Meet Our Scholars

Vanessa Luna was born to Mexican immigrants in 1999 in Sunset, Brooklyn. She attended public schools throughout elementary all the way to high school, and she joined art clubs, made study groups, and connected with those who identified as BIPOC. Vanessa felt safe and seen when surrounded by peers with similar backgrounds. It was only a matter of time before she looked for internships that could lead to landing jobs in museums and other safe spaces. The first internship that she landed was at the New Museum in Manhattan, followed by a handful of part-time gallery jobs all while attending college and having a second job. The first well-paying job she got was at the Immersive Van Gogh Exhibition, where she would meet many BIPOC people and others who identify with the LGBTQ community. It was eye-opening how goals felt so reachable and easier to achieve in a supportive work environment, so she now strives to build safe workspaces in current and future jobs where like-minded individuals feel safe to be productive and network.