Team

Liz Powers (she/her)

Co-Founder, Chief Happiness Spreader

As Chief Happiness Spreader, Liz is ArtLifting’s heart and soul. Liz is a serial social entrepreneur who has received multiple grants and awards for her work. In 2010, Liz was awarded the "Unsung Heroine Award" in the Massachusetts State House for founding art collectives and the LIFT Bike Project. Liz has an AB, cum laude, in Sociology from Harvard College and an MSc from the University of Edinburgh.

Liz founded ArtLifting in November of 2013 along with her brother Spencer Powers. After securing a grant post-graduation from Harvard, Liz spent a year establishing art groups in homeless shelters throughout the Boston area. Liz was immediately struck by the incredible talent that she saw and wanted to share these creations with the world. She realized that art could be a transformational path to financial stability for these artists and countless others nationwide; they just needed a digital marketplace to connect with a larger audience.

Christina Bailey (she/her)

Chief Growth Officer

Christina Bailey’s main objective is to share ArtLifting artists’ artwork with the world. She is the head of ArtLifting’s corporate sales, licensing agreements, channel partnerships, and overall sales strategies. Christina is a mission and outcome driven professional, and at ArtLifting her mission is to get your artwork sold and placed on the walls and products of companies across the country.

Prior to ArtLifting, Christina spent 10 years driving marketing and sales efforts for Fortune 15 and early-stage healthcare technology companies. She served as the first Executive Director for the Kansas Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure where she led strategic planning and organizational development. She created significant impact through increased fundraising and public policy efforts.

Christina obtained her Bachelor’s of Science in Business Administration with a Major in Marketing from the University of Kansas. She has been personally inspired by the artwork of her sister who lives with a disability, as well as by the friends and strangers who have come into her life over time. She is thrilled to have the opportunity to share the amazing art at ArtLifting with the world and spread some joy in the process! 

Mike Gary (he/him)

Senior Director of Operations

Mike facilitates and optimizes ArtLifting's business operations. He evaluates our processes and creates solutions to support the organization and provide a foundation for scaled growth. He approaches new challenges as opportunities for continued improvement. 

Prior to ArtLifting, Mike worked for over 15 years in B2B operations and sales - most recently with a global manufacturer of indoor air quality appliances. Having a family member who is an artist with a disability, ArtLifting’s mission resonates deeply with Mike. Working on the ArtLifting team is a dream opportunity for him and it excites him to be able to create real social impact while doing something he loves.

Elliott Taylor (he/him)

Creative Director

Elliott is based out of Santa Cruz, CA and manages all current and potential partnerships with artists and social service organizations. Elliott works to maintain and develop ArtLifting's artwork collection to meet the needs of the corporate art market and well as exemplify each artist's creativity and talents.    

Elliott also works as a professional artist, photographer, and art instructor. Elliott holds a B.A. from University of California, Santa Cruz in Art and History of Art and Visual Culture. His art practice aims to bring increased awareness around social justice issues, often through collaborative projects with various communities. Before joining ArtLifting, he worked as an art instructor and studio manager at The Claraty Arts Project in Santa Cruz, an arts program, studio and gallery that supports and advances the development of a new, positive, collective identity for developmentally disabled adults via arts education, training, and creative expression.

Bree Lalor (she/her)

Curator

As Curator, Bree advises the business development and sales teams on artwork recommendations for customers and prospects, creates custom proposals and mock-ups, and contributes to design and marketing efforts. Bree is passionate about creating positive societal change through art, and is dedicated to mobilizing the voices of ArtLifting artists. 

Bree has an AB, cum laude, in Visual and Environmental Studies from Harvard College, where she focused on studio art. She loves painting, photography, and design, and is a believer in the power of creative expression to inspire social change. She is excited to use her own art and design background to work to elevate the voices of all ArtLifting artists. Bree joined ArtLifting in June 2017 as a Design and Marketing Associate, and transitioned to the role of Curator in summer 2018.

Isabel Yeo (she/her)

Director of Sales

Prior to ArtLifting, Isabel spent 11 years in the auction world as a specialist and later department director. She then headed the West Coast division of an art logistics company, where she also created the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion team. Isabel brings with her a vast knowledge of the art world, and is passionate about maximizing social impact for corporations and giving back to the community. Isabel graduated from the University of Southern California with a degree in Art History and Business Administration. With extensive experience in client services, account management, as well as mentoring sales teams, Isabel is very results-driven and is excited to help achieve the company’s mission of empowering our artists. She resides in Los Angeles, and fosters as well as rehomes shelter dogs in her spare time.

Michael Korcek (he/him)

Director of Marketing

Michael graduated from Lawrence University with a B.A. in Anthropology, Gender Studies, and Art History, where he authored an ethnography about a troupe of drag king performance artists working in Amsterdam. After relocating to San Francisco in 2010, Michael worked at Good Vibrations, a national woman-focused retail brand, managing vendor marketing initiatives and designing retail locations in Boston and across the Bay Area. In 2018, Michael began working as Director of Marketing and Brand Partnerships at Creativity Explored, where he shared the stories and promoted the artwork of neurodiverse and developmentally disabled artists working in their San Francisco studios and gallery. During his time at Creativity Explored, Michael rebranded the beloved 40-year-old nonprofit and partnered with community institutions, small businesses, and major brands like MillerKnoll (formerly Herman Miller), LinkedIn, and Dropbox to maximize the fiscal and social impact of their community initiatives, professional art services and licensing projects, exhibitions, and special events. Michael looks forward to creating a culture of collaboration and inclusion with ArtLifting artists, the family of ArtLifting clients, and the wider corporate community.

Sadie Shillieto (she/her)

Director of Operations

As Director of Operations, Sadie is responsible for artwork and installation, fulfillment, customer service, vendor relations, inventory management, artist payments, and office administration.

Sadie's career has been driven by the desire to make art accessible. Until joining ArtLifting she was in the museum field, focusing on collections care and management. While working with a museum's corporate lending program it became clear to her that the best way to get people to engage with art was by bringing it right into their office spaces. Sadie is excited to now be working for a community of talented artists who are not adequately represented in the rest of the art world, doubling her impact!

Erin Cousins (she/her)

Art Advisor

Erin is an Art Advisor, forming new partnerships with companies across the country. She works closely with businesses, helping them to find the perfect fit of artwork while maximizing their social impact, as well as helping artists to increase their income with new sales.

Prior to ArtLifting, Erin worked closely with artists and educators to create immersive installations, community programs, and interactive learning spaces in the museum sector. She’s thrilled to be able to continue connecting artists with new opportunities at ArtLifting, where she’s able to combine her desire to celebrate the work of talented creatives with her drive to help teams achieve their goals. 

Laura Prados-Bacó (she/her)

Business Development & Marketing Coordinator

Laura is the Business Development and Marketing Coordinator, forming new partnerships with companies across the country. She works closely with businesses, helping them to find the perfect fit of artwork while maximizing their social impact, as well as helping artists to increase their income with new sales.

Laura graduated from Babson College with a BS in Business Administration. Prior to working at ArtLifting, Laura was able to gain valuable marketing and sales knowledge during her internship with Facebook Inc. and used that experience later on as a Business Development Associate at VINCI VR, a Boston-based tech startup. Laura also worked for Babson’s Sorenson Visual Arts Center, where she marketed gallery events, acted as a liaison between the arts center and the folk across campus interested in displaying art in their workspaces, managed the permanent art collection database, and helped with the installation and deinstallation of artworks. Working for ArtLifting is like a dream come true for Laura as it’s a mix of her three main passions: entrepreneurship, social impact, and art. Laura’s excited to work for a mission-driven organization that aims to empower and further the representation of talented artists that are not adequately represented in the art market. 

Anne Bustamante (she/her)

Art Advisor

Anne is an Art Advisor, forming new partnerships with companies across the country. She works closely with businesses, helping them to find the perfect fit of artwork while maximizing their social impact, as well as helping artists to increase their income with new sales.

Prior to joining the team at ArtLifting, Anne balanced her time between nonprofit organizations and corporate tech companies throughout Chicago and the Chicagoland area. She holds a B.F.A. in photography from the Maryland Institute College of Art and a M.A. in arts administration from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago. As a mission-driven individual, Anne sees a natural connection between what an artist creates and how a company expresses its core values.

Janessa Post (she/her)

Art Advisor

As an Art Advisor, Janessa is responsible for forming new partnerships with companies across the country. She works closely with businesses, helping them to find the perfect fit of artwork while maximizing their social impact, as well as helping artists to increase their income with new sales.

Janessa holds a BA in art history from San Diego State University, an MA in Visual and Critical Studies from California College of the Arts, and a professional certificate in Museum Studies from the University of Washington. She spent her early career working for arts nonprofits and galleries, including Creativity Explored, a gallery and studio space in San Francisco that serves artists with developmental disabilities. 

In more recent years, Janessa worked in art sales, providing both high volume and custom artwork for corporate, hospitality, and healthcare projects. She is excited to be a part of ArtLifting, where she can combine her for-profit experience with her passion for promoting inclusivity and understanding through art.

Sharon Heitzenroder (she/her)

Art Advisor

As an Art Advisor, Sharon is responsible for forming new partnerships with companies across the country. She works closely with businesses, helping them to find the perfect fit of artwork while maximizing their social impact, as well as helping artists to increase their income with new sales.

With a decade of sales and marketing experience, Sharon holds a BFA from Moore College of Art and Design as well as an MFA from the San Francisco Art Institute. She spent her early career managing non-profits and lecturing for the University of California Santa Cruz and the Academy of Art University, San Francisco. She is a practicing artist exhibiting and lecturing internationally. Sharon is excited to help businesses and individuals recognize their potential to create a more inclusive and just economy by championing the work of under-recognized artists.

Zara Makhdoom (she/her)

Art Advisor

Zara is an Art Advisor, forming new partnerships with companies across the country. She works closely with businesses, helping them to find the perfect fit of artwork while maximizing their social impact, as well as helping artists to increase their income with new sales.

Zara holds an MSc in Art, Law and Business from Christie’s Education and a BFA from the Slade School of Fine Art. She spent her early career focusing on sales and curation at auction houses and galleries. Most recently she was leading Sales and Curation at NellyDuff Gallery in London. She is passionate about having an impact and building strong partnerships. At ArtLifting, Zara hopes to combine her passion for the arts and her skills to foster an inclusive community.

Aubree Mladenovic (she/her)

Art Advisor

As an Art Advisor, Aubree is responsible for forming new partnerships with companies across the country. She works closely with businesses, helping them to find the perfect fit of artwork while maximizing their social impact, as well as helping artists to increase their income with new sales.

Aubree holds a BA in Art History/Arts Management from University of San Francisco. From hospitality design to contemporary art exhibitions to antique map sales, Aubree’s career has spanned a wide range of art, sales and event experience. Prior to joining ArtLifting, she worked in account management selling art for commercial, healthcare and corporate projects across the US. She is also a visual artist with a focus on pen and ink drawings as well as embroidery. At ArtLifting, Aubree is excited to help grow meaningful, socially-impactful connections between our artists and our clients.

Haley Wodarczyk (she/her)

Artist Program Manager

Haley manages the community of artists ArtLifting currently represents, as well as our outreach efforts to recruit new artists and establish working relationships with new community partners.  She focuses on recognizing and meeting the needs of our artist community to facilitate the greatest impact on the individuals and organizations we support. Haley is a passionate advocate for each artist we work with.

Haley graduated from Stony Brook University, NY, with a B.A. in Psychology and Sociology, and a minor in Writing. Before joining ArtLifting, Haley spent 5 years working with individuals with traumatic brain injuries. During this time, Haley supported individuals as a direct care counselor, case manager, and certified brain injury specialist for numerous individuals living with disabilities and experiencing homelessness through empathy, understanding, and professionalism. In addition, Haley has an impressive history of supporting marginalized communities to have access to improved quality of life outcomes. She also has a talent for figure drawing with an interest in medical illustration.

Farra Pierre (she/her)

Artist Program Coordinator

Farra has a B.A. in Psychology and a business certificate in Women in Entrepreneurship. She works professionally as an artist, and in her free time when she's not painting or working digitally, Farra helps other artists build their businesses from the ground up. Farra is happy to have the opportunity to work with artists all over the country as they make a living off of what they are most passionate about.

Olivia Kascak (she/her)

Associate Curator

As an Associate Curator, Olivia makes thoughtful artwork recommendations for clients and advises on the development of ArtLifting's artwork collection.

Olivia graduated from the University of Bridgeport with a B.S. in Interior Design. Prior to her role at ArtLifting she held various positions within the design industry and most recently served an AmeriCorps term as Construction Crew Leader at Austin Habitat for Humanity. She is passionate about the impact design and creativity have on the lives of individuals and communities. Olivia is excited to channel this passion into her work at ArtLifting.

Matt Beckshaw (he/him)

Project Manager

As Project Manager, Matt is responsible for artwork and label fulfillment, installation, customer service, and inventory management.

Matt graduated from Tufts University in 2019 with a BA degree in Art History and a minor in Architectural Studies. Prior to ArtLifting, he worked at two small art museums in southern Maine, helping to develop new fundraising strategies and improving inventory records. On a typical weekend, you’ll find him browsing through antique stores and flea markets across New England, searching for mid-century mod planters and ceramics to add to his vast collection. Matt is happy to have found a career outside of the museum and gallery world at a company he believes is positively impacting the lives of others in a way he didn’t think was possible. It’s an honor for him to work so closely with a group of incredibly talented, underrepresented artists who inspire him every day. 

Alessandra Rosser (she/her)

Project Manager

Alessandra is a graduate of Chapman University with a BFA in Fine Art and a Minor in Anthropology. Alessandra has spent 6+ years in the Los Angeles art world, working at various art organizations such as a contemporary art fair, an art logistics & installation company, and numerous contemporary galleries. As a practicing artist herself, she understands the power and connection that art holds. Alessandra is passionate about empowering talented artists who are not adequately represented and helping to build meaningful, socially-impactful collections for businesses. In turn, she is excited to promote inclusivity and representation within the contemporary art landscape. Outside of work & art-making, you will find Alessandra collecting shells on the San Diego shoreline, trying new eateries with friends, walking her rescue pup, and exploring nature.

Kim Allen (she/her)

Project Manager

im graduated with a B.F.A in Graphic Design and a B.A. in Art History from Louisiana State University, after which she relocated to Washington, DC to complete her M.A. of Museum Studies at George Washington University. Since relocating she has continued her fine art practice, specifically working with embroidery and figure drawing as part of a local art group. Prior to ArtLifting, Kim worked in retail management and leadership, visitor service roles in local museums, and as a project manager for non-profit organizations. Kim is thrilled to join the ArtLifting team where she can utilize all her skills and experience towards making a difference.

Verica Jokanovic (she/her)

Administrative Consultant

Verica has transitioned from operations manager to a consulting role. Based out of Europe, she continues to support Artlifting remotely focusing on bookkeeping, financial reporting, and other administrative aspects that are critical for efficient operations of the business. Inspired by ArtLifting's mission and concept of doing business for good, she is currently pursuing graduate studies with focus on business management and social innovation.

Verica is a graduate from University of Massachusetts Lowell with a B.L.A., magna cum laude, in Art History and Spanish language. During her studies at UMass Lowell, she focused on modern and contemporary art which promoted her enthusiasm in working with living artists. Additionally, Verica holds a Bachelor Diploma in Maritime Management from Maritime Faculty of Kotor, Montenegro giving her unique interdisciplinary perspective of both management and the art world.

Frank Moss (he/him)

Board Member

While director of the MIT Media Lab, Frank developed a passion for the power of creativity and technology to improve the lives of people living with disabilities. In ArtLifting, Frank has found a social enterprise that truly embodies this principle. He has had a 35-year career as a high-tech, biotech, and health-tech entrepreneur and enjoys pen-and-ink drawing in his spare time. Frank holds a BSE from Princeton and MS and Ph.D. from MIT.