Curatorial Projects
Made From This Earth:
a reading, sharing, and tataki zome workshop
"Made From This Earth: a reading, sharing, tataki zome workshop" took place on December 7th, 2025 in the art research garden located on Goldsmiths University of London’s Campus
This group of participants braved the elements to read an excerpt from "Matter" by Susan Griffin, followed by a collective reflection of thoughts and feelings evoked by the reading. In response to the text artworks were created using the tataki zome method; an art practice that softly hammers botanicals onto paper creating colorfully pigmented prints. The print made from this workshop were then made into a digital zine that is held by those who attended the workshop.
This programme served as a space to connect with nature, ourselves, and each other. To make with our hands, listen with care, and let softness be enough.
Curated by Tiersha Faith Laird, Lydia Liu, Zihan Zhang, Freya Chen, with artist Haoran Wu. This public programmed workshop was organized as part of 'Across Grounds' Cross Campus Collaborations Project connecting MFA Curating and MFA Art and Ecology.
Night in the Light
The Light of the Village is a front line, hands on Ministry located inside one of the most impoverished and violent neighborhoods in the southeastern United States. This program serves inside this community six days a week offering a variety of programs including: after school program, tutoring, summer camp, community meals, Sunday services, women’s night, teen night, and more.
The children, volunteers, and staff of Light of the Village host a Gala each year to highlight the previous year’s work of this organization in an effort to fundraise for the next fiscal year. On Thursday, March 20, 2025 the eleventh Night in the Light celebration took place at the Mobile Fairgrounds. During the event guests were invited to stroll through a gallery of self portraits the children of Light of the Village made during the winter term of their after school program.
The art classes for all kids aged 5-8 were coordinated and led each week by Tiersha Faith. The children were encouraged to portray themselves through their own artistic lenses. Those who chose to share their works were displayed at the gala. The gallery was fully framed, installed, and curated by Tiersha Faith. She has worked closely with Light of the Village since 2016, taking on several roles in the community including: teen leader, intern, camp counselor, artistic director, arts instructor, and curator.
Clusterfunk 22
Each year, The Untitled Visual Arts Collective at Loyola University New Orleans presents Clusterfunk, an annual, student-driven exhibition that celebrates creative expression across all majors. Reflecting the evolving landscape of contemporary art, Clusterfunk embraces diversity and inclusivity as central values, providing a platform where students from all backgrounds and artistic practices can exhibit their work. The exhibition is named for its eclectic, wide-ranging mix of styles, media, and perspectives, creating an immersive experience that captures the vibrancy of today’s art scene.
In the 2022 exhibit, curated under the leadership of Tiersha Faith Laird, who served as both President of Untitled and Lead Curator, Clusterfunk showcased works by 31 student artists, complemented by live performances from Rocky, Royale, and Mynthia. Each artist was guaranteed at least one piece in the show, ensuring every contributor’s voice was represented, celebrated, and woven into the collective fabric of the event.
Held in the Dana Center Art Gallery, this year’s Clusterfunk was on display for three months, offering a fully student-curated and managed space that amplified diverse voices in contemporary art. Through its commitment to inclusivity, Clusterfunk redefines the boundaries of a traditional gallery setting, inviting audiences to experience a rich tapestry of perspectives and creative explorations.
For more about this event, visit the Untitled Visual Arts Collective on Instagram (@untitled_loyno).
Plural
Bachelor of Fine Arts Senior Thesis Show
In May 2022, the Bachelor of Fine Arts Senior Thesis Show was held in the Collins C. Diboll Gallery at Loyola University New Orleans. As part of this group exhibition, Tiersha Faith Laird presented a body of work reflecting her personal explorations of identity, femininity, and resilience. Her work is guided by a playful and interactive approach that draws from her childhood imagination, bringing a sense of nostalgia and introspection to her art.
Artist Statement:
"My art embraces a playful, interactive methodology that recalls the wonder of my childhood imagination, offering a sense of relief and connection to my past. Central to my work is an exploration of fatphobia and its impact on self-perception; I aim to challenge societal narratives by demonstrating how fatness can be synonymous with soft and delicate.
Through body configurations, I delve into themes of modesty, insecurity, and vulnerability, examining how my choices to reveal or conceal aspects of my figure serve as acts of self-discovery. This process becomes a celebration of acceptance and an assertion of my autonomy over my form. Art gives me the freedom to explore my femininity, revealing my orientation to nature and celebrating the divine essence within all of us.
Recurring rose imagery symbolizes the delicate nature of womanhood, with each petal in full bloom capturing the transformations that women and nature endure through their life cycle. The fluidity within my compositions mirrors this ephemeral existence, linking nature, self, and the fleeting beauty of art."
African Art Experience
On February 24, 2022, artists Tiersha Faith Laird and Ryan Nichols co-curated The African Art Experience, an immersive, international showcase celebrating African art through a blend of photography and technology. The exhibition featured 13 artists from across Africa, with each artist's work accessible via QR codes that, when scanned, connected visitors directly to the artists’ Instagram profiles, fostering an intimate, interactive experience.
Ryan Nichols organized and coordinated the artist group, curating a diverse array of perspectives. Tiersha Laird led the installation design, incorporating authentic locally sourced Kente cloth to upholster the gallery walls, creating a rich and vibrant atmosphere. With the support of her student organization, Untitled: The Visual Arts Club, Tiersha as president led an engaged team of students to assist with installation, including painting, framing, fundraising, and the meticulous draping of Kente fabrics across the gallery’s walls and pedestals.
The opening night was brought to life by a powerful performance from musician Mynthia and dancers Royale and Teralynn, who together delivered a memorable show celebrating Black culture and creativity. Displayed for multiple weeks during Black History Month, The African Art Experience provided a contemporary, accessible, and innovative homage to African artistry and community.
More information on this event is available on Untitled: The Visual Arts Club Instagram (@untitled_loyno).
