This program is presented in conjunction with the Department of Art and Design’s Art Forum speaker series and features artists in The Backend discussing various topics explored in the exhibition.

Ari Melenciano is an artist, technologist, researcher, and cultural theorist. Her art and research practice explores the societal subconscious intellect, computational anthropology, ethnographical morphing of artistic and psychological expression across diasporas, the formation and embodiment of mythology and rituals, and the materialization of polymathic research in the form of transcendent sciences.

She currently teaches courses on emerging technologies surrounding A.I., art, design, and theory at New York University. She is also the founder of Afrotectopia, a cultural institution that is imagining, researching, and building at the nexus of new media art, design, science, and technology through a Black and Afrocentric lens. She guest lectures at universities around the world.

The Backend is a group exhibition of works by 13 contemporary artists who delve into the protocols and agreements that shape our society and the framework of our participation. Featuring works by Merlin Carpenter, Maia Chao and Josephine Devanbu, Johann Diedrick, Sophia Giovannitti, Liz Magic Laser, Ari Melenciano, William Powhida, Bat-Ami Rivlin, Rose Salane, Finnegan Shannon, TJ Shin, and Julia Weist. On view in the George Segal Gallery from September 14 through December 1, 2023. Curated by Jesse Bandler Firestone, Curator and Exhibition Coordinator

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Visitors are encouraged to wear masks. Please review Montclair State University’s complete COVID-19 policies here.

Time: 6:00-7:00 pm EDT

Free!

Registration