Staff & Board

 

Staff

Alma Carrillo

Alma Carrillo

Executive Director

alma@buffaloartsstudio.org

(716) 833-4450 x 110

Carrillo holds a BA from the University of Notre Dame, an MA in Public Humanities and Cultural Heritage from Brown University, and also studied at the Universidad Iberoamericana in Mexico City. She brings years of exhibition, administrative, and teaching experience to Buffalo Arts Studio. She has served in many active advisory and volunteer roles for groups and organizations including Frontline Arts Buffalo, Brown University’s Public Humanities Program, National Museum of Mexican Art, National Museum of American History/Smithsonian Institution, and Creatives Rebuild New York.

Carrillo is committed to and experienced in engaging visitors to art and arts organizations through innovative programs, with a particular interest in reaching underserved and underrepresented populations. As the Executive Director, Carrillo leads, plans, and implements the Buffalo Arts Studio’s strategy, supervises and supports staff in all departments, and oversees all programs, operations, and finances. She leads fundraising and external relations and serves as liaison to Buffalo Arts Studio Board of Directors, Studio Artists, and the arts community. Carrillo also works to build and maintain new and existing relationships with local art instructors, assistants, students, families, organizations, community groups, and schools.

Jayne Hughes

Jayne Hughes

Education Director

education@buffaloartsstudio.org

(716) 833-4450 x 111

Hughes completed her MA in Arts Management at SUNY Buffalo in 2008 and holds a BFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. She has overseen the Education Department at Buffalo Arts Studio since 2008.

Working in the arts education field for over 32 years she believes it can enrich lives and strengthen the community, and the education program at Buffalo Arts Studio is an integral part of the organization’s mission.

When out of the office Hughes enjoys creating and selling her own line of jewelry.

Shirley Verrico

Shirley Verrico

Director of Visual Arts

shirley@buffaloartsstudio.org

(716) 833-4450

Best Curator, 2023 Buffalo Spree’s Best of Buffalo

Shirley Verrico has over 25 year of experience within the arts field, including curating, managing gallery spaces and teaching art history. She holds a Bachelors in Fine Arts and Communication Design, a Masters of Arts and Humanities with a concentration on Art History and English from SUNY, Buffalo, and a NYS K-12 Art Education Certification.

At Buffalo Arts Studio, Verrico manages and maintains the three gallery spaces as well as produces all exhibition support materials. In addition, she curates fundraising special events including Trimania, Plates & Pasta, and Live on Five. Verrico also conducts gallery and studio tours for diverse student and community audiences, oversees volunteers and interns, supports regional artists in funding research and grant applications. In addition to curating exhibitions, Verrico also works with grassroots activist and service organizations to establish meaningful community and cultural partnerships while organizing, promoting, and moderating regular panel discussions and community forums on relevant cultural topics. In her spare time, Verrico is an avid gardener and enthusiastic baker.

Lauren McLaughlin

Lauren McLaughlin

Marketing, Audience, and Data Coordinator

lauren@buffaloartsstudio.org

(716) 833-4450 x 113

Lauren McLaughlin has over four years of experience working with non-profit organizations. While studying at Buffalo State College, McLaughlin interned at Buffalo Arts Studio helping with the 2017 fundraiser Collectx25. Her belief that art should be affordable and accessible to everyone is what brought her back to the organization, joining the staff as the Marketing, Audience, and Data Coordinator. McLaughlin handles the organization’s vast mailing list, e-newsletter, Salesforce database, website, social media, marketing, and guest services. In her free time, McLaughlin enjoys going to live music and spending time at the beach.

Sydney O'Shei

Sydney O'Shei

Special Events and Development Coordinator

sydney@buffaloartsstudio.org

(716) 833-4450 x 114

Sydney O’Shei earned her Associate’s Degree from the Fashion Institute of Technology and her Bachelor’s Degree from SUNY Buffalo State. O’Shei has over six years of experience working in marketing and event planning. Working with diverse teams, O’Shei produced the annual Buffalo State Fashion Show, assisted with product development at HASK Beauty, and most recently, managed virtual classes and events for a local sewing center. At Buffalo Arts Studio, O’Shei is responsible for event and fundraising management, graphic design, grant tracking, as well as press release construction and distribution. Outside of work, O’Shei enjoys traveling, attending concerts, and spending time with her cats.

Aitina Fareed-Cooke

Aitina Fareed-Cooke

CRNY Fellow

aitina@buffaloartsstudio.org

(716) 833-4450

Aitina Fareed-Cooke received her Associate’s degree at Erie Community College, Bachelor’s and Masters’s degrees at SUNY Buffalo State. Fareed-Cooke has worked within various non-profit organizations for over 15 years throughout the city of Buffalo NY where she has developed, managed, and implemented arts & education programs. Her work has assisted youth and young adults in fostering opportunities for growth in creative problem solving, social awareness, and peer collaboration. 

Currently, she serves as the Owner and Creative Director of Get Fokus’d Productions (Creative Media Arts company). As an educator, she designs, develops, and implements youth development programs within the field of media arts for organizations across the country. Throughout her career, she has dedicated herself to helping youth claim the power to rewrite their stories through art. 

Fareed-Cooke’s original work exhibited at SUNY Buffalo State, CEPA Gallery, Jamestown Community College, Frank Lloyd Wright’s Martin House, Erie County Public Library, and more.

Board of Directors 2023 – 2024

 

Mark Kwandrans  – President
Erin Kearney – Vice President
Les Hoffman – Treasurer

Michele Agosto, Ed. D.
Quniesha Ballard
Madeline Bartley
Jonathan Cox
Shannon Johnson
Jenifer Kaminsky
James Lenker
Jessica Smith
Bruce Supernault

Non-Board Committee Members

Emily Louis – Live Inspired Event Management
Michelle Schroeder – Buffalo Public Schools
Marilyn Sozanski – formerly of TriMain Center
Mary Wolf, Ph.D – SUNY Buffalo State College

Board of Directors 2023 – 2024

 

Les Hoffman – President

Mark Kwandrans – Vice President

Les Hoffman – Treasurer

Elizabeth Cardarelli – Secretary

Michele Agosto
Christopher Capalbo
Claudia Carballada
Jonathan Cox
Jenifer Kaminsky
Erin Kearney
Elizabeth Leader
James Lenker
Saira Siddiqui
Bruce Supernault

Non-Board Committee Members

Emily Louis – Live-Inspired Event Management
Franziska Macur – Communications Consultant
Michelle Schroeder – Buffalo Public Schools
Marilyn Sozanski – formerly of TriMain Center
Mary Wolfe – SUNY Buffalo State College

Visit Us

Gallery Hours 

Tuesday: 11 am–5 pm

Wednesday: 11 am-5 pm

Thursday: 11 am–5 pm

Friday: 11 am–5 pm

Saturday: 10 am–2 pm

Sunday: closed

Monday: closed

Suggested donation is $3 per visitor.

Buffalo Arts Studio's galleries and offices will be closed Friday, March 29 - Monday, April 1.

Buffalo Arts Studio
Tri-Main Center
2495 Main Street, Suite 500
Buffalo, NY 14214
(716) 833-4450

Contact Us

Buffalo Arts Studio
Tri-Main Center
2495 Main Street, Suite 500
Buffalo, NY 14214
(716) 833-4450

Support Buffalo Arts Studio

With your help, Buffalo Arts Studio continues to be a place to experiment, to learn, to explore, and to be part of a community.
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