our mission
BADG empowers makers of African descent to create immersive spaces that center our culture and community and, through the principle of Ujima, collectively work together to share knowledge, support, and resources.
Cultivating leaders in creative industries is how we thrive today and in our shared futures. As a mission-driven organization, we live by our values, creating opportunities to thrive and reaching out to industry allies to support the great work of visionary Black artists and designers
Our Founder
Malene Barnett is an award-winning multidisciplinary artist, textile designer, and activist who founded the Black Artists + Designers Guild (BADG) in 2018 to create a platform for Black artists and designers to connect, collaborate, and thrive.
Drawing on her African Caribbean heritage, her work explores cultural identity through ceramics, textiles, and mixed media, often using mark-making and traditional techniques to bridge past and present.
Based in Brooklyn, Malene is recognized as an authority on art in the African diaspora and is committed to advocating for greater visibility and inclusion for Black creatives. Her art has been exhibited nationally and featured in publications such as The New York Times, Architectural Digest, and Elle Decor.
A Fulbright recipient and sought-after speaker, Malene released her first book, “Crafted Kinship: Inside the Creative Practice of Contemporary Black Caribbean Makers,” in 2024, spotlighting over 60 Caribbean artists. Whether through her creative practice or her work with BADG, Malene continually champions the power of art as a tool for cultural connection and social change.