amidst political violence and minority suppression.