VONNE NAPPER
Community-based Interdisciplinary Artist
Baltimore, MD / vonnenapper@gmail.com / www.vonnenapper.com
Vonne Napper is a community-based interdisciplinary artist born and raised in Washington, D.C. As a child, they displayed great interest in learning new things, with one door of inspiration opening to the next. Consequently, their art practice spans various mediums including music production, printmaking, graphic design, videography, painting, writing, rapping, sewing, movement performance, installation, and assemblage. Vonne's practice centers on preserving Black queer and trans narratives, supporting social justice calls of resistance, and emphasizing spiritual and mental wellness. Identifying as nonbinary and trans-masculine, Vonne pulls from their lived experience to highlight the challenges of existing at a particularly targeted intersection in today’s society and employs their spirituality to establish connections between the communities to which they belong.
EDUCATION
2022 Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.), Community Arts, Maryland Institute College of Art
2022 Certificate in College Teaching of Art (CTA), Maryland Institute College of Art
2011 Bachelor of Arts (B.F.A), Fashion Merchandising, Virginia Commonwealth University
SKILLS
Technical: Adobe Photoshop, Final Cut Pro, Logic Pro X, Adobe Audition, Zoom (Virtual Teaching), Audio Transcription, Quickbooks
Other: Leadership, Program Management, Program Development, Curriculum Development, Community Outreach, Teamwork, Efficiency and Organization, Grant Management, Grant Reviewer
EMPLOYMENT
2023 - 2024 // Partner Engagement Coordinator | Fusion Partnerships, Inc.
Consult with fiscally sponsored programs/projects about all programmatic needs, including goal setting, resource development, budgeting, financial processes, staffing and HR support.
Application reviews and on-boarding of new Fusion Partners and leading Partner Orientation.
Participate in evaluating, updating and applying Fusion’s internal processes and procedures.
Participate in weekly Fusion staff and Partner Engagement Coordinator meetings
Track partner grants calendar and assist Partners with reporting and fulfilling all grant requirements.
Review Partner grant applications prior to submission and provide necessary information from Fusion.
Support the development and implementation of Fusion’s capacity building program.
Manage a portfolio of 25-30 fiscally sponsored Partners, meet regularly with these programs, attend events, and ensure they meet all Fusion requirements to remain active.
Work with Fusion Team on Partner needs and Fusion Core activities.
2022 - 2023 // Program Coordinator | Art with a Heart
Support the overall growth, development, and coordination of core programming and its activities with specific support of the Program Director
Help manage efficient communication and cultivate relationships with a variety of constituencies
Maintain a tidy and organized office environment through the efficient processing of donations and routine closet maintenance with support from interns and volunteers
Development, implementation, and evaluation of programming projects and curriculum with support from the Program Director and Curriculum and Instructional Developer.
Ensure AWAH activities operate within the standards of the organization; guarantee strict compliance with all relevant professional standards and educational goals
Organize showcases and installations with partner sites
2021 - 2022 // Graduate Program Assistant | Maryland Institute College of Art
Support the Community Arts MFA Program Director and fellow students to ensure the effective operation of the program.
Serve as a graduate student leader and work collaboratively with other Graduate Program Assistants and the Office of Graduate Studies to help build community by promoting dialogue, the exchange of information, and timely communications between students, directors, and the Office of Graduate Studies.
2021 - 2022 // Teaching Fellow | Wise & Well Center for Healthy Living at Keswick
Support Keswick’s Creative Arts Coordinator to plan, schedule, lead workshops, trips, projects, and other programming.
2021 (Fall) // Graduate Teaching Intern | Maryland Institute College of Art
Support aspects of undergraduate pedagogy for Frameworks: Themes in Humanistics Studies course that engages explicitly with power & inequity, self & identity, and borders & margins.
Contribute to and initiate classroom discussions relating to lesson plans
2021 - 2022 // Visual Arts Instructor | Access Art
Conceive, design, and manage art-based projects that engage youth in meaningful art experiences.
2020 - 2021 // Community Art Collaborative Member | AmeriCorps
Artist-in-Residence at The B&O Railroad Museum
Coordinate community muralism and street art initiatives
Design art-based educational programming for youth
2019 - 2020 // Artist Instructor | Muse Paintbar
Guide patrons of all ages in groups of all sizes through a pre-selected painting by utilizing fine art skills and techniques for painting alla prima
Assist staff with verbal and social media marketing for business
2018 - 2019 // Part-Time Program Coordinator | Project Create
Support administrative operations for community programs
Manage online accounts for the Fall advisory
Collect photos and file vital information of clients for records
2018 - 2020 // Teaching Artist | Project Create
Facilitate workshops based on mixed media with youth, families, and intergenerational communities
2017 - Present // Teaching Artist | EYL 365 Project
Design specialized programming for youth and intergenerational communities in mixed media, painting, photography, graphic design, generative art
Prepare course descriptions, goals, and lesson plans centered on positive youth development principles: mental health, social awareness, environmental health
Collect photos and file vital information of clients for records
2014 - Present // Founder, Director, Artist | The Regal People, LLC
Uphold the vision of The Regal People that centers on human empowerment by encouraging individuals to manifest their goals through community engagement, wellness, and innovation.
Conceive and design products for inventory
Organize events and create initiatives with brand collaborators
RELEVANT EXPERIENCE
ARCHIVE II Artist // June - July 2024
Coordinating and conducting interviews with individuals of the Black queer and trans community for an ongoing archive during my residency with Joshua Johnson Council, Baltimore Museum of Art, and Maryland Institute College of Art. Designing and creating a public sculptural artwork to be permanently housed at Lacy Oasis, recreational black-stewarded land in Owings, MD (Piscataway land).
inFusion Film Fest Curator // May 2024
Working with a team of curators to select media and artwork to be featured in Fusion Partnerships annual film festival.
Earth Day Volunteer Event at Greenmount West Community Center / Facilitator // April 2023
Facilitating a mural workshop where volunteers from the Baltimore Ravens and the Baltimore community painted floral designs onto parachute cloth in an effort to beautify the Greenmount West Community Center and neighborhood.
GLSEN Youth Summit Workshop Co-facilitator// February 2023
Facilitating a discussion and hands-on art activity with LGBTQ high school youth that centers self-love and identity during GLSEN’s Youth Summit.
Black Mental Health Alliance Youth Summit / Co-facilitator // December 2022
Facilitating a hands-on art activity that centers self-love during BMHA’s "Tiny Couch Conversations: Young, Healing, and Black!” hybrid event. This initiative focused on the topics of Sawubona (See You), Black Liberation (Free You), and Self-Love, Self-Worth, Black Pride (Love You).
University of Maryland Medical Center Healing Arts / Juror // September - October 2022
Scoring and reviewing art show entries submitted by employees, physicians, residents, retirees, and immediate family members of UMMC for their annual art show.
Exercises for Emerging Artists / Resident Artist // July 2022 - August 2022
Participating as a resident artist for Transformer DC’s 19th year of the Exercises program. led by Dawne Langford, an award-winning editor, documentary producer, and independent curator, Exercises program focused on artistic interventions, the Exercises program is designed to help stimulate and encourage participating artists as they create new work. In addition to peer critique sessions, participating artists received mentorship and critical feedback on their work, as well as professional development insights, by guest artists, curators, arts professionals, gallerists, and critics. The Exercises culminated in a series of public engagement, exhibitions, and activations that took place in the Summer of 2022.
Not Just Monsteras / Artist // January - May 2022
Researching and establishing the connection of interdependence and biodiversity in nature with gender and sexuality. Facilitating interviews and initiating conversations about what it looks like and what it takes to heal. Designing and constructing a risoprint zine compiled with interviews of individuals from the LGBTQ+ community and plant life in and around Baltimore.
The Roundhouse Connection at The B&O Railroad Museum / Resident Artist // February 2021 - April 2021
Designing a 10-week art-based program for 5th through 8th grade students that functions as a guide for students to learn the history of the railroad as it relates to themselves, their families, and their community while strengthening their self-efficacy for preserving their culture. This project was developed with the intention of acquiring the skills needed to establish a framework that functions to sustain the preservation of culture in minority groups that have long been neglected or distorted due to violence and inequitable practices of our society.
Street Art Competition, The B&O Railroad Museum and Creative Alliance / Resident Artist, Project Manager, Juror // September 2020 - June 2021
Working with the chief curator of The B&O Railroad Museum, staff at Creative Alliance, and the Baltimore artist community, on a street art and graffiti initiative created to depict the deep connections established by railroads.
After-School All-Stars Summer Songwriting Academy / Mentor // June - July 2020
In collaboration with TikTok: Working with youth, other mentors, and music industry professionals from across the United States to learn more about the music industry and develop songwriting skills. Coaching and empowering youth during virtual one-on-one sessions to use their voice to highlight social justice issues.
Red Sprinkle Fashion Bootcamp Summer Program / Teaching Artist, Graphic Designer, Photographer // June - August 2019
Facilitating workshops on fashion photography, product development, and merchandising, with a culminating fashion show for high school students.
Lights On Event with After-School All-Stars at Leckie Education Campus / Teaching Artist // September 2019
Organizing and creating an art installation with students at Leckie Education Campus that highlights the benefits of a healthy community.
Bike to School Day at Garfield Elementary School / Teaching Artist // May 2019
Facilitating a banner-making workshop with youth to raise awareness for bike safety in their community.
Vibrant Destination Community Leadership Art Mural / Teaching Artist, Graphic Designer // July 2017
Leading a 3-day workshop with DCPS youth for After-School All-Stars’ DC Office that upholds ASAS’s values.
Art and Activism Workshop with ESL Youth / Instructor // June 2014
Conducting a hands-on session with high school students discussing socially and politically driven movements. Scouting locations for a wheat pasting break-out session.
PROFESSIONAL HIGHLIGHTS
Baltimore Metropolitan Gala / Featured Artist // September 2024
The Hall at Live! Casino
Baltimore, MD
Our Art Room Collective / Artist // June - November 2024
Cohort 2024
Baltimore, MD
The JJC Artist in Residence at MICA / Resident Artist // June - July 2024
Joshua Johnson Council, Maryland Institute College of Art, Baltimore Museum of Art
Baltimore, MD
MICA Artist Panel & Discussion / Panelist // March 2024
Maryland Institute Collge of Art
Center for Student Engagement
Baltimore, MD
Store Mural / Muralist // September 2023
Rooted Rotisserie
Baltimore, MD
Visiting Artist for MFACA Seminar / Featured Artist // November 2023
Maryland Institute Collge of Art
Baltimore, MD
E19: Artistic Interventions / Resident Artist // May 2022 - August 2022
Transformer
Washington, DC
Data Dump Monthly Music Event in collaboration with Input / Output Creative Lab / Performing Artist, Host // March 2018 - May 2019
Axelrad Beer Garden
Houston, TX
Concept;Queerdom film by htxpplproject / Composer and Editor // March 2018
Lawndale Art Center
Houston, TX
Ahead of Our Time Artist and Vendor Pop Up / Curator, Performing Artist, Host // February 2018
Houston, TX
Residency / Performing Artist, Host // 2015 - 2018
Axelrad Beer Garden
Houston, TX
EXHIBITIONS
Common Ground / Co-curator // July - August 2023
Baltimore Clayworks
Baltimore, MD
Choose Your Gender / Featured Artist // July - August 2022
Transformer
Washington, DC
Solo Exhibition / Featured Artist // June 2022 - July 2022
Wise & Well Center for Healthy Living at Keswick
Baltimore, MD
Learning To Love As I do / Featured Artist // June 2022
Motorhouse
Baltimore, MD
MICA GRAD SHOW III - Community Arts, MFA Thesis Exhibition / Featured Artist // April 2022 - May 2022
Sheila and Richard Riggs Gallery, Maryland Institute College of Art
Baltimore, MD
Structured Fantasies / Featured Artist // April 2022
Middendorf Gallery, Maryland Institute College of Art
Baltimore, MD
We Are Everywhere Exhibition / Featured Artist // October 2021
Fox 2 Gallery, Maryland Institute College of Art
Baltimore, MD
Black History Month Art Showcase / Featured Artist // February 2021
Virginia Commonwealth University
Richmond, VA
Black History Month Programming / Featured artist // February 2019
Prince George’s African American Museum and Cultural Center in collaboration with EYL 365 Project
Brentwood, MD