OUR TEAM

 
 

Staff

 
 
MARINA BALKO
MARINA BALKO, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Marina Balko has served as Executive Director of Radiant Hall since 2021. Prior to Radiant Hall they worked with the Wilkinsburg CDC as Director of Economic Development. Their leadership experience in the creative sector includes serving as Operations Director of AS220, an award-winning multidisciplinary arts organization in Providence, RI. At AS220, Marina designed residency programs for artists and arts administrators and managed multiple properties for creative businesses, live/work spaces, community studios, educational programming, galleries and performance venues. Marina also served as Head Chef for Artists’ Cooperative Residency and Exhibitions (ACRE) in Chicago, and held other arts administrative roles with the Providence Children’s Film Festival and Pittsburgh Filmmakers. Their work as an artist includes film/video production, textiles, and dance. Marina has a BFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and an MBA from the University of Rhode Island. Marina currently serves as a board member for Associated Artists of Pittsburgh.

SHANAE PHILLIPS, MANAGING DIRECTOR

Shanae Phillips has served as Managing Director at Radiant Hall since 2018. She holds a Master’s Degree in Arts Management from Carnegie Mellon University’s Heinz College of Management. Since moving from Austin, TX in 2010, Shanae has worked in Pittsburgh's nonprofit arts sector for organizations including the Frank-Ratchye STUDIO for Creative Inquiry at CMU, The Andy Warhol Museum, Bach Choir of Pittsburgh, The Denis Theatre Foundation, and City of Asylum. She currently serves as a board member for the Society to Preserve the Millvale Murals of Maxo Vanka, and was recently selected for the SVP Fellowship Program's 2023 cohort at the Equity Impact Center.

OREEN COHEN, HOMEWOOD STUDIO DIRECTOR (207) + PROGRAM MANAGER

Oreen Cohen grew up between the Rust Belt of the United States and Northern Israel. Oreen received a Master of Fine Arts degree in Sculpture from Carnegie Mellon University and a BFA in Painting at the University at Buffalo. She has been active over the past twenty years participating in exhibitions and public commissions nationally and internationally. Oreen was recently selected for the 2023 cohort of the Joan Mitchell Foundation Residency in New Orleans.

SETH CLARK
SETH CLARK, LAWRENCEVILLE STUDIO DIRECTOR

Seth Clark grew up in Seekonk, Massachusetts and earned his BFA in Graphic Design from the Rhode Island School of Design. He has received numerous honors, including being named Pittsburgh’s 2015 Emerging Artist of the Year by the Pittsburgh Center for the Arts, and three Design Excellence Awards from the American Institute of Graphic Arts, Pittsburgh.

RAMON RILEY
RAMON RILEY, MCKEES ROCKS STUDIO DIRECTOR

Ramon Riley is a native of Braddock, Pennsylvania, and a career art teacher at Pine-Richland High School for over 20 years. Ramon completed a Master of Art Degree at Indiana University of Pennsylvania with a concentration in abstract painting. In 2015, Riley was the featured artist on WQED’s Pittsburgh 360, which spotlighted his solo exhibition, BRADDOCK Coming Home.

VICKI BRANAGAN, FACILITIES MANAGER

Vicki Branagan was born in Naples, Italy, and raised primarily in Rhode Island and South Carolina. She received her BFA in Jewelry and Metalsmithing from Winthrop University, and her MFA from Edinboro University. She recently completed her studio apprenticeship at Contemporary Craft in Lawrenceville. Her work has been exhibited nationally including New York City Jewelry Week, and featured in publications such as American Woodturner.

NISHA BLACKWELL
NISHA BLACKWELL, RESIDENCY PROGRAM DIRECTOR

Nisha Blackwell is a creative entrepreneur, artist, and Founder/CEO of Knotzland Bowties. Nisha has also served as an outreach consultant and producer in residence for Bridgeway Capital’s Craft Business Accelerator, a member of Facebook's Small Business Council, and a member of the Andy Warhol Museum’s Board of Directors. In 2021, Nisha was recognized as one of Pittsburgh Magazine’s 40 under 40 honorees.

TYE CLARKE, COMMUNICATION + EVENTS MANAGER

Pittsburgh-born experiential curator, immersive artist, and creative wellness practitioner, Tye Clarke, is a creative powerhouse whose gift of foresight empowers her to be both the source of creativity and the architect behind the vision. Her dual roles as an arts administrator and artist, coupled with a dedication to social justice and cultural work, drive her to create with the bigger picture in mind.

A Who’s Next: Communicators awardee, Tye’s studies at Parsons The New School for Design and Kent State University cultivated her passion for brand strategy and creative marketing, which has amplified the visibility of organizations like the award-winning 1Hood Media. She also co-founded CoCoHaus Creative Solutions, a social innovation consultancy empowering creatives and arts organizations of color.

Curiosity and collaboration define this Capricorn’s approach to work and play. Through her brand, gooxjy co., Tye curates bold spaces that foster unapologetic creative expression. The fire stokers, innovators, creatives, provocateurs, and visionaries, that’s her tribe.

CHRISTOPHER BORING
CHRISTOPHER BORING, HOMEWOOD STUDIO DIRECTOR (202)

Christopher Boring received his BFA from Edinboro University in Drawing and Painting. His work has been shown nationally including the State Museum of Pennsylvania, Hoyt Art Center, and Academy Center of the Arts. Christopher is an active member of Associated Artists of Pittsburgh and Pittsburgh Society of Artists.

 
 

Board of Directors

 
GINA EVANS

GINA EVANS
President

TAMARA CARTWRIGHT

TAMARA EMSWILER

Headshot of Danny Bracken, white man with brown hair wearing a blue button down shirt posing in front of a brick background

DANNY BRACKEN

Headshot of Joelen, a white women with chin length brown hair, wearing glasses a dark blazer and light button up shirt, posing in front of a white wall with a piece of art hanging on it

JOELEN PASTVA

Leadership Development Initiative (LDI) Fellow

CAITLIN HARPSTER

CAITLIN HARPSTER
Vice President

VIDYA SURTI

VIDYA SURTI

MARIAH STEWART

A headshot of Neil, a black man, with short black hair, wearing a white t shirt, posing in front of a colorful background that is out of focus

NEIL MARTIN

Leadership Development Initiative (LDI) Fellow

JILL HACKNEY

JILL HACKNEY
Treasurer

SUSANNA BAGDASAROVA

Headshot of Bruce, a white man with dark hair, wearing a black suit, white collared shirt and dark red tie, posing in front of a cream colored background

BRUCE MCADAMS

ISHARA HENRY

ISHARA HENRY
Secretary

MERYL MACKLIN

LAURA MEJÍA