Lonti Ebers, Founder and CEO

Lonti Ebers is a long-time art collector and supporter of contemporary art. She established Amant to create studios and exhibition spaces that would encourage artistic development and experimentation free of the financial burden and administrative confines that typically accompany art practice in New York. Lonti has served on the boards of several museums in both the US and abroad and is currently a trustee of New York’s Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) where she chairs the committee of Media and Performance. She has funded an endowment for exhibitions at the Center for Curatorial Studies at Bard College and sits on the European Committee of the Tate Gallery in London.

Nick Pilato, Executive Director

Nick Pilato‘s ethos and approach to work and life were forged in the cauldron of self-discipline, collaborative leadership, and intense curiosity. He has over seven years of operational experience in art institutions across New York, most recently as the Director of Operations at Greene Naftali Gallery. Nick holds an MFA from the Mason Gross School of the Arts.

Ruth Estévez, Director and Chief Curator

Ruth Estévez is a curator and stage designer. Her research work focuses on artistic practices that explore how the spoken and written language operates within the visual arts, contemporary culture and politics. She was the co-curator of the 34th São Paulo Biennial (2021) and from 2018 to 2020 she was senior curator-at-large at the Rose Art Museum in Waltham, and curator of the performance program at MACBA in Barcelona. She was Redcat Gallery Director in Los Angeles and Chief Curator at the Carrillo Gil Museum in Mexico City where she also founded LIGA a space for architecture and public art.

Sarah Demeuse, Head of Publications and Communications

Sarah has a background in literary and curatorial studies. Since 2010, Sarah has edited and co-edited numerous artist monographs, anthologies, and websites. She is the creator of podcast dos and co-writer of Name Takes, a podcast series with Kunstinstituut Melly. Between 2019-2020, Sarah was strategist-at-large at acclaimed design studio Wkshps. Sarah has taught at Barnard College, Columbia University, and the School of Visual Arts.

Isabella Nimmo, Associate Curator

Isabella Nimmo is an organizer of artistic projects. Prior to Amant, she was Assistant Curator of Public Programs at the Tate in London and Producer at the New Museum of Contemporary Art in New York. She holds degrees from the London School of Economics and New York University. A social historian in another life, Isabella is especially interested in works that incorporate historiographical elements and allow for new ways of understanding and experiencing the past.

Patricia Margarita Hernández, Associate Curator of Learning and Public Engagement

Patricia is a curator and researcher with a background in social work. Her work, which is often grounded in collaboration, focuses on the intersections of ecology, climate change, and feminist theory. She has held positions as assistant curator at Dia Art Foundation, New York, NY and Associate Director at A.I.R. Gallery, Brooklyn, NY, the first artist-run collective in the United States dedicated to feminist practices. Collaborative projects include Alliance of the Southern Triangle (A.S.T.), a platform for artists and architects focused on speculative urbanism and climate change.

Maggie Bamberg, Production Manager

After spending 11 years working with artists and producing large complex exhibitions through David Zwirner and then directly with Lorna Simpson, Maggie is excited about catalyzing positive change through creative programming with emerging artists at Amant. She has worked on a broad range of exhibitions all over the world and is most proud of coordinating the “Nasty Women” exhibition at the Knockdown Center, highlighting female identifying artists from all backgrounds. She also volunteers with community food security groups and enjoys gardening and hiking in her spare time. Maggie holds a BFA from Guilford College.

Hannah Marks, Executive Assistant and Special Events Coordinator

Hannah Marks is a researcher, event coordinator, and avid reader. She comes from the fast-paced auction industry, which she had been involved in since studying at Sotheby’s in 2012. She holds a BA in art history from Christie’s Education, and an MA in Art History and Art Business from the University of Glasgow in Scotland.

Anna Lyman, Siena Residency Coordinator

Anna Lyman is an arts administrator, strategist, and leadership advisor. She spent over seven years living and working in Italy, and has most recently held high-level administrative positions in U.S.-based arts and cultural institutions including the Institute of Contemporary Art/Boston and the Harvard University Graduate School of Design (GSD). Anna holds an AB in Religion and the Humanities from the University of Chicago, and an MBA in Arts Administration.

Anthony Limauro, Head of Installation

Anthony graduated from Pratt Institute in 2015 with a BFA in Sculpture and has been working in fabrication and installation in the art world since. He has experience working with a wide range of materials and artists and enjoys tending to the small details often overlooked. Outside of art he enjoys playing cards, board games, and riding his bicycles.

Melissa Inéz Rodríguez, Visitor Engagement Coordinator

As a native New Yorker, Melissa’s exposure to the culture this city has to offer from a young age has flourished into an immense love for the arts and built environment. She studied Art History at CUNY Queens College, and has worked at several art institutions, including the Godwin-Ternbach Museum and the Metropolitan Museum of Arts. In her free time, Melissa enjoys going on photo walks, visiting museums and galleries, and dining out

Eda Li, Design and Communications Coordinator

Eda is a visual communicator specializing in graphic design, content production and creative collaboration. Prior to joining Amant, she worked on a wide range of design projects and communications campaigns at Public Art Fund, Gladstone Gallery, and Art 21. With a B.F.A in Studio Art and an M.A. in nonprofit Visual Arts Administration, she is adept at delivering people-centered communications and design experiences that foster connection, and bring forth conversation.

Jaïra Placide, Curatorial Fellow

Jaïra is a PhD student in English at the CUNY Graduate Center. She is a writer, poet and sometimes visual artist.

Maya Jefferies, Educator in Residence

Maya is an artist and educator who seeks to expand upon overlooked histories and archival gaps through counter and personal narratives. She is currently a 2023 Bronx Museum of the Arts AIM fellow. She teaches art, art history, and Asian American Studies at Parsons School of Design and Hunter College. Her work has been presented in the United States and internationally. Maya has led public tours and workshops for visitors of all backgrounds at The Museum of Modern Art, Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, and The Shed, among other institutions. She earned an MFA from Hunter College and BA and BFA from the University of Washington.

Aristilde Kirby, Bookstore Associate

Aristilde is a lover of books from the Bronx, New York. She is also an artist whose work covers the bases of poetry, performance, and cultural criticism. These works have been featured in Miguel Abreu Gallery, the Haus der Kulturen der Welt, Entrance, The Poetry Project, Smack Mellon, and as a part of Texte Zur Kunst’s Velvet Voice Club at the Roter Salon, Volksbühne. She has published a book with Auric Press as well as chapbooks with Belladonna*, Black Warrior Review, & The Best American Experimental Writing 2020. They have their BFA in English from the University of West Georgia & an MFA in Writing from The Milton Avery Graduate School of the Arts, Bard College.

Joseph “Sep” Blanco, Visitor Engagement Representative

Joseph “Sep” Blanco is a native New Yorker from The Bronx. He holds a BFA from SUNY Purchase. In his free time he likes to listen to music and visit art galleries for more inspiration.

Jesús Charris, Visitor Engagement Representative

Jesús Charris is a journalist and creative specializing in contemporary art, including performance art. He continuously surveys and documents exhibitions and art events in New York City and beyond. Passionate about the diversity of creativity and cultures, he has travelled extensively. He holds a degree in social communication and journalism from Universidad del Norte in Colombia.

Gracie Jeffers, Visitor Engagement Representative

Gracie was introduced to Amant by St. Nick’s Alliance for an internship that transitioned into her current role as a Visitor Engagement Representative. She studies at The New School where she attends both Parsons School of Design and Eugene Lang Liberal Arts College in a dual degree program. At the end of the program, she will receive a BFA in Fine Arts and a BA in Psychology.

Jesse Prince, Visitor Engagement Representative

Jesse is a digital marketing assistant and a multi-disciplinary creative based in Brooklyn. He is fascinated with the visual and performing arts, fashion, and design. He also has an interest in comedy and music with a growing record collection consisting primarily of jazz, soul, and comedy albums. Jesse has a B.A. in English from Norfolk State University in Virginia and an A.A.S in Fashion Marketing from Parsons School of Design.

Amara Egenti, Visitor Engagement Representative

Amara is an aspiring comic book artist with a passion for all things creative. Her artwork visualizes the human experience, and often exudes a melancholic feeling. She touches on darker occult undertones within her drawings, music and self-expression, hoping to one day bring like-minded people together with her stories. She took classes at School of Visual Arts for Animation and Character Design. She continues to hone her eclectic mix of hobbies, managing to juggle other aspects of her daily life such as skating, pet grooming and fashion.