Alumni Spotlight: Tiera Ndlovu

Tiera Ndlovu is a graduate of the LCIS Class of 2016. She attended LCIS as a scholarship student, funded by donations to the LCIS Fund. Tiera’s journey as an artist has been significantly influenced by many unforgettable experiences at LCIS. It was there that she encountered the principles of the IB programme, which provided her with a unique and comprehensive educational foundation that shaped her into the accomplished career woman she is today. Inspired by the IB philosophy, Tiera embodies the characteristics of an IB student: an inquirer who approaches new challenges with creativity and critical analysis, a communicator adept at conveying ideas, and a principled individual committed to integrity. Tiera's open-mindedness, balanced and global perspective, and willingness to take risks have enabled her to navigate diverse academic and cultural landscapes with resilience, propelling her towards making an impact in the art world.

I have always been drawn to understanding how our communities, our shared culture, and our histories are developed and sustained. During my time at Lyford Cay International School (LCIS), this interest manifested in nearly every facet of my school day. At the forefront of my memory, though, is my Extended Essay research on the intersection of the environment and sociocultural studies. I also fondly recall our research trip to the University of Miami, where we worked closely with librarians and archivists to conduct graduate level research. I applied that experience to my studies at Emory University and was awarded numerous writing prizes, alongside a pre-doctoral fellowship. In 2021, I graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in Art History and History, after defending a thesis that advocated for the interdisciplinary study of art history, photography, and written history. As I completed that thesis, I founded Baha Archives, the first of its kind to focus on preserving Bahamian pictorial histories. While I have kept myself busy with other curatorial work since its founding, my goal is to establish a permanent space where lesser known Bahamian histories can be celebrated with rotating displays.

Since departing Emory, I have worked in curatorial capacities at the National Art Gallery of The Bahamas and the Norton Museum of Art in West Palm Beach. Currently, I am the Curatorial Manager at Madison Square Park Conservancy in New York. This moment of my career often prompts me to reflect on my journey: I am now planning art activations in a major city park with over 60,000 daily visitors. Nearly 8 years ago, I was theorizing about how our environment can positively impact our social, cultural, and economic experiences. Now, I collaborate with established and mid-career artists to test out some of those very theories in real life. For example, Cuban American artist María Magdalena Campos-Pons recently led a performance-based piece that transformed the streets of East Harlem into her studio. It was a morning of genuine, lively interaction between an artist and neighbors. The work was featured in The New York Times and Hyperallergic as the Borough of Manhattan recognized Campos-Pons for her contributions to igniting unity and creativity in the area. 

In hindsight, my time at LCIS cultivated my desire to lead public-facing projects and initiatives. I wouldn't be where I am now if it wasn't for the invaluable contributions to my journey from the LCIS community and faculty. While there are countless individuals to thank, I am especially indebted to the late Mrs. Sandra Illingworth. Thank you also to Mr. Craig Massey, Mr. Frederic Bournas, Mrs. Judy Reiach, Mrs. Dorenda Davis, Mrs. Michelle Murray, and Mrs. Mindy Brinson. Thank you all for seeing me, for believing in me, and for pushing me forward–even to this day.