Gabrielle Grier: Disrupting Design and Space Injustices

Emerging Alumni Awardee Gabrielle Grier (BA ‘17, art), an "artist, visionary, facilitator and participant of growth," is recognized as one of the Twin Cities’ top leaders in driving social and political change systems change. As the former Chief Innovation Officer and current artist in residence at the African-American Leadership Forum, she oversees strategies to address systemic inequities, and her leadership at Juxtaposition Arts culminated in the opening of a groundbreaking new building in 2023. 

What do you do now? What energizes you about it?

I’m a space and design advocate, rooted in love and a deep commitment to the collective liberation of historically marginalized and underrepresented people. I use my resources, privilege, and design skills to create nurturing spaces where communities can be curious, learn, feel seen, and prepare for what’s next—for themselves and future generations. Through this work, I’m activating an equitable practice that disrupts design and space injustices with intention and purpose.

What was something special about your home department?

Something truly special about [the art] department was the way it embraced the wholeness of who I was, not asking me to fragment myself but instead honoring the complexity and interconnectedness of my skills and identity. I think of mentors like Tetsuya Yamada and Baizzerman, who saw me not just as a student but as a person with potential, struggle, and a story worth nurturing. They recognized the value of my interwoven skill sets and encouraged me to lean into my hybrid truth rather than trying to fit into narrow boxes. 

The diversity of the staff, in both background and thought, was my lifeline—they held space for me, pushed me forward, and taught me that my unique perspective was not just valid but vital. Their commitment to my growth and their belief in my potential still inspire me to this day.

Reflect on one of the defining experiences from your time as a CLA student. What impact does it have on your life today?

I had an experience with Dr. Terrance Kwame Ross who shared a statement indicating that "they can take everything away from you, but they cannot take your mind." He said this as a testament to the fantastic and ever-valid commitment to the power of the mind and Black identity. It cured a notion that internally there is a space, one necessary for nurturing and protection. Over a decade later, it has evolved as a commitment to maintaining your spiritual knowing despite external realities. Extremely powerful.

What should current students understand about your profession if they are considering it for themselves?

I never picked one thing. I picked 100 things. Those things are extensions of my identity. Not defined by a degree, but by all the parts that were expressed, developed by way of the environment. At the center of my profession and practice, "all my gifts, all my skills, on purpose."

What's next? What are your personal/professional goals for the next five years?

I will continue to intersect creativity, design, community, and people for the rest of my life. That commitment looks like taking all the nuggets of exploration, safety, and innovation and building...everywhere.

This story was edited by Sally Adams, an undergraduate student in CLA.