About Us

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Duvian Montoya is a multifaceted artist and leader, dedicated to fostering connections within the artistic community as the Executive Director of The Norwalk Art Space. His role involves cultivating relationships among artists spanning generations, guiding exhibition direction, and shaping educational programming. In addition, Duvian collaborates with various nonprofit organizations and the Norwalk Public Schools to address curriculum requirements and develop community initiatives. He firmly believes in the power of collective effort to elevate all individuals, thereby building resilient and united communities.

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Beyond his impactful community work, Duvian Montoya is a versatile talent. He wears multiple hats as an Artist, Muralist, Studio Manager, Curator, and Community Organizer. His vibrant paintings, striking murals, and captivating installations grace numerous locations across Connecticut, while they are cherished collections at SONO Collection, Housatonic Community College, The Mattatuck Museum, The City of Norwalk, Westport, New Haven, Disney, and Gulfstream Worldwide. Duvian is also credited with co-founding two prominent Fairfield County Arts organizations: "The Saint Philip Artist Guild" in Norwalk in 2009, and "The Artists Collective of Westport" in 2014.

CONTENT/SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER

Kiyah Garnett is a dynamic professional with a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Connecticut. With a passion for the arts cultivated from her upbringing in Connecticut, Kiyah pursued her academic journey specializing in Digital Media and Design. Currently, she leverages her expertise to curate compelling content and orchestrate engaging social media strategies for The Norwalk Art Space.

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EDUCATIONAL COORDINATOR

Emily Teall (BFA Cornell University '16, MA Columbia University '18) is a Connecticut-based multimedia artist with particular interests in sculpture and installation art. Her artistic career began with an early-childhood interest in and curiosity about nature. Organic elements continue to drive her artworks. Her current work also draws from experiences with social anxiety and from the role of the body in (particularly a female) identity. Emily has exhibited in a number of group shows in and near her hometown of Riverside, CT; at Cornell University; at Columbia University in a show curated by Gregory Amenoff; in New York City; and in Hudson, NY. She has worked closely with installation artist Angiola Churchill and with painter Christina Burch.

In addition to building a personal artistic practice through art shows and art collective involvement, Emily currently teaches a broad variety of visual art and design courses to 5th-12th grade students at Fusion Academy’s Greenwich campus. She is especially passionate about combining human rights with the arts and with art education; her Master’s thesis, titled “Realizing the Right to Education for NYC’s Homeless Children: Identifying and Removing Barriers” focused on education of homeless youth.

DIRECTOR OF DESIGN + COMMUNITY AMBASSADOR

Raf (5iveFingaz) brings over 17 years of marketing experience to The Norwalk Art Space. As a renowned street artist, 5iveFingaz has spread his Love More Than Ever movement globally, using art to make the world better, one piece at a time. Hailing from historic Norwalk, 5iveFingaz is deeply connected to the town and its people. He initiated a scholarship fund at Brien McMahon High School, inspired by the kindness he received during his high school years. This scholarship rewards students for their kindness, love, and leadership, reflecting his unwavering commitment to improving lives. In today's turbulent times, 5iveFingaz's art offers hope and guidance, resonating with an ever-growing audience. Through social media scavenger hunts, he generously shares his works, making art a gift to humanity, one person at a time. His alma mater, Sacred Heart University, aptly describes him as a courageous leader dedicated to passionate service and creative innovation. Ultimately, 5iveFingaz is driven by his art, its impact on individuals, and the positive change it can bring, embodying the spirit of love and peace reminiscent of the 1960s.

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LIGHTHOUSE ART DIRECTOR

Patrick Sikes is responsible for overseeing the creation and curation of artwork at nearby Peck Ledge Lighthouse. Having documented the restoration of the lighthouse through his photography, Patrick is very excited to welcome other artists to the lighthouse and experience it through their eyes and ears.

Patrick is a local photographer with a bent towards nautical and maritime subjects. Originally from Norwalk, he grew up spending countless hours on Long Island Sound in every way imaginable, from power boating to sailing, kayaking, and competitive rowing. He now spends a good deal of the summer traveling all over New England chasing classic sailing yachts or finding the next great coastal composition. Patrick shows his photography a few times each year and was the featured photographer in the 2022 CCNS Art Show in South Norwalk, CT.

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Cockenoe Lighthouse Preservation Group

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Peck Ledge Photo Workshop Inspiration

DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS

Katy Sullivan functions as the organizational hub of The Norwalk Art Space, keeping track of our many events and educational offerings, and handling everything from gallery management to grant writing to the annual fundraiser. Her varied background includes corporate positions in aviation, risk management, real estate and international education. In addition to, or perhaps despite, her business experience and love of spreadsheets, Katy is an artist at heart. 

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In her visual art practice, Katy focuses on abstract painting and mixed media. She is primarily self-taught, although her explorations have included many individual classes at local art centers and online. She worked as a decorative painter for many years, creating faux-painted interiors throughout Fairfield County and selling hand-painted furniture, art and accessories at shows all over New England. For the last five years, she has focused on the study and practice of abstract art and feels she has found her artistic "home" with abstract. Her other passions are genealogy and travel, both of which regularly provide inspiration and a starting point for her paintings.

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EDUCATIONAL DIRECTOR

Darcy Hicks, M.Ed, is an artist, education coach, and teacher of 30 years, certified K-12 by the State of CT. She works together with our Resident Artists to develop a rich curriculum, and to support them as professionals as they share their individual creative practices with Norwalk Youth. Darcy specializes in Visual Literacy, which she helped to develop while working with the Yale Center for British Art. Visual Literacy is a pedagogical approach that uses art as a means to discover and share the authentic voices of students. She is passionate about the need for both students and teachers to have agency in the classroom, and the urgency to make learning a joyful and lifelong experience. She has published and presented her research on the connection between art and writing both nationally and world-wide.

MUSIC DIRECTOR

Allegra Pin is a dedicated educator and musician who graduated from Rutgers University with a Bachelor's degree in Music and Education. With four years of experience teaching elementary music and a decade working with elementary-aged students, she brings a wealth of expertise and passion to her role. In her current position, Allegra cultivates relationships with parents, students, and the community, while providing direction to the music program. Her core values revolve around helping students succeed, fostering a safe learning environment, nurturing a love for learning, and sharing music as a gift. Allegra believes her purpose is to inspire and empower young minds through the transformative power of music.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT COORDINATOR

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Dale Najarian is an internationally recognised artist working primarily in oils and mixed media. She has a passion for photography, and documenting her experiences is an important part of her creative process as it is a source of inspiration for much of her work. She is also an advocate and philanthropist serving on many non-profit Boards in Fairfield County. 

Dale received her BFA from Moore College of Art & Design and worked for over fifteen years as a Graphic Designer and Art Director in NY, Philadelphia and DC. She was recently awarded the Distinguished Alumni Award from Moore for her active role in using art to connect to a larger audience.

SENIOR ADVISOR

Helen Klisser During is an art advisor, curator, and photojournalist who has championed global art projects for over 25 years. She creates, documents and fosters cultural exchange to promote understanding and address issues of social justice. An art world insider, Helen nurtures relationships among individuals and institutions to create significant cultural initiatives. Helen is committed to facilitating partnerships and cultivating connectivity using her extensive global networks.

Helen has directed and produced numerous large-scale arts initiatives including #UNLOAD: Arts Trigger a Conversation, a foundation to promote conversation through the arts and education around the issue of gun violence in America, and Voices for the Future, an immersive art installation by Joseph Michael which projected collapsing icebergs onto the United Nations, NYC, 2019. 

In 2010 Helen founded The Artist Collective of Westport, which continues to thrive and grow over a decade later with 150 artists.

Helen has curated hundreds of exhibitions including  Christo and Jeanne-Claude (Over the River, The Mastaba and The Gates), Edward Burtynsky (Nature Speaks, 2014). Other notable exhibitions include On the Wire: Veiled Rebellion (photo essay on Afghan women by Lynsey Addario), Memory (works by Mayer Kirshenblatt, Leo Kok, Anselm Keifer, 2010), Champions to End Malaria (featuring PLATON), and BUILD (architecture by Louis Kahn, 2005).

Recognized by KEA as a World Class New Zealander, board member of Creative New Zealand and member of The Explorer’s Club. Helen is an award-winning c Cc photojournalist, she has undertaken assignments worldwide for the United Nations in Malawi and Rwanda; AmeriCares in El Salvador, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Nicaragua; and Carma Foundation in Haiti. Helen served as the still photographer for Gaylene Preston's 2016 film "My Year with Helen: The Helen Clark Documentary," and her photographs and photo essays have been published in a wide range of national and international publications.

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www.helenduring.com