Faith Ringgold Closing Celebration

The closing celebration will include a performance by Matana Roberts followed by a discussion with Kamaal Martin and Mashonda Tifrere.

Presented with support from the Black Studies Project

Matana Roberts (they/them) is a dynamic instrumentalist and multidisciplinary artist whose practice explores the mystical roots and intuitive, spirit-raising traditions of American creative expression. Their innovative work has forged new conceptual approaches to considering narrativity, history, and political expression within improvisatory structures. More information is available at www.matanaroberts.com.

Roberts will present a short solo instrumental performance from their ongoing Untitled series. They have often been invited to create live improvisatory sound painting works in tribute to iconic artists in conjunction with exhibitions of their work; some select artists they have honored include Louise Bourgeois, Eva Hesse, Pina Bausch, Benny Andrews, and Paul Robeson.

Kamaal Martin’s passions are plants, arts & culture, building community and uplifting our region’s creative economy.

Prior to co-founding cultural enterprise ART POWER EQUITY in 2020; his unique skill set and network come from a professional journey including roles as: Vice President of Networks and Initiatives (Catalyst of San Diego & Imperial Counties), Director of Advocacy (California Charter School Association), Adjunct Faculty/Political Science (San Diego Community College District), Government Relations Specialist (San Diego County Regional Airport Authority) and multiple positions in state government ranging from Field Director, Special Assistant to the Speaker and District Director (California State Assembly).

A graduate of the University of Oregon, B.A. (History), M.A. (International Studies), Kamaal currently serves as a mayoral appointee to the City of San Diego’s Arts and Culture Commission, is a board member of Media Arts Center San Diego, Balboa Arts Conservation Center, Black Leadership Alliance Coalition and the advisory board of Vanguard Culture. He was a member of the California Arts Council’s Creative Economy Workgroup and previously served on numerous non-profit boards and advisory groups including: Project New Village, Somali Youth United and the San Diego NAACP. He currently lives in Lemon Grove, CA, with his partner and daughters.

Mashonda Tifrere is an international curator, collector, author and advocate whose two‑decade career bridges music, art, and philanthropy. Her practice integrates creativity, wellness, and cultural leadership.

Mashonda began her publishing career in 1999, when she was signed as a songwriter with Warner Chappell Music and subsequently tapped to write songs for a variety of influential musical artists. She landed her first record deal as an artist with Columbia Records in the early 2000s, and released her debut album in 2005.

As she segued into fine arts, Mashonda graduated from the Christie’s Education Art Business program in 2016, the same year she founded ArtLeadHer and in 2021 she launched Art Genesis, two transformative platforms that champion artists at every stage, with a particular focus on women and emerging voices. She followed this with her 2018 debut parenting book Blend: The Secret to Co‑Parenting and Creating a Balanced Family, published by Penguin Random House.

As a curator and advocate for visual artists, Mashonda has presented work by over 250 artists across museums, galleries, brand collaborations and art fairs worldwide. She has worked with institutions including the Whitney Museum, Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM), Sotheby’s, and Christie’s London. In 2024, she received the Art + Soul Award from Franklin Simmons and the Pérez Art Museum Miami for her curatorial and advocacy work. In 2025, Tifrere wrote and recorded a mindfulness-focused audio tour of the renowned Stuart Collection at the University of California San Diego. Her work has been featured in Forbes, The New York Times, Cultured, Artnet, Whitewall, and Artsy.