Staff
Denise L. Greene
African American
Director of Community Programs
Denise L. Greene joined the Art Students League of New York in 2004 and founded the Seeds of the League program in 2010. She is a graduate of NYU Stern School of Business and Milano School of Policy, Management, and Environment. With more than 20 years of experience working with nonprofit arts organizations, Denise is dedicated and passionate about expanding access to the arts in underserved communities. In 2021 she earned her certificate in Botanical Art with honors from the New York Botanical Garden and is currently continuing her printmaking education at the Art Students League of New York.
Halima Konteh
Black/ Gambian-American
Community Programs Associate
Halima Konteh earned her painting BFA at SUNY Purchase with a double minor in Art History and Global Black Studies. Working primarily in oil and acrylic paint, Halima’s work features textiles, patterns, and fabrics customary to her Gambian heritage. She works around religious restrictions of aniconism by using methods such as cropping. Halima’s work endeavors bridging the gap between what appropriate methods of art making can be from a personal and cultural perspective.
Vanessa Hernandez
Colombian/Dominican
Editor at Large
Born in New Jersey to immigrant parents. Grew up dancing and playing piano, but the visual arts always had my heart. Studied etching and other printmaking forms in Haverford College and at the League. Relocated from NYC to Philadelphia and moved into other art forms: experimenting with wire and organic materials alongside drawing abstracted forms with charcoal and egg tempera. Words have become an additional vehicle of expression, not only professionally, for the Seeds Program, but also personally, in the form of journaling and automatic writing. All these art forms have fed into each other, much like the water wheel, endlessly pouring and turning.
Leonardo Cross
Peruvian-American
Seeds Program Filmmaker
Leonardo Cross was born in the United States, but moved to Peru as an infant. Leo demonstrated a passion for filmmaking at a very young age and made his first film at the age of twelve. At sixteen, he left his family and friends behind to study film at The High School of Art and Design. Currently as a high school senior, Leo is a directing fellow at Reel Works and a third-year fellow at the prestigious Ghetto Film School. Leo’s experiences as a Peruvian immigrant influence his work as a Writer, Director, and Cinematographer. He was awarded a national Gold Medal at the Scholastic Art Awards, 1st place ($12,000) at the ABC/Disney Get Reel With Your Dreams Competition, and 1st prize ($5,000) in national filmmaking competition, Lights Camera Save! sponsored by the American Bankers Association.