Meet the Curators 2025

Jenna Geiger is the lead curator, co-founder and co-owner of Deep Space Gallery in Jersey City. She has curated monthly solo and group exhibitions since opening the gallery in 2016. She has also curated off-site exhibitions and installations at other galleries and art fairs. Geiger’s resume as a curator includes both national and international galleries, publications, and art fairs. Geiger’s curatorial roots grew from her academic background in Anthropology where her appreciation for the cultural importance of visual symbols was formalized. She is motivated by the power of art – to communicate key social values, to serve as a reservoir of visual artifacts, as a means by which a community understands itself and translates meaning across time and space, from generation to generation, and between individuals and societies at any given time. Emerging artists are central to her curation as they in particular express the urgency of “the right now” and help us all attend to the demands of the present moment.

Keith VanPelt is the founder, director and co-curator of Deep Space Gallery in Jersey City. His formal training and experience as a painter and stained glass artist informs his role as curator and gallery director. In Jersey City, Keith guest curated at the legendary 58 Gallery and organized art shows in other east coast cities including New York and Raleigh. He founded Deep Space Gallery and with co-owner Jenna Geiger co-curates monthly group and solo exhibitions for local, national, and international emerging artists. VanPelt has co-curated multiple art fair booths and juried exhibitions, including Personal Structures (2024) in Italy for the 60th Venice Biennale d’Arte, Create! (2024).

---

Robinson Holloway is the Founder and CEO of ARTS 14C, overseeing multidisciplinary arts programs including Art Fair 14C, Project 14C, the Art Crawl and Gallery 14C. She created Art Fair 14C in 2018 as an initiative of the Jersey City Arts Council while serving as founding Chair of the Jersey City Arts Council Board of Directors.

Holloway serves as Chair of the Board of Directors of the London-based global organization Association of Women Art Dealers. She is also involved in her community, serving on the Board of Directors of the Hudson County Chamber of Commerce as well as co-chair of the Hudson Foundation Nonprofit Network and Vice President for Communications for the Village Neighborhood Association.

Her focus on the arts came after a long career in sports journalism, focusing on PGA Tour coverage for Sports Illustrated, ABC Sports, ESPN and Golf Channel.

---

Ivy Huang is a dynamic gallery director, curator and the founder of IMUR Art, an innovative gallery dedicated to fostering creativity, inclusion, and meaningful connections within global art community. With a background that seamlessly blends expertise in marketing, branding, global logistics, and legal frameworks, Ivy brings a multifaceted approach to managing and curating exhibitions that resonate both locally and internationally.

Her expertise extends beyond curatorial excellence. Ivy’s background in international branding has enabled her to position IMUR Art as a forward-thinking institution, bridging the gap between emerging talents and established collectors. Her experience in global logistics ensures seamless execution of complex exhibitions, while her legal acumen guarantees compliance and smooth operations in the ever-evolving art market.

Under her leadership, IMUR Art has hosted thought-provoking exhibitions and community-driven initiatives, including the highly regarded “Beyond the Cloud” competition, which emphasizes inclusivity and collaboration. Ivy’s dedication to supporting artists and creating equitable opportunities within the arts reflects her commitment to revitalizing shared spaces and fostering creativity.

Driven by a passion for empowering artists and audiences alike, Ivy continues to champion innovative programming and professional development, making IMUR Art a hub for inspiration and cultural exchange.

---

David Scott Lawson is an independent curator and consultant working in the tri-state area since the 90’s, particularly within the Central NJ Arts community. He has worked with painters, printmakers and sculptors in both commercial and non-profit settings. For Meet the Curators, he will review all media except photography.

Recent and current positions include former gallery director of David Scott Gallery for Berkshire Hathaway, in Princeton, independent curator with Morpeth Contemporary, as well as other institutions. He is the lead preparator for Hunterdon Art Museum, a non-profit space for contemporary art. He specializes in selection, presentation and exhibition design, with an affinity for space, form, composition and color. 

Lawson is an avid art patron with an appreciation for art across many genres. He has developed a constantly evolving acumen informing his decision making as a curator and consultant. When performing studio visits and reviewing portfolios, Lawson brings both a personal and pragmatic perspective. 

“I absolutely love meeting with artists and talking about their work. I always allow myself to first respond to the work on a visceral level, then evaluate aesthetic, technical and conceptual concerns, but I will also address practical considerations pertinent to an artist’s or venue’s particular needs.”   – Lawson

---

Michael Paris Mazzeo is an artist, educator, and curator who has long traversed the line between art and commerce, having maintained an art practice and teaching studio since 1994 and a highly regarded gallery in New York City from 2005 to 2012. 

As founding director of the Michael Mazzeo Gallery, specializing in contemporary photography, he launched the careers of many emerging artists, awarding fifteen with their first New York City solo exhibitions and exhibiting the work of more than 130 others in group shows. The gallery is noted for having produced critically recognized exhibitions, publications, and events and for placing artists’ works in prominent museums and private collections, including those of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Victoria and Albert Museum, and the Philadelphia Museum of Art. 

Michael’s most recent venture, Galerie Lucida, in Red Bank, NJ, has become an important art venue for Monmouth County and beyond, providing the community with curated exhibitions, artist talks, and a monthly art salon, all free and open to the public. Since opening in November of 2023, the gallery has presented two solo and seven group exhibitions. Though his previous gallery specialized in photography and works on paper, Galerie Lucida offers a more expansive program, exhibiting work in all media.

Galerie Lucida prefers to see concept-based projects in any medium. We are not interested in poured paint, traditional land and seascapes, or pastiche.

---

Wes Sherman has been an artist for over 30 years. In that time, he’s had 50 solo exhibitions and has been included in hundreds of group exhibitions in the US and in Europe. He has also published a number of books, among them “This Is True” and “Penumbra”. He was the Curator and Chair of Exhibitions at the Center for Contemporary Art in Bedminster, NJ for 10 years. He has been a frequent visiting artist at universities and schools and is regularly asked to lead art programs for organizations and clubs. Sherman is an adjunct professor, teaching at William Paterson University and Raritan Valley Community College. He received his MFA at Rutgers University, where he studied with his mentor Tom Nozkowski.

---

Bryant Small is a distinguished award-winning artist and curator recognized for his innovative and inclusive approach to exhibition design. His curatorial projects are known for their thoughtful curation, bringing together different mediums and styles in ways that provoke thought and foster dialogue among audiences. With a commitment to pushing the boundaries of traditional curation and a focus on inclusivity, Bryant Small continues to shape the contemporary art landscape, making a lasting impact on both artists and audiences.  Bryant currently serves as Associate Curator of Smithsonian Institute Affiliate, Morris Museum in Morristown, NJ.An advocate for artists, Bryant has supported numerous arts organizations as a leader and Board of Trustees member. He previously served as Co-President of Pro Arts JC for more than 5 years and Executive Director of Jersey City Arts Council.   Bryant currently serves on the Board of multiple arts organizations and is an Adjunct Professor at Saint Elizabeth’s University.  Bryant has been recognized as one of the Top Contemporary Artists of Today in Art Market Magazine’s Gold List, a two-time recipient of the Conception Arts Award for Excellence and the 2020 Jersey City Arts “Leadership Award” for his commitment and leadership in the Jersey City Arts Community.

Bryant Small is also Co-Founder and Artist in Residence of Kaleidoscope.Art (KAAI Inc.) – a collaborative commerce platform where every creator, brand and consumer can make something unique together through the power of Generative UI. 

---

Michelle Vitale has curated exhibitions for two decades. She is the Director of Cultural Affairs at Hudson County Community College, overseeing the Benjamin J. Dineen III and Dennis C. Hull Gallery and the Art Concourse at the North Hudson Campus.  Her exhibitions have been highlighted in the New York Times, Jersey City Times, and the Pompidou Center “Night of Ideas”. Most recently, she worked with artist Ray Arcadio, who received a Congressional Award for his artistic community contributions, including exhibiting at Hudson.