top of page

Résumé

SUMMARY

​

Highly motivated and hard-working mixed media artist and bachelor’s graduate, with a strong desire to pursue a career as a museum curator. Emerging knowledge and experience in gallery directing and curating, art history, and studio art (mixed media). Works well independently and collaboratively.

 

​

SKILLS

​

  • Strong work ethic

  • Self-starter

  • Reliability

  • Adaptability

  • Attention to detail

  • Time management

  • Critical thinking

  • Research and analysis

  • Effective oral and written communication skills

  • Interpersonal skills (leadership and collaboration)

  • Public speaking and presenting (in front of large groups)

  • Creating multimedia presentations

  • Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint

  • Proficiency in Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, Premiere Pro

 

​

EDUCATION

​

Caldwell University; Caldwell, NJ

Bachelor of Fine Arts in Studio Art (Mixed Media Concentration); Minor in Art History

Aug 2020 – Dec 2024

3.99 GPA; summa cum laude | Honors

 

​

WORK EXPERIENCE

​

Program Aide (Part-time)

Therapeutic Recreation Department, Somerset County Park Commission; Bridgewater, NJ

Mar 2025 – present

  • Assisting the program coordinators with activities during programs for participants with developmental disabilities.

  • Working directly with participants, alongside fellow program assistants, while supporting or redirecting them as needed

  • Helping with setup before programs and cleanup afterward.

  • Background/criminal records check and fingerprinting completed in Feb 2025.

  • Salary: $15.50/hour

​

Self-Directed Employee (Part-time)
Public Partnerships, LLC
Feb 2024 – present

  • Support person for an individual with special needs.

  • Salary: $25/hour

 

Alum Curator (formerly Student Curator)

The Mueller Gallery, Caldwell University; Caldwell, NJ

May 2024 – Mar 2025

  • Curating and organizing all aspects of a group exhibition featuring former and current members of the Iota Epsilon chapter of Kappa Pi, the international art Honors society, at Caldwell University

  • Facilitating all communications and materials with the gallery director, exhibiting artists, university administration, insurance company, and facilities department.

  • Collaborated with archives librarian at Caldwell University on gathering info about alumni contacts

  • Worked with historian of Kappa Pi on gathering materials for an informational presentation video about the history of the Honors society, to be shown in the gallery space

  • Media writer (for press releases)

  • Graphic designer of promotional materials (including flyers and digital invitations)

  • Created insurance spreadsheets and data sheets; collected loan agreements from artists

  • Organized exhibition binders

  • As an alumnus of the Caldwell chapter of Kappa Pi, participating as an exhibiting artist​

 

Intern as Assistant to the Gallery Director

The Mueller Gallery, Caldwell University; Caldwell, NJ

May – Jul 2024

  • Conducted a studio visit and interview for an exhibiting artist

  • Wrote an essay that was published in the catalog of the artist’s solo exhibition

  • Media writer (for press releases on both this artist’s exhibition and a group exhibition)

  • Collaborated with an archives librarian at Caldwell University on gathering names of alumni to reach out to for interest the exhibition

 

Intern as Assistant to the Gallery Director

The Mueller Gallery, Caldwell University; Caldwell, NJ

May 2023 – Jan 2024

  • Worked with the gallery director, exhibiting artists, office of news and media relations, web design team, insurance company, facilities department, and media services team on preparations for a group faculty exhibition and two solo visiting artist exhibitions

  • Titled the faculty exhibition: Inspire 2023

  • First student selected to facilitate artist talks at the gallery (for group and solo exhibitions)

  • Supervisor of gallery assistants and work study students, as well as opening receptions

  • Collaborated with artists and gallery personnel on the installation and deinstallation of artwork

  • Media writer (for press releases)

  • Graphic designer of promotional materials (including flyers and digital invitations)

  • Created insurance spreadsheets and data sheets; collected loan agreements from artists

  • Organized exhibition binders

  • Installed vinyl lettering

 

Videographer, Photographer, Graphic Designer, Arts Clubs Representative

Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Somerset County 4-H; Bridgewater, NJ

Aug 2015 – Oct 2020

  • Created several promotional and instructional videos for Somerset County 4-H

  • Designed various promotional materials (including logos, T-shirts, posters, and book pages)

  • Worked with the marketing department on T-shirt designs and sales, for a fundraiser benefitting the 4-H arts clubs

  • Spoke on behalf of the 4-H arts clubs during various events and interviews

 

Graphic Design Intern

Spectrum Works; Secaucus, NJ

Jul 2019

  • Designed various promotional materials (including cards, folders, and flyers)

​​

​

ADDITIONAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS

 

Art Exhibitions and Curatorial Experience

  • Work featured in the Manville Arts Council 2024 and 2025 Expos, statewide juried group exhibitions [5/2024-25]

  • Work featured in two group exhibitions at Nails in the Wall Gallery at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Metuchen, NJ: Peace/Conflict [9-12/2024] and 3[three]: the exhibit [2-5/2025]

    • Presented on my work during the opening reception for Peace/Conflict [9/2024]

    • Sold one of my exhibited pieces following Peace/Conflict [12/2024]

  • Senior B.F.A. thesis exhibition at the Mueller Gallery, Caldwell University: Transfiguration [4/2024]

    • A series of mixed media installation works; scholarly paper, defense, and artist talk

    • Hosted a special private presentation and showing for the Sisters of St. Dominic of Caldwell

    • Hosted a virtual presentation for an art class at Saint Dominic Academy in Jersey City, NJ

  • Curated solo exhibitions of an artist’s work at community venues throughout N.J. [6/2023 – present]

  • Self-curated over fifteen solo exhibitions at community venues throughout N.J. [9/2021 – present]

  • Work in group show at Mana Contemporary in Jersey City, NJ, following studio residency [8/2019]

    • Work sold following the exhibition; on permanent display at Eileen S. Kaminsky Family Foundation (ESKFF) NEST, an artist retreat center in Woodstock, NY [10/2019 – present]

 

Art and Writing Achievements/Recognition

  • Wrote a series of five wall texts for The Circuit Unseen, a solo exhibition by multimedia artist Sarah Canfield at the BrassWorks Gallery in Montclair, NJ [2-4/2025]

  • Work featured in multiple publications, most notably:

    • Multiple issues of the Catholic Spirit (official newspaper of the Diocese of Metuchen) [2023-24]

    • The 2023 and 2024 issues of Calyx (Caldwell University literary journal) [5/2023, 5/2024]

    • The front cover of the 2023 issue of Presence (Catholic poetry journal) [4/2023]

    • Under One Sky: Leaping Letters (distributed to Rwandan schoolchildren) [12/2019]

  • N.J. Teen Media Contest: 2nd Place, Digital Art; awarded at N.J. State House in Trenton [5/2019]

    • Work featured in N.J. Department of Human Services 2020 Calendar [Fall 2019]

  • N.J. Future Business Leaders of America: 1st Place, Logo Design [3/2019]

    • Design featured on promotional materials (pamphlets, digital displays, and all trophies)

  • Published author (press releases, articles, interviews, books, short stories, poems) [2013 – present]

 

Public Speaking and Presentations

  • Scholarly paper on a work at the Montclair Art Museum; public presentation on site [Spring 2024]

  • Sole designated student speaker at the Caldwell University Honors Recruitment Dinner [12/2023]

    • 200+ people in attendance

  • Caldwell University Honors Project: “Discovering the Spiritual in Contemporary Visual Art” [Spring 2023]

    • Scholarly paper accompanied by trilogy of art pieces; defense, multimedia presentation

    • Outcome: passed with distinction [4/2023]

    • Paper published on JSTOR [Summer 2023]

  • Caldwell U Department of Visual Art & Design student ambassador [Spring 2021 – Spring 2022]

  • High School Valedictorian (Class of 2020)

  • 8th Grade Valedictorian (Class of 2016)

  • Four-time “Best in Room” award winner of Rutgers University – New Brunswick State Public Presentations competition [6/2016 – 6/2019]

​

Special Caldwell University Awards

  • Saint Dominic Award [4/2025]

    • Awarded annually to a graduating student who actively practices the Dominican pillars of prayer, study, ministry, and service​

    • Additionally reflects a commitment to truth, wisdom, knowledge, professional excellence, integrity, and leadership

    • Inspired by the mission of St. Dominic de Guzman and the Sisters of St. Dominic of Caldwell, the latter of whom founded the university

  • B.F.A. in Studio Art Departmental Honor [4/2025]​

    • For maintaining the highest GPA among all students graduating with a B.F.A.​

© 2025 Ben Fernandez

bottom of page