Yelaine Rodriguez

Yelaine Rodriguez (b.1990) is an AfroDominicanYork artistic scholar, educator, independent curator, cultural organizer, and writer who merges her creative language and academic research within her practice. As a visual artist, Rodriguez conceptualizes wearable art, sculptures, and site-specific installations drawing connections between her research on Black cultures in the Caribbean and the United States. She received her BFA in Fashion Design from Parsons School of Design | The New School (2013) and her MA in Latin American and Caribbean Studies / Museum Studies from New York University (2021). She is currently an Adjunct Instructor at The New School and NYU. 

Rodriguez's curatorial projects include "Radical Elegance" at Longwood Art Gallery At Hostos (2021), "Afro Syncretic" at NYU (2019-2020), "Resistance, Roots, & Truth" at the Caribbean Cultural Center African Diaspora Institute (2018), and "(under)REPRESENT(ed)" at Parsons School of Design | The New School (2017). From (2015 - to 2018), Rodriguez founded La Lucha: Dominican Republic and Haiti, One Island, an art collective exploring Dominican-Haitian relations through exhibitions, artist panels, and interactive conferences. Residencies include the Innovative Cultural Advocacy Fellowship from the Caribbean Cultural Center African Diaspora Institute (2017), Wave Hill Van Lier Fellowship (2018), The Latinx Project Curatorial Fellowship at NYU (2019), and Bronx Museum AIM Program (2020). 

Rodriguez has exhibited in various venues internationally, such as ESTAMOS BIEN: LA TRIENAL 20/21, El Museo del Barrio's (NY) first national large-scale survey of Latinx contemporary art, UNTITLED Art Fair, Photoville, Mexic-Arte Museum, American Museum of Natural History, and Wave Hill in the United States, El Centro Cultural de España and Centro León Biennial XXVII in the Dominican Republic, SurGallery & Critical Distance Centre for Curators in Canada, Wereldmuseum in The Netherlands, and La Escocesa in Barcelona, Spain. Rodriguez's works feature in CNN, Artsy, EnFoco, Hyperallergic, Vogue, Aperture, and Elle Magazine. Her writing has appeared in ARTnews and academic journals like Latin American & Latinx Visual Culture. 

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

Adjunct Professor

New York University: Department of Photography & Imaging at Tisch, 2020 - Present

Latin(X) American Photography

Visualizing Identities & Difference Across Media

Curatorial Practices

Culture & Context: Caribbean

Parsons School of Design | The New School, 2012- Present

Parsons School of Design | The New School, MFA Textile Department, 2021- Present

Parsons School of Design | The New School, BFA Fine Arts Department 2017-Present

Parsons Pre-College Academy, 2013 – Present

Altos De Chavón, La Romana, Dominican Republic, Summer Program 2013

Youth Advocate

Parsons Space, Manhattan, NY, Youth Advocate, 2014-2017

Teacher Assistant

Parsons Pre-College Academy, New York, NY, 2008 - 2013

Altos De Chavón, La Romana, Dominican Republic, 2012

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

La Lucha: Dominican Republic & Haiti: One Island, Founder 2014-Present

Curated, prepared and installed exhibitions from start to finish

Collaborated with artists to develop site-specific installations and exhibitions

Developed and maintain relationships with local and international artists

Served as the primary point of contact for artists, press inquiries and partnerships

Created invitations and advertisements for exhibit openings and art events

Planned exhibition-related programming and community outreach

Organized and led curatorial tours

Projected and monitored all revenue and expenses for exhibitions and programs

New York University, Graduate School of Arts and Science, New York, NY

Master’s Program, Latin American & Caribbean Studies / Museum Studies, (Summa Cum Laude), 2021

Parsons The New School Of Design, New York, NY

Bachelor’s in Fine Arts, Fashion Design, 2013