Curatorial Projects
African Art Experience
On February 24, 2022, artists Tiersha Faith Laird and Ryan Nichols co-curated The African Art Experience, an immersive, international showcase celebrating African art through a blend of photography and technology. The exhibition featured 13 artists from across Africa, with each artist's work accessible via QR codes that, when scanned, connected visitors directly to the artists’ Instagram profiles, fostering an intimate, interactive experience.
Ryan Nichols organized and coordinated the artist group, curating a diverse array of perspectives. Tiersha Laird led the installation design, incorporating authentic locally sourced Kente cloth to upholster the gallery walls, creating a rich and vibrant atmosphere. With the support of her student organization, Untitled: The Visual Arts Club, Tiersha as president led an engaged team of students to assist with installation, including painting, framing, fundraising, and the meticulous draping of Kente fabrics across the gallery’s walls and pedestals.
The opening night was brought to life by a powerful performance from musician Mynthia and dancers Royale and Teralynn, who together delivered a memorable show celebrating Black culture and creativity. Displayed for multiple weeks during Black History Month, The African Art Experience provided a contemporary, accessible, and innovative homage to African artistry and community.
More information on this event is available on Untitled: The Visual Arts Club Instagram (@untitled_loyno).
Clusterfunk 22
Each year, The Untitled Visual Arts Collective at Loyola University New Orleans presents Clusterfunk, an annual, student-driven exhibition that celebrates creative expression across all majors. Reflecting the evolving landscape of contemporary art, Clusterfunk embraces diversity and inclusivity as central values, providing a platform where students from all backgrounds and artistic practices can exhibit their work. The exhibition is named for its eclectic, wide-ranging mix of styles, media, and perspectives, creating an immersive experience that captures the vibrancy of today’s art scene.
In the 2022 exhibit, curated under the leadership of Tiersha Faith Laird, who served as both President of Untitled and Lead Curator, Clusterfunk showcased works by 31 student artists, complemented by live performances from Rocky, Royale, and Mynthia. Each artist was guaranteed at least one piece in the show, ensuring every contributor’s voice was represented, celebrated, and woven into the collective fabric of the event.
Held in the Dana Center Art Gallery, this year’s Clusterfunk was on display for three months, offering a fully student-curated and managed space that amplified diverse voices in contemporary art. Through its commitment to inclusivity, Clusterfunk redefines the boundaries of a traditional gallery setting, inviting audiences to experience a rich tapestry of perspectives and creative explorations.
For more about this event, visit the Untitled Visual Arts Collective on Instagram (@untitled_loyno).
Plural
Bachelor of Fine Arts Senior Thesis Show
In May 2022, the Bachelor of Fine Arts Senior Thesis Show was held in the Collins C. Diboll Gallery at Loyola University New Orleans. As part of this group exhibition, Tiersha Faith Laird presented a body of work reflecting her personal explorations of identity, femininity, and resilience. Her work is guided by a playful and interactive approach that draws from her childhood imagination, bringing a sense of nostalgia and introspection to her art.
Artist Statement:
"My art embraces a playful, interactive methodology that recalls the wonder of my childhood imagination, offering a sense of relief and connection to my past. Central to my work is an exploration of fatphobia and its impact on self-perception; I aim to challenge societal narratives by demonstrating how fatness can embody qualities of softness and delicacy.
Through body configurations, I delve into themes of modesty, insecurity, and vulnerability, examining how my choices to reveal or conceal aspects of my figure serve as acts of self-discovery. This process becomes a celebration of acceptance and an assertion of my autonomy over my form. Art gives me the freedom to explore my femininity, revealing my orientation to nature and celebrating the divine essence within all of us.
Recurring rose imagery symbolizes the delicate nature of womanhood, with each petal in full bloom capturing the transformations that women and nature endure through their cycles. The fluidity within my compositions mirrors this ephemeral existence, linking the cycles of nature, self, and the fleeting beauty of art."
