JACLYN REYES

Interdisciplinary Artist, Cultural Organizer, Designer, PhD Student

Jaclyn Reyes is an interdisciplinary artist, designer, cultural organizer and PhD student based in NYC

Reyes is currently pursuing a PhD in Social Welfare at The City University of New York (CUNY) Graduate Center. Her past experience in humanitarianism — particularly her research in the Philippines, exploring the intersections of education, armed conflict, climate disasters, and community resilience —informs her study. Her doctoral studies aim to critically examine alternative approaches to paternalistic humanitarianism via diaspora engagement in humanitarian assistance, development, and transnational care systems. She is a 2023-2024 SUNY/CUNY Southeast Asia Consortium Fellow.

She studied studio art at California State University Long Beach before transferring to Syracuse University where she received her BFA in Art Photography. In 2019, she earned her master’s degree in Arts in Education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education.

She has exhibited at the Spark Contemporary Art Gallery (Syracuse, NY), Queens Museum (Queens, New York), Ang Panublion Museum (Roxas City, Cadiz, Philippines), Alfredo F. Tadiar Library (San Fernando, La Union, Philippines), Areté Ateneo Art Gallery (Manila, Philippines), and Flushing Town Hall (Queens, New York).

She has done work for the Campaign and Creative Services team at BerlinRosen, the United Nations Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, the Resilient Communities program at the Harvard Humanitarian Initiative, Penguin Random HouseCondé Nast, and Visionaire. Recently she worked at the International Rescue Committee, where she supported the Education technical unit, coordinated with the Global Anti-Racism and Decoloniality (GARD) Network, and participated in Operation Allies Welcome.

Kudos

She was a 2023 Design Justice as Practice Fellow with the Center for Urban Pedagogy and recipient of a 2023 New York State Council on the Arts creative grant for interdisciplinary art. Previously, she was a part of Re:Generation with The Monument Lab and a 2021-22 Art Commissioner with Queens Council on the Arts. She has been awarded opportunities from The Fulbright ProgramThe Laundromat ProjectEn Foco, Inc.Wave Farm, and the Asian Women Giving Circle. She was a mentor with the New York Foundation for the Arts Immigrant Artist Program in 2021-22 and 2022-23. She has been an invited speaker at Stanford University, the Landmark Society of Western New York, and the NYC Racial Justice Commission.

Her work has been highlighted in The New York TimesGothamist, ARTnewsArt ForumBusiness InsiderPublic Radio InternationalArtsy, Yes! MagazineNueva LuzThe Asian JournalAPEX ExpressAll in NYCNew York Historical Society, and the Center for an Urban Future, Andrew W. Mellon Foundation’s virtual event “Creatives Rebuild New York—and America,” BronxNet Television, and on the PBS/Chasing the Dream series Caretakers.

She shared her thoughts on art and care in an episode of the Queens Memory Project Podcast called “Seeing Signs,” the Queens Council on the Arts blog, 1202 Magazine, and in a documentary about Little Manila aired on the Philippine television series I-Witness on GMA Network. She has also spoken about her experience community-building in Little Manila with The Laundromat Project and redistricting advocacy efforts in Little Manila. In recognition of her efforts, she was included in City & State New York’s 2023 Queens Power 100 list.

COMMUNITY & SOCIAL PRACTICE


THE TANDANG SORA PROJECT

An ongoing memory campaign and effort to create a monument to women migrant care workers.

PHOTOBOOTH ORAL HISTORIES

A photobooth activation inviting participants to share oral histories about care and community.

CARE MAPPING

Participatory posters that enable reflection on the economies and systems of care.

MANO PO PUPPET

A protest, elder puppet built by artist Xenia Diente that engages in the traditional gesture is called “pagmamano,” where wisdom and blessings are received by the participant

PAMIMIYESTA

Adobo contest and free community tasting at the inaugural Little Manila Block Party

WE ARE THEY

Documentary and dance film highlighting the stories of Filipino healthcare workers and performances inspired by cultural tradition

ORAS NA

Tsinelas exhibition and workshop by artist Karl Orozco and bahay kubo installation by architect duo Almasphere

WE BELONG

Community banner-making workshop and installation promoting solidarity with Asian American communities in Queens

MABUHAY

A message of welcome, cheers, and long live on 69th Street and Roosevelt Avenue

WEAVING TOGETHER

Free outdoor community weaving workshop in Woodside, Queens led by artist Cynthia Alberto


LITTLE MANILA AVENUE CELEBRATION

Unveiling ceremony and celebration of the Little Manila Avenue street sign after a two-year advocacy campaign

FILIPINOS RISE UP

Filipinos Rise Up was a rally addressing the surge in anti-Asian hate crimes targeting Filipino elders in the NYC region

LITTLE MANILA TOWN HALL

Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference

LITTLE MANILA AVENUE CAMPAIGN

Organized efforts to remove trash and debris to improve usage of Little Manila public space

MEAL TO HEAL INITIATIVE

Deliveries that mutually aided Filipino healthcare workers and immigrant-owned small businesses in Little Manila

OUR LITTLE MANILA

Redistricting efforts to unify the Little Manila community and strengthen the Filipino American voice #OurLittleManila

LITTLE MANILA BLOCK PARTY

Community organizations, leaders, and artists gathered to celebrate Filipino American History Month

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