Who Are We

A unique blend of qualifications, Symone, Jarryn, and Melissa, share experiences and knowledge from a background in the arts, higher education and high-level administrative support. Experiences culminated from working with art collectors and extensive discipline in research, as well as project management across a vast range of activities have given Symone, Jarryn, and Melissa, a unique perspective on the artistic community.  sk.ArtSpace was started with the idea to create a safe space; Digitally and physically, for creatives and artists of color.

What We Do

sk.ArtSpace is an art incubator whose primary focus is to provide opportunities for emerging artists to expand their network, showcase their art, and be celebrated by the community. Since opening our physical space in 2018, we have stayed true to our mission but have been shaped and maneuvered by the unprecedented times of COVID-19. Today, we continue to move in thought and inspire hope as we undergo a digital transformation. Together, we continue to challenge ourselves to find new ways to communicate with our community and carry out our mission by supporting artists through various resources. Sk.Artspace wants to close that gap, change the perspective of “urban art” and provide resources and opportunities to the exceptional emerging talent of NYC artists.

Jarryn Mercer

Title: Co-Founder/Director of Operations and Special Projects
Jarryn Mercer is an entrepreneur and co-founder of sk.ArtSpace. Her love of art was heavily influenced by her mother who filled the walls in her childhood home with captivating photographs and paintings. Jarryn has an MS.Ed in Educational Leadership as well as an MPA in Non-Profit Administration. Jarryn has combined her love of art and leadership savvy into a thriving and promising creative outlet that is sk.ArtSpace. As the Director of Operations & Special Projects, Jarryn’s main focus is to define, implement and revise operational procedures and manage large, cross-functional project initiatives. Currently, Jarryn works full time as an administrator within the finance industry. As for her hobbies, she is enjoys being a mom to her rambunctious toddler son and travels several times a year to interesting boutique hotels. Additionally, Jarryn is an aspiring florist who one day hopes to create beautiful floral installations for events.

Melissa Sutherland

Title: Co-Founder/Director of Creative Innovation & Ideation
Melissa Sutherland is a multi-disciplinary Artist and co-founder of sk.ArtSpace. She discovered her gift of creativity after painting a portrait of her sister during an art class in high school. Today, her artwork strives to create a narrative that addresses the Black American feminine experience expressed through collage and typography. Melissa has an BA in Studio Art, Painting as well as an MSEd in Psychology, Student Personnel. As the Director of Creative Innovation & Ideation, Melissa’s focus is to provide creative and strategic direction with a primary responsibility of developing and executing innovative strategies to achieve business objectives and meet company goals.

Symone wong

Title: Co-Founder/ Director of Finance/ Email Marketing Manager/ Marketing Analyst
Symone Wong is a visual artist, entrepreneur and Co-Founder of sk.ArtSpace. Symone has been blessing us with her acrylic on canvas paintings for a few years now, and although she has seemingly wowed us overnight, this beauty has been developing her craft since she was very young. Born in Jamaica, West Indies, and raised in Queens, New York, she grew up in a multi-talented household. Her father would sketch with her as a youth helping to instill in her the burning desire to create. Symone plans to instill this very same desire in her extremely creative 5-year-old daughter, Marley. Symone has had a life-long interest in art, although opting for a communications degree in college. She began acrylic painting as a hobby about 9 years ago. Primarily through self-training and workshops, she has branched out into a full-time artist and curator. As the Director of Finance, Symone’s main task is overseeing all financial activities, reporting on revenue, budgeting, disbursing funds, managing risk, implementing policies, and improving financial processes. Symone also oversees all aspects of SK’s email marketing campaigns, including market research, content creation, and the dissemination of copy. As the marketing manager she focuses on planning, developing, implementing and maintaining the overall company's email marketing strategy by building email lists, creating emails, and nurturing leads through written communications.

kinna leblanc

Title: Director of Media Outreach & Coordination/Artist Development

Kinna LeBlanc is a multidisciplinary artist who specializes in digital media, emerging design, pop culture and lifestyle. An energizing visionary who divides her time between creating, teaching, and frolicking in Brooklyn's bustling streets. An emerging media force who creatively directs sassy, beautiful, and provocative content through the production of visual illustration, short films, audio projects, social media campaigns, brand identification, arts marketing, curation, and artistic direction. Kinna's creative practice has narrowed to concentrate exclusively on visual arts development: art management, artist development, art/media promotion, curating, and, of course…still illustrating! Kinna joined the sk.Arstpace team in June 2019. As the Director of Media Outreach, Kinna focuses primarily on maintaining sk.Artspace's intense online presence through artist development community outreach, media marketing and digital design. Ms. Kinna LeBlanc is currently completing her BMA in Emerging Media Studies at CUNY Hunter College. The class of 2022