Advancing Arizona Through Creative Collaboration in Every Sector

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LEADERSHIP TEAM

At Art State Arizona

we know that true community impact is never the work of one—it’s the power of many.
Our organization is fueled by the passion and dedication of team leaders, artists, creators, makers, more than 300 volunteers, and a committed Board of Directors. Together, we amplify voices, spark creativity, and shape a cultural landscape where the arts are essential to everyday life in Arizona.

TEAM LEADERSHIP

Kate Marquez - Photography by Jacquelynn

CONTACT

EMAIL: kate@artstateaz.org
PHONE: 520.240.2766

Kate Marquez | Chief Executive Officer & Founder

With over two decades of experience in nonprofit leadership, Kate Marquez has dedicated her career to advancing the arts as a driver of community well-being, economic vitality, and innovation. A Tucson native, she studied Political Science and Religious Studies at the University of Arizona before serving in Tucson’s Ward Offices, the Mayor’s Office, and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security—experiences that shaped her belief in public service as a catalyst for positive change in her community.
In 2006, Kate joined the Greater Oro Valley Arts Council as its first Development Director and helped transform it into the Southern Arizona Arts and Cultural Alliance (SAACA). Under her leadership, SAACA expanded to include festivals, culinary celebrations, healthcare arts programs, and community initiatives serving hundreds of thousands each year. She also founded the Arizona Business Committee for the Arts and contributed nationally as part of the Americans for the Arts Private Sector Advisory Council.
In 2019, she launched the Catalyst Creative Collective, a 14,000-square-foot hub at Tucson Mall that now supports over 1,200 artists, educators, and partners annually. Building on that success, Kate most recently founded Art State Arizona, a statewide nonprofit organization uniting artists, leaders, and communities to share Arizona’s creative story with the nation. Her vision is to position the arts as essential to economic growth, education, healthcare, and community identity across the state.
Her leadership has earned recognition, including Inside Tucson Business Nonprofit CEO of the Year and nominations for the Arizona Governor’s Arts Awards. Yet she is most proud of the everyday impact—creating platforms where artists thrive and communities connect through creativity.
Outside of work, Kate enjoys life with her husband of 20 years, Clayton Robideau, and their two toddler sons, Lawson and Elliott. A passionate traveler and lover of film, she finds inspiration in Switzerland’s mountains and cultures around the globe. A lifelong Disneyland devotee, she returns year after year for its blend of creativity and wonder—and her children will tell you she’s a pro at navigating churros, fast passes, and holiday displays as a resident of Winterhaven with equal skill.
Matt Rolland - Photography by Jacquelynn

CONTACT

EMAIL: matt@artstateaz.org
PHONE: 480.516.4286

Matt Rolland | Deputy Director

Matt’s creative life began with a fiddle in his hand and the sound of his family’s music filling the house. Raised in Mesa, Arizona, he learned to play and improvise at his father’s side in their family band, while his mother, a public-school music teacher by day, kept the beat steady on upright bass. His grandmother, a classically trained pianist, and his grandfather, a visionary in string music education, made the arts feel like both an inheritance and an invitation. Those early experiences shaped Matt’s deep belief that creativity should be shared, celebrated, and accessible to everyone, at any age. Those early sounds still echo through his work today—as a musician, cultural leader, and advocate for artists across the state.
As Deputy Director at Art State Arizona, Matt develops programs and cultural spaces that celebrate creativity in all its forms. He helped launch the Catalyst Creative Collective—a 14,000-square-foot arts hub inside the Tucson Mall—and continues to champion platforms that bring artists, makers, and communities together. Whether he’s coordinating a music festival, managing public art projects, or writing grant applications by moonlight, Matt believes that the arts are essential to a thriving Arizona.
Outside the office, you might find Matt playing fiddle on stage with his various musical projects, helping organize the Tucson Folk Festival as its Board President, or advocating for statewide arts funding through Arizona Citizens for the Arts. He’s performed on national tours, released eight albums, and even appeared twice on A Prairie Home Companion—though his favorite shows are still the ones where toddlers are invited to dance in front of the stage.
Matt is a Fulbright and Flinn Scholar, with degrees in Economics and International Studies from the University of Arizona. These days, his favorite creative escapes include desert gardening, board game nights, and spontaneous music sessions with his wife and two young kids (who already have strong opinions about tempo).

CONTACT

EMAIL: amanda@artstateaz.org
PHONE: 520.274.2759

Amanda Staples | Director of Programs

Amanda is a ceremonialist, integrative healing practitioner, and arts organizer whose work bridges ancestral reverence with contemporary community practice. A first-generation Filipina-American, she draws from her lineage and years of learning alongside Indigenous elders in South and North America to create spaces rooted in ritual, cultural sensitivity, and collective healing. She is a Song Carrier of Indigenous medicine chants and facilitates workshops that honor earth-based traditions, wellness, and sacred creativity. 
A weaver of textiles, mythological storytelling, and connection, Amanda’s journey as an artist blossomed in her mid-20s when performance art cracked open her understanding of what art could be: a gateway to spirit, body, and truth. She has participated in artist residencies in Berlin, France, the UK, and Canada, and formerly co-directed a healing and arts residency in Chicago dedicated to uplifting marginalized voices.
She serves as Artistic Programs Manager at Art State Arizona, Amanda coordinates gallery exhibitions, large-scale festivals, and public art projects. She believes art is both an offering and a portal—a threshold into the liminal and sacred, where creative expression opens pathways to the unseen.
Outside of work, you’ll find her gathering seeds in the desert, experimenting with conscious baking, and cuddling with her magical 5-pound chiweenie, Vita.
Kevin Larkin - Photography by Jacquelynn

CONTACT

EMAIL: kevin@artstateaz.org
PHONE: 520.462.0190

Kevin Larkin | Catalyst Creative Collective Director

From bluegrass jams and Irish sessions to symphony halls and immersive theater, music has always been the gateway for Kevin’s creative journey. What began as an obsession with learning mandolin and writing original songs soon grew into touring in bands, scoring ballet and film, designing AV installations and writing puppet shows. Along the way, Kevin naturally took on roles in DIY music career management, marketing, and fundraising—skills that would eventually guide him toward arts management. Moving into leadership with Art State Arizona was less a career shift than a seamless next chapter in a life shaped by the arts.
Today, Kevin serves as the Director of Art State Arizona’s Catalyst Creative Collective in the Tucson Mall. The 14,000-square-foot community hub welcomes over 20,000 visitors each year and provides a platform for more than 2,000 artists. At Catalyst, Kevin manages the events, leads the Artist in Residence program, and curates talent across music, performance, and culinary arts, ensuring that the space remains a thriving crossroads for creativity, collaboration, and community. From a bird’s eye view, his work is about one thing: helping artists bring their visions to life.
Outside of Art State Arizona, Kevin has worn many creative hats—as a longtime music teacher, a National Park Artist-in-Resident, operations manager for the Southern Arizona Symphony Orchestra, and volunteer mentor supporting refugee communities and neighborhood projects in Tucson. He also continues to collaborate with friends near and far, most recently performing 12 feet high in the trees for the Breckenridge International Festival of Art and writing a puppet show about AI that premiered at Tucson Puppet Cabaret. Among his proudest artistic moments was arranging and performing with the Colorado Symphony and Wonderbound ballet company alongside his long-time Denver band, Chimney Choir.
When not working on creative projects Kevin enjoys hiking and camping with his wife and two dogs. He is an avid swimmer, loves to cook, and is attempting to learn how to keep plants alive in the desert.
Da'Lice Shepard - Photography by Jacquelynn

CONTACT

EMAIL: dalice@artstateaz.org
PHONE: 520.912.6574

Da'Lice Shepard | Culinary Programs Manager

Da’Lice Shepard’s path into the creative sector began in the hospitality world, where she first fell in love with the culinary arts. For her, food has always been more than sustenance—it’s storytelling, memory, and culture woven together. That understanding opened the door to a broader creative journey, one rooted in community and the belief that art in all its forms has the power to connect and heal. Over time, she found herself drawn to the sustainability and soul of the work, choosing to stay in a field that allows her to focus on beauty and meaning every single day.
Today, Da’Lice serves as Director of Marketing and Programs at Art State Arizona, where she shapes the organization’s statewide programming and brand strategy. With a special focus on culinary arts, she leads initiatives that honor food as a form of cultural preservation and creative connection, while also guiding the storytelling and marketing that bring Art State Arizona’s mission to life. She is especially proud of helping create SAVOR, the region’s signature culinary arts celebration, which transforms the Tucson Botanical Gardens into an immersive experience showcasing Tucson’s identity as a UNESCO City of Gastronomy.
Before joining Art State Arizona, Da’Lice worked at two of Tucson’s most culturally influential spaces: Hotel Congress, a hub for music, art, and community connection, and Miraval, a wellness resort focused on mindfulness and authentic living. Both experiences shaped her conviction that creativity, care, and community are not just values—they are essential ingredients for meaningful work.
Outside of her professional life, Da’Lice is guided by the inspirations closest to her heart: her grandmother, a gifted seamstress and singer whose artistry and love remain a lasting influence; and her daughters, budding artists who remind her daily of the joy and possibility found in creativity. A proud mom, passionate advocate, and believer in equality, she brings the same commitment to inclusion, and justice as she does to her work in the arts. She also serves as the Director of Marketing for the Agave Heritage Festival, a role that allows her passion for desert life and the agave’s quiet strength to guide her in honoring sustainability, community, and the timeless resilience of borderland culture.
When she’s not at Art State Arizona, Da’Lice finds joy in movement, music, and connection. Whether dancing, singing, cooking for friends, or laughing over boardgames, she sees these small acts of creativity and play as essential to staying grounded. A die-hard Dave Matthews Band fan, she carries with her a favorite lyric— “make the best of what’s around”—as both a mantra and a reflection of her life. At home, she shares her days with two beloved dogs and her husband, often sneaking in a round of disc golf or a few joyous hours of country swing dancing. And when she needs to recharge, there’s no place like Marfa, Texas—a creative retreat where food, art, and wide-open skies fill her soul.

CONTACT

EMAIL: jynnifer@artstateaz.org
PHONE: 520.797.3959

Jynnifer Dodson | Financial Operations Manager

Shaped by the Tucson community, Jynnifer Dodson has spent more than two decades supporting nonprofit and service organizations across Southern Arizona. With a background in financial operations, administration, and organizational systems, she is passionate about helping mission-driven organizations build the structure they need to grow and serve their communities well. She holds a degree in Business Administration from Kaplan University and believes strong organizations create the stability that allows artists and communities to thrive.
As Financial Operations Manager at Art State Arizona, Jynnifer helps guide the financial and operational foundation that supports the organization’s programs, partnerships, and cultural initiatives across the state. Her work focuses on ensuring that creative ideas and community programs have the structure and sustainability needed to succeed.
Prior to joining Art State Arizona, Jynnifer spent more than twenty years supporting leadership and operations across nonprofit and service organizations throughout Southern Arizona. During her work with families navigating grief, she witnessed how art can help children process difficult emotions and connect with others—an experience that deepened her appreciation for the role creative expression can play in healing and community. She also serves as a board member for We Care Tucson, continuing her commitment to strengthening the local nonprofit community.
Outside the office, Jynnifer enjoys immersing herself in the culture and landscape that make Southern Arizona so distinctive. She and her family spend time exploring local museums and historic places, attending concerts, festivals, and community fairs, and seeking out the artists and traditions that shape the region. Some of her favorite moments are the quiet desert evenings when the sky opens wide with stars—simple reminders of the beauty, history, and sense of place that continue to inspire her connection to Arizona.
Eric Richardson - Photography by Jacquelynn

CONTACT

EMAIL: eric@artstateaz.org

Eric Richardson | Programs Manager

FESTIVAL & EVENT OPERATIONS | GALLERIES | ARTIST RELATIONS | CATALYST
Eric grew up a true desert rat in Phoenix, Arizona, spending much of his childhood outdoors exploring the landscapes of Arizona and Mexico. Always drawn to things that stood out visually, his first creative love, however, was music—both listening and playing. A lifelong musician, one of his creative highlights has been performing trumpet with a band and touring across the U.S. Beyond music, his love of photography has taken him across the globe, capturing people and places in Japan, Spain, and France.
As Programs Manager with Art State Arizona, Eric oversees festivals, events, and programs across the state, while also supporting the Catalyst Creative Collective in Tucson. In this role, he thrives on creating platforms for artists and audiences to connect—helping shape experiences that celebrate culture, creativity, and community. For Eric, the greatest reward comes not just from supporting artists, but from witnessing the spark of inspiration that the arts ignite in others.
Outside of work, Eric is an avid rock climber who prefers dirt and rock to water, often trading indoor studios for the natural beauty of Arizona’s desert mountains. At home, he enjoys relaxing in the company of the birds and lizards that visit his yard. He still fondly remembers the joy of elementary school art class and carries that same spirit of curiosity and play into his creative and professional life today.
Tyler Harlow - Photography by Jacquelynn

CONTACT

EMAIL: tyler@artstateaz.org

Tyler Harlow | Programs Manager

FESTIVAL LOGISTICS & EXPERIENCES | PUBLIC ART
Tyler’s interest in art came mostly from TV, movies, music, and magazines at an early age growing up in the ’80s and ’90s. Cartoons were especially formative, sparking his interest in animation. He eventually received a BA in Experimental Film and Animation from Evergreen State University in Olympia, Washington. He focused especially on stop-motion animation, the time-consuming art form of manipulating physical objects while photographing consecutive frames, imbuing them with the illusion of life.
Before moving to Tucson, he grew up in Laramie, Wyoming, with wildlife, the outdoors, and environmental sciences as a big part of his life—thanks especially to having a librarian mom and a zoologist dad, whose research subjects included animals such as prairie dogs, marmots, black bears, polar bears, and even Komodo dragons. He spent many of his formative years living on a research station in Grand Teton National Park, where his father served as director. There, he was exposed to a wide range of people with expertise in the biological, environmental, and artistic fields.
When not spending time with his wife and cat, he enjoys making art. Having experimented with many artistic mediums, his focus is primarily on using plastic resin and found-object entrapments. An avid collector of natural ephemera—from seed pods and dead insects to bones and anything else cool and unusual—he draws from the natural world to imbue his work with unique artistry. Tyler is passionate about imagination and creativity in general and believes them to be the most quintessentially human of pursuits, ones that make life surprising and exciting to live. His position as Programs Manager for Art State Arizona keeps all of these influences relevant and allows him to interact with other people passionate about the importance of arts and culture.
Jonathan Frahm - Photography by Jacquelynn

CONTACT

EMAIL: jonathan@artstateaz.org
PHONE: 520.256.9162

Jonathan Frahm | Creative Programs Manager

LIVE MUSIC, PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITIES & UNDERCOVER ARTS
Jonathan Frahm’s creative journey began in sixth grade, when an English assignment grew into his first published book, Rocket 2032. Encouraged by his teacher, Mrs. Paxton, and his family, that early success lit a spark that would fuel a lifelong love of storytelling and the arts. Years later, after moving to Tucson in 2012, a local concert with Ronstadt Generations inspired him to champion the region’s vibrant music scene. What started as a passion for writing and music has since evolved into a multifaceted career in arts and community programming.
Today, Jonathan serves as Booking Coordinator for Art State Arizona, where he curates and coordinates live performers, artists, and exhibitors for festivals and events across the state. He also contributes as a writer for UNDERCOVER ARTS magazine, amplifying stories from Arizona’s creative community. Beyond Art State Arizona, Jonathan wears many creative hats: he serves as Board Secretary for the Tucson Kitchen Musicians Association, helping produce the annual Tucson Folk Festival; curates and hosts monthly live music showcases at Monterey Court; works in artist services at the Fox Theatre; and has collaborated with media outlets ranging from the Arizona Daily Star to PopMatters, interviewing artists as varied as Coldplay’s Chris Martin, Sarah Jarosz, Snoop Dogg, and Engelbert Humperdinck.
Storytelling remains at the heart of everything Jonathan does—whether through journalism, poetry, or his latest book project featuring, fittingly, a talking walrus. His deep affection for Tucson’s music scene is rooted in the sounds that shaped him growing up: the crooners his mom and grandparents loved, the folk songs written by his dad in Reno, and the swing of Frank Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald. Today, he continues to celebrate music in all its forms, embracing both global icons and local voices.
Originally from Fairfield, California, Jonathan grew up surrounded by family who encouraged his creativity—whether sketching comics, playing video games that sparked his imagination, or following his sister’s encouragement into his first journalism gig. He’s carried that foundation into a life built around writing, music, and community connection.
Outside of work, Jonathan co-hosts two podcasts with his longtime friend Lister—Super Cast Bros., a gaming podcast, and Anything Jonno or Lister Want to Talk About, a casual conversational series. He’s also a banjolele player, a dog dad to Xander and Zoey, and a passionate supporter of family and community. His favorite motto, borrowed and playfully rephrased from Robert Frost, is: “The only way out is through.” For Jonathan, that sense of resilience, paired with a deep love for music, storytelling, and connection, defines not only his work but his way of life.
Eliza Plumlee - Photography by Jacquelynn

CONTACT

EMAIL: eliza@artstateaz.org

Eliza Plumlee | Programs Coordinator

Eliza Plumlee has been creating art since the age of two and has built a career immersed in the creative sector. She’s worked in frame shops, photo labs, art house theaters, and as a union camera assistant on films and television, with some of her proudest work alongside director Kelly Reichardt. Today, she brings her creative energy to Art State Arizona, painting, building, and helping produce diverse community events that highlight the arts’ impact.
Raised in Prescott, Arizona, Eliza grew up with parents who nurtured her creativity—her mother an early art teacher, and her father encouraging her to dream boldly. Travel has also shaped her path, from museum visits in Russia and Europe as a teen to two years of solo exploration in South America.
Outside of work, Eliza is passionate about dance, especially salsa, and is often found on the dance floor. She shares her home with Wiley T. Cat and enjoys fermenting foods like kimchi and tepache. Inspired by oil paint above all else, she also finds joy in the people of Colombia, the creative pulse of New York, and the timeless art of Paris.
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Elsa Deniz - Photography by Jacquelynn

CONTACT

EMAIL: elsa@artstateaz.org

Elsa Deniz | Programs Coordinator

Elsa has been painting, dancing, and dreaming for as long as she can remember. Today, she brings that creative energy to her role as Programs Coordinator at Art State Arizona, where she works alongside artists and community members to spread art and connection throughout Tucson. She first joined the team during the pandemic, helping out at festivals while still working in the medical field. What started as occasional support quickly became a calling—she fell in love with the work, the people, and the community, and never looked back. Now, she’s proud to be part of a team that feels like family.
A Tucson native, Elsa’s “desert roots and cosmic dreams” fuel her creativity every day. She finds inspiration in the colors of sunset, the rhythms of local life, and the endless possibility of the night sky. Her passions spill into every corner of her life: she’s a self-proclaimed foodie with a love for Asian and Mexican cuisine, from noodle bowls and tacos to her specialty—traditional birria and quesabirria. She also delights in building miniature scenes, painting desert landscapes in tiny universes, and occasionally adding embroidered details that turn small into spectacular.
When she’s not working or creating, Elsa is happiest under a starry desert sky with new ideas swirling, or at home with her long-haired chihuahua Winston, enjoying long walks and old-school movies. Whether making miniatures, cooking for friends, or stargazing into possibility, Elsa brings a spirit of joy, imagination, and connection to everything she does.
Gabe Barreda 2

CONTACT

EMAIL: gabe@artstateaz.org

Gabe Barreda | Programs Coordinator

Gabrielangelo’s first love was movement. He began as a breakdancer, pouring himself into rhythm and motion with dreams of becoming a professional dancer. Over time, music itself called him more deeply, and he followed in his mother’s footsteps to become a musician. That path opened doors into digital art, set and costume design, and decades as a digital artist. His practice expanded into music journalism and podcasting, archiving culture and uplifting community voices. Today, his artistry comes full circle—melding movement, music, visual art, and storytelling into one evolving practice.
As Program Coordinator at Art State Arizona, Gabrielangelo is a jack-of-all-trades—moving between logistics, creative problem-solving, and community engagement. From coordinating vendors and installations to guiding visitors and supporting artists, he thrives on creating experiences that connect people to the arts. He’s especially proud of his work on major culinary and culture festivals like Savor and Devour, and the Sky Island Art Festival in Patagonia, which reminds him of art’s kinship with hospitality.
Deeply connected to Tucson’s creative community, Gabrielangelo has served as Rap Ambassador for the Tucson Hip-Hop Festival, produced The Takeover Lounge podcast for over five years, and stage-managed the Tucson Folk Festival. Across these roles, his throughline is storytelling—whether in painting, sculpture, podcasting, or community-building. His recent visual art explores sacred reclamation, blending ritual, memory, rebellion, and found materials.
His personal story is inseparable from his art. Growing up in Tucson with a childhood marked by instability, creativity became his survival instinct, while the support of community gave him resilience. Today, family is his compass—his partner Melissa, their daughter Isabella Monet, and his dog Ecco at the center of his world. A devoted plant collector, kombucha brewer, and vinyl listener, he fills his days with rituals that mirror his creative process. Inspired by visionaries like Frida Kahlo, Basquiat, Yayoi Kusama, MF DOOM, and Tucson’s own hip-hop storytellers, his practice insists on transformation and truth.
Above his studio door, Gabrielangelo keeps the reminder: “Art should comfort the disturbed and disturb the comfortable.” For him, it’s more than a mantra—it’s a map for how art can heal, challenge, and inspire.
Frank Powers - Photography by Jacquelynn

CONTACT

EMAIL: frank@artstateaz.org

Frank Powers | Media & Emcee Extraordinaire

Frank Powers—affectionately dubbed Best FRANK Forever—is Tucson’s wild-mannered cartoonist, radio maestro, and community cheerleader. A proud SVA grad with an MFA in Motion Arts, Frank whips comedy, creativity, and compassion into everything he does. He hosts Lifestyle Tucson every Sunday, reporting from the heart of our nonprofit ecosystem—and still finds time to rock the weekend on Rock 102.1. But his real magic? The Comic Bookmobile—a vintage VW Bus turned mobile art studio—where he brings cartooning to schools and libraries, teaching kids that art and self-belief go hand-in-hand.
Frank also partners with Art State Arizona to provide media and storytelling support for artists and the creative community. A passionate lover of the arts, he proudly uplifts our mission and vision with his extraordinary talents in storytelling, ensuring that the voices of Arizona’s artists are heard, celebrated, and remembered.
“Toot Toot Tucson, I love you the most.” It might just be true.

BOARD LEADERSHIP

Board leadership is essential to Art State Arizona’s mission of making the arts a vital part of everyday life across our state. Our Board of Directors helps guide a bold vision for how arts and culture drive community identity, economic growth, education, and well-being. We are committed to a leadership model rooted in diversity, equity, and inclusion, and we welcome individuals passionate about shaping Arizona’s future through the arts to consider serving on our Board.

The Southern Arizona Arts & Cultural Alliance is now Art State Arizona

Copy of Art State Arizona Transition Business Card (2)

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