Our Staff

  • Tiffiney Davis, Executive Director

    Tiffiney Davis, a resilient Black community leader, co-founded Red Hook Art Project (RHAP) in 2009 to provide underserved youth with artistic opportunities. As Executive Director, she secured $1 million in federal funding and expanded RHAP's free art and wellness programs. During the pandemic, she transitioned RHAP online, hosting 100+ classes and addressing food insecurity. Honored with the 2023 Woman of Distinction Award, Davis's work emphasizes arts education, community development, and inclusive spaces, earning her recognition on the Kelly Clarkson Show.

  • Jacqui Painter, Artistic Director

    Jacqui Painter, a proud Red Hook native, is passionate about art and civic engagement. She has been involved with the Red Hook Art Project for several years, first as a volunteer and now as an instructor for the Emerging Art Council. As District Leader for Assembly District 51, she promotes RHAP’s mission and connects with the community to support young artists.

  • Justin Ruffin, Studio Manager

    Justin Ruffin, 27, is a freelance concept artist and studio manager at RHAP in Red Hook. He was RHAP’s second-ever student, maintaining a lifelong passion for art. RHAP equipped him for success, guiding him through art school and launching his career. Justin now sells art professionally, giving back by nurturing young artists at RHAP, where he found his start.

Our Teachers

  • Rachel Schapira

    Rachel Schapira is a working artist living in Brooklyn. She makes theater, puppets, books, drawings, fiber art, prints, poetry. She is a member of the arts collective Eat Drink Tell Your Friends and of Monster Trux

  • Tevina Willis

    Tevina Willis is a lifelong Brooklynite, community organizer, educator, Local Leader, and resident of Red Hook Houses. Tevina participated in the first cohort of Local Leaders five years ago and today runs the English-speaking program. Shortly after graduating from the Local Leaders program, Tevina founded her own non-profit organization which trains residents in community organizing and builds capacity of local non-profits. “I really enjoyed working with my friends. I think people are more inclined to come when they see we’re the ones leading. We see them out in the community and we can hold them accountable. People have a different level of respect when it’s their neighbors up there.” Tevina is very passionate about helping her community to be able to advocate for themselves and work together and make positive change for themselves and their neighborhood.

  • Kate Stec

    Kat Stec is a Product Designer in Brooklyn with a background in Interior Design. She enjoys experiencing the cultures and creativity of others, whether that is through the fine arts, food, or architecture. As a native to Queens, an alumnus of Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts and the Fashion Institute of Technology, she has first-hand experience with the value of accessible art education. RHAP is a place of shared discovery, expression, and celebration of each other - and she is so grateful to be a part of each student's creative journey

  • Paola Case Borgatta

    Paola Case Borgatta is a Brooklyn based artist and art educator. She has been teaching off an on in a variety of settings including summer programs, colleges, and the New York Public School System, since she was fourteen. Since retiring from the DOE she has been devotedly teaching at RHAP. She has exhibited her art work in venues located in NYC, New Jersey, New Orleans, Georgia and Virginia. Paola is currently maintaining a studio in Red Hook.

Our Emerging Artist Council

  • Angelly Suero-Perez

    Angelly Suero-Perez, a 20-year-old from Red Hook Houses in Brooklyn. Her passion for the arts started in childhood and was ignited when an art teacher showcased her work in a Manhattan museum. Eight years ago, she joined Red Hook Art Project, where she is now an intern, mentor, and co-facilitate, continually exploring new artistic techniques.

  • Jaden Ruffin

    Jaden, a 23-year-old artist from Red Hook, Brooklyn, found his passion for art in elementary school. Despite early self-doubt, a supportive middle school guitar teacher reignited his creative expression. After working with nonprofits like Good Shepherd, Jaden joined RHAP in 2022, where he gained confidence and showcased his art. Now part of the Emerging Art Council, he has contributed to community murals and learned diverse art forms like silk screening and sewing. Jaden's work reflects his love for Red Hook and aims to inspire others.

  • Aspen Villar (He/They)

    Aspen, a 23-year-old transgender male, dreams of becoming an animator. A furry and digital artist, Aspen has honed his skills over the years. His journey with the Red Hook Art Project (RHAP) began in his youth, transforming him from a shy student to an outgoing artist. Aspen cherishes his role at RHAP, finding it a safe and supportive space to grow creatively, engage in diverse projects, and be himself.

  • Paige Thomas

    Paige Thomas, an 18-year-old from Brooklyn, NY, is passionate about the arts. After graduating from Brooklyn High School of the Arts in June 2023, she briefly attended Nova Southeastern University for Art and Design but transferred due to waning interest and financial constraints. Currently interning at Red Hook Initiative and Red Hook Art Project, Paige leads activities like homework assistance and art classes. Her artistic journey began in childhood through drawing and painting, flourishing at RHAP since 2017 and continuing through high school, specializing in Drama and contributing to theatrical productions.

  • Jayshawn Melvin

    Jayshawn, a 19-year-old aspiring artist from Red Hook, Brooklyn, NY, discovered his passion for art through childhood influences like anime and cartoons. Enrolling at the Red Hook Art Project (RHAP), he honed his skills and served as a Studio Intern, inspired by his cousin Justin's artistic dedication. Jayshawn is committed to artistic growth, eager to explore new techniques and share his unique perspective with the world.

  • Rosana Zapata

    Rosana Zapata, an 18-year-old high school student from Miami, relocated to Red Hook in childhood. Passionate about the arts from a young age, she joined RHAP influenced by her cousin. Embracing RHAP's impact on her artistic journey, from student to intern, it has fostered personal growth and community engagement. Raised in NYCHA Red Hook Houses, her debut solo exhibition at Basin Gallery in 2023 showcased RHAP's role in her artistic and personal development.

Our Board

  • Dr. Natasha Campbell

    Chairperson and President

  • Melanie Paul

    Member

  • Robin Chamberlain

    Member

    Robin Chamberlain is a former art educator focusing on youth programs and museum-based art projects. After receiving her MA in art education at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, she worked in many schools and museums around the US before settling in NYC in 2003.  While raising two sons, Robin worked as an art teacher at Church Street School for Music and Art, a nonprofit organization in lower Manhattan, as well as opening a private tutoring program for dyslexic students. After completing her certificate in fundraising at the NYU Heyman Center for Philanthropy in 2012, she helped to scale the nonprofit Music & Memory as Director of Development, advocating for personalized music in residential care settings. In her current role at the nonprofit Life Story Club, she is working to scale a community based solution to the loneliness epidemic facing older New Yorkers.
    As a Red Hook resident since 2013, Robin is dedicated to supporting RHAP as an essential resource in the development and empowerment of the youth of Red Hook.

  • Laura Vogel

    Member
    Laura Vogel, has put her ADD to work from a young age, while taking time away from math league and competitive dance to dive into high school ceramics classes. At NYU she minored in ceramics and photography while getting an otherwise completely useful degrees in anthropology, philosophy. After graduating from Brooklyn Law School, she retired from law and began work as a digital producer in entertainment. She joined Jennifer to open the Prospect Heights location of BKLYN CLAY in 2018 where she is the director of operations. Now, when not posting on instagram for celebrities, Laura enjoys arguing with customer service reps and finding new and interesting uses for Google sheets.
    she/her

  • Allison

    I am originally from the Philadelphia area but moved to New York City almost 30 years ago, and moved to Red Hook 25 years ago.
    I'm an Architect and I've been in the architecture and construction industry for over 30 years. I volunteered for the Red Hook non-profit Resilient Red Hook for several years after Superstorm Sandy devastated our neighborhood. I also served on Brooklyn Community Board 6 Landmarks and Land Use Committee for 10 years. I joined the board of Red Hook Art Project because I want to improve access to the Arts for my young neighbors. An Arts education benefited me in many ways and I believe it provides important skills and strengths. Art makes life beautiful, and everyone should have access.

  • Andrew Magnes

    Member

    Andrew relocated to New York from Miami in 1997. He holds a BFA in Drawing from the University of Florida and a Master of Architecture from Parsons School of Design. In addition to his architectural practice, Andrew has a diverse background in education. He has taught art at an elementary school in Miami, guided youth at risk on canoe expeditions with Outward Bound, and served as a faculty member in the Architecture Department at SUNY Orange in Middletown, NY. Andrew joined the board of RHAP out of a deep belief in the transformative power of artistic practice—as a means of expression, communication, and a lens through which to experience the world.

  • Heather Corbett

    Co-Chair

  • Crystal Harper

    Treasurer

  • Annette Rose-Shapiro

    Annette Rose-Shapiro has been making glass beads for over 25 years. She was first introduced to this art at UrbanGlass in downtown Brooklyn, where she worked as the Publisher and Managing Editor of GLASS Quarterly. Rose-Shapiro studied with several top glass artists at UrbanGlass and in Venice. She also founded The Bead Project in 1997, a program for economically challenged women to learn the skill of beadmaking and jewelry making as a means of earning income. Rose-Shapiro’s practice as a glass beadmaker continues a tradition of torch work that originated in 13th century Venice. She has a degree in Fine Art from the State University at Brockport with a concentration in photography and printmaking, and also does digital illustration. She has been a student at Bo Law Kung Fu for over 20 years.

     Rose-Shapiro also collaborates on a line of jewelry with Master Tak Wah Eng, who contributes his painted stones, and jade and other objects from his extensive personal collection. You can see their work at www.engandshapiro.com.

  • Mary Waugh

    Member

    Mary Waugh 

    COO of Tom Sachs Studio, Red Hook Community member and mother of 2 RHAP students. 

    Been a while since they have been in, but they love it!