C A T A L I N A
As a designer and artist with eight years of expertise, I possess a blend of artistic creativity and management skills that enable me to excel in overseeing projects from conception to realization. I strive to cultivate a collaborative work environment to enhance effectiveness. I am known for my keen listening skills, which aid in understanding a situation and preparing an appropriate response. My attention to detail and structured thinking allows me to anticipate problems and develop innovative solutions in the workplace. With a fashion design and art background, I bring my perspective and a passion for creative thinking to my work.
P a s t r a n a A c o s t a
EDUCATION
2020-2023
School of the Museum of Fine Arts at Tufts University
Boston, MA
Master of Fine Arts, May 2023.
Post-Baccalaureate in Studio Art, May 2021.
2018
Harvard University
Cambridge, MA
Certificate in Negotiation Skills: Strategies for Increased Effectiveness.
2011-2015
Universidad Colegiatura Colombiana
Medellín, Colombia
Bachelor of Arts in Fashion Design.
Certificate in leadership, 2014.
Experience
2022-2024
Boston, MA; New York, NY
LEAD PROJECT DESIGNER AND STUDIO MANAGER
Artist: Karmimadeebora McMillan
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Designed and produced a visually captivating handbag collection imbued with the artist's distinctive color palettes and patterns, utilizing their artworks as textile materials.
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Adapted artist's studio to make it suitable for the handbag design and production; including planning, buying and installing equipment.
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Exercised meticulous oversight in the procurement and efficient management of all essential supplies and inventory integral to the seamless production of the handbag collection.
2023 -2024
New York, NY
STUDIO ASSISTANT
Artist: Martha Edelheit
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Proficiently assist in the development and maintenance of artist's website, ensuring it reflects their brand and vision.
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Collaborate closely with the artist to understand their artistic direction and translate it into website design elements.
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Execute updates and modifications to the website content and layout, ensuring a seamless user experience.
2023-2024
Summer 2022
New York, NY
STUDIO ASSISTANT
Artist: Jessie Henson
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Collaborated closely with the artist in the realization of artworks showcased at the prestigious Art Basel Miami 2022, employing the artist's unique embroidery technique to achieve exceptional outcomes.
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Exerted meticulous efforts in organizing and elevating the studio space, ensuring an optimized creative environment conducive to artistic exploration and productivity.
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Provided comprehensive instruction and guidance to the artist in the principles of weaving, fostering a collaborative partnership that resulted in the joint creation of captivating weaving artworks.
Summer 2022
New York, NY
STUDIO ASSISTANT
Artist: Whitney Nye
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Launch and authored - Implemented a comprehensive archival system encompassing mailing lists, artwork inventory, photographs, contacts, and the artist's personal information, optimizing accessibility and organization of vital data.
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Assisted in the creation of art pieces by sewing together intricate patterns conceived by the artist, contributing to the creation of exceptional art pieces.
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Played a collaborative role in the effective execution of grant applications, open calls, and residency programs, skillfully editing photos and meticulously organizing pertinent information to ensure compelling and persuasive submissions.
2016-2019
Medellín, Colombia
WOMENSWEAR HEAD DESIGNER AND RESEARCHER
Grupo Uribe Multi-brand textile company, third-most successful retail clothing company in Colombia.
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Led a project to teach women confidence in expressing themselves through clothing.
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Conducted comprehensive market research and analysis of fashion trends, culminating in the development of concepts and meticulous outlining of current and future apparel collections.
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Designed and produced thoughtfully curated apparel collections, drawing inspiration from global fashion trends, with the ultimate goal of empowering women through purposeful design.
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Assumed a leadership role in overseeing a company-wide endeavor to minimize paper consumption by implementing and leveraging digital solutions.
2015-2016
Medellín, Colombia
FASHION DESIGN RESEARCH ANALYST
Grupo Éxito Leading retail company in Colombia.
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Created and conceptualized fashion concepts for a diverse range of brands under Éxito portfolio, encompassing sportswear, swimwear, casual wear, children's clothing, and jeanswear.
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Conducted thorough analysis of fashion and consumer trends to formulate comprehensive guidelines that informed the development of future collections, ensuring alignment with emerging market demands.
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Provided training and mentorship to retail store assistants, equipping them with essential knowledge in textile and fashion industry fundamentals, such as color theory and various silhouettes, enabling them to offer enhanced customer service and informed fashion recommendations.
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Supported in conceptualizing one of the first Colombian magazines focusing on self-love and self-expression through fashion.
2014-2015
Medellín, Colombia
WOMENSWEAR DESIGNER ANALYST
Didetexco Grupo Éxito’s textile business, 9th largest textile exporter in Colombia.
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Developed clothing collections for foreign clients, most notably France.
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Assisted women's wear head designers in the creation of collections by streamlining and optimizing administrative tasks related to full package supplier coordination.
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Improved purchase and inventory management of various supplies.
Awards
2023
Boston, MA
2022
Boston, MA
SPRING 2023 DANA POND AWARD
SPRING 2022 SMFA DEAN'S RESEARCH AWARD
Exhibitions
2023
Boston, MA
Been Here Before, thesis exhibition at Tufts Art Galleries. BOSTON, MA
End of the Year Show, exhibition at Tufts Art Galleries.
@Lesley Pop-up Show, exhibition at Lesley University Art Galleries.
Retorno a la Matriz, exhibition at Tufts Art Galleries.
2022
Boston, MA
Hot Babes Inside, juried exhibition at Tufts Art Galleries. BOSTON, MA
Exploring Latinidad, Juried exhibition at Latinx Center at Tufts University.
Transcending Boundaries Symposium, juried exhibition at Tufts Women's Center.
Visions and Revisions, gallery and satellite exhibition at Nearby Gallery.
2021
Boston, MA
Softs Bodies, exhibition at Tufts Art Galleries. BOSTON, MA
Tufts Women's Center Gender and Culture symposium, virtual exhibition at Tufts Art Galleries.
2020
Boston, MA
Post-Baccalaureate Group Exhibition, exhibition at Tufts Art Galleries.
SPANISH: Native.
ENGLISH: Professional fluency.
ITALIAN: Professional fluency.
Languages
MICROSOFT: Excel, Word, Power Point.
ADOBE: Procreate, Illustrator.
GOOGLE DRIVE
ICLOUD AND APPLE SOFTWARE
Knowledge
COURSES: SEWING. PATTERN DESIGN. EMBROIDERY AND WEAVING. DIGITAL DRAWING. FIGURATIVE AND ABSTRACT PAINTING. DRAWING. ART HISTORY. FEMINIST PHILOSOPHY. METALWORK.