Board Of Directors

Justin Freeman is a visionary community leader and arts advocate rooted in New York City. As the Director of Community Affairs for the New York State Assembly, he excels in forging meaningful connections between government entities and the diverse communities they serve. A proud CUNY alumnus, Justin’s passion for the arts as a catalyst for social change drives his commitment to Gallery Particulier. His extensive background in community affairs, coupled with a hands-on approach to addressing societal issues, empowers him to champion innovative art projects that inspire, educate, and bring communities together. Through strategic partnerships and community engagement, Justin envisions Gallery Particulier as a vibrant hub for cultural exchange and a beacon for transformative community impact. His dedication to fostering accessible art experiences for all underscores his belief in the arts as a unifying force, making him an invaluable asset to Gallery Particulier’s board.

Carl E. Hazlewood is a New York-based artist with outstanding practice in abstract work. Additionally, he wears many hats, having always been passionate about supporting art and artists from various communities. He co-founded Aljira, A Center for Contemporary Art in Newark, NJ, where he organized the exhibition “Modern Life” with the curator Okwui Enwezor. Hazlewood’s project for Aljira, “Current Identities, Recent Painting in the United States,” was the prize-winning representative for the United States at the 1994 Bienal International de Pintura in Cuenca, Ecuador. That exhibition then traveled to eleven other countries in Latin America.

As an independent curator, he has overseen exhibitions for many institutions, including The Nathan Cummings Foundation, NY; the Studio Museum in Harlem, NY; Hallwalls, NY; Artists Space, NY; and P.S.122, NY. He is a writer contributing to catalogues and prestigious art magazines. He has also taught Art History at New Jersey City University and has been a visiting critic at various institutions. He will bring this vast background to the Board of Advisors of Gallery Particulier.

Shari Berman is the cofounder of Evidence Design, a museum planning and exhibition design studio. Projects include the comprehensive interpretive planning and experience design of museums that span the physical and natural sciences, art, history, and culture. Shari is currently engaged in the final stages of the new Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center in Los Angeles, home of Space Shuttle Endeavour. When not working on exhibits, you can find Shari on her bike riding all around her beloved Brooklyn.

Ruth Perez Acosta is a psychotherapist with a career spanning over 12 years in both private and public sectors. Her extensive expertise has been honed through dedicated service in diverse settings, ranging from community mental health clinics to foster care agencies, as well Columbia University’s Anxiety Clinic.

A specialist in anxiety, mood disorders, and trauma, Ruth’s profound understanding of the human psyche has enabled her to offer invaluable support to individuals across the lifespan. Her ability to perceive the intricacies of human emotions and experiences aligns seamlessly with the nuanced world of art.

Beyond her professional endeavors, Ruth is deeply passionate about the transformative power of art in healing and self-expression. Ruth has a keen interest in the intersection of mental health and creative expression, she is also an ardent advocate for leveraging art as a means of fostering community engagement and well-being.

Hyojin Yoo is an interdisciplinary artist, researcher, and designer. Her work is multifaceted and expansive across mediums, allowing no limits to her expression and exploration. She introduces an enticing relationship to viewers, interweaving wires and textiles. Her work is often interactive, using audience engagement as a functioning part of her pieces. Yoo’s experience varies from editorial graphic design, textile design, creative coder, and interactive design. Her wide professional palette makes her a strong member of Gallery Particulier’s advisory board. We’re thrilled to have a member who exhibits such skill and talent and is able to share insight from such different fields.

We are grateful to the much missed Duane Joseph for his constant support of Gallery Particulier.

His passion centered around his drive to build equitable access for all communities, which is what we strive to do at Gallery Particulier. Over the years, Duane married his professional experience, and Afro-Caribbean heritage, and applied his exceptional smarts and his generous personality to improve our city. He was a co-founder of the Parkside Plaza Committee, a member of his local community board, and served as an advisor for Little Caribbean NYC and the Flatbush Beacon program. He always put his community’s needs first, whether youths or mental patients, before his own: he was a selfless man.

Yi Zhou is an outstanding creative and entrepreneur. She and her partner founded the brand See ROSE which takes a fresh approach to thoughtful design and purposeful innovation in plus-size fashion. Their commitment to improving the lives of women through the brand’s excellence has been saluted by the press, and rewarded with business awards.

She has a long history of driving revenue and business goals within strict timelines and budgetary constraints, having worked with Nike and Converse for many years. Born in China, raised and educated in the Netherlands, she lives and works in NYC with her husband and two children. Yi brings to Gallery Particulier’s Board of Advisors her unique background which allows her to navigate seamlessly between cultures, in corporate and start-up environments.

Angela Crockett is a marketing consultant and brand ambassador powerhouse based in Atlantic City. Some of her work in communications includes serving as Communications Director and Honoree Liaison for the Atlantic City Boxing Hall of Fame for the last five years and doing PR consulting for several non-profit campaigns. Additionally, she is a member of “P.O.W.E.R” Professional Organization of Women of Excellence Recognized and sits on the Board of Directors at COLLOQUIUM DEPOT, a non-profit which fights bullying through education, media, and the arts. Additionally to these skills and vast experience, Angela brings her vibrant, forward-looking personality to the table. 

Lilly Wei is an independent curator, art critic, and writer who has lectured extensively about art history and curating. Based in NYC, Wei’s writing is frequently featured in publications such as ARTnews and Art in America among other international publications. She is also a long-time reporter and critic of international Biennials. Wei has also worked as a curator of exhibitions in the United States, Europe, and Asia, and has produced their catalogs. She serves on several not-for-profit art institutions and organizations including the International Association of Art Critics, Bowery Arts & Sciences, and Art Omi International. She is passionate about global contemporary art and emerging artists, a perfect fit for Gallery Particulier.

Joel Desouve, originally from Port-au-Prince, Haiti, attended the State University of Haiti before coming to the United States to complete his studies.  He has worked with nonprofit organizations focused on the rights of children and young adults. This led him to pursue a degree in Public Affairs & Communication Studies at Baruch College where he is about to complete a Master’s degree in Public Administration.

Joel has volunteered for several nonprofits organizations during COVID-19, including In It Together, providing food boxes and serving meals to New Yorkers around Brooklyn. He is an ESOL teacher Empowerment Centre For Caribbean Immigrants. Last Spring, Joel did a Fellowship with the University Student Senate 2020 as a Public Policy Advisor. He also participated in 2019 and 2020 at the Association of Professional Schools of International Affairs – APSIA Diversity Forum in Washington, D.C. We’re honored that he will bring his deep familiarity with New York communities, as well as his passion for social justice to Gallery Particulier, not to mention his smarts and optimistic personality.

Nupur Mathur is a digital media artist and designer. She has an MFA in digital + media from the Rhode Island School of Design and a Diploma in digital video production from the Srishti School of Art, Design & Technology. Prior to living in the United States she founded and ran a visual communication studio in New Delhi, India with three other partners.Mathur is also a member of the artist collective Radha May. In her artistic and practice she uses technology and media to tell stories about the urgent social issues of our times, and has a commitment to a more just and equitable world.