My Creative Career Began as a Fine Artist in NY
I describe myself as a life-long artist. My commissions were usually murals and portraits. Nowadays, I do that for fun to keep those roots alive. I experiment with different styles, mediums and concepts via my Instagram: @mama_shanga which is my artist stage name.
Back in 2017, an owner of an Italian Restaurant in my NY hometown commissioned me to do a 15ft long acrylic replica of Michelangelo’s famous fresco The Creation of Adam, which is now on the ceiling of that restaurant, mimicking the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel.
From Apprentice to UX Researcher @IBM
My introduction to the UX Design & Research world was through my studies at Cornish College of the Arts. My classmates and I took on a project called Intermodality —sponsored by TEAGUE, a product design agency based in Seattle. For seven weeks, we worked in-studio under the apprenticeship of their Technical Director.
My design & research work at IBM encompasses equity, sustainability and human-centered thinking. IBM is a Hybrid Cloud & AI Enterprise that practices those values.
Currently Based in Colorado with my Husband!
This is my husband and I, visiting Sequoia National Park and San Diego, CA. Our goal is to camp in all the U.S. National Parks. 20 out of 60+ and counting!
Outside of art & design, I’m a life-long learner, novice writer, advocate for racial equity, big foodie, newbie fashionista, jokester and a night owl with wayyy too many ideas.