MALENE DJENABA BARNETT 

Lives & Works in Brooklyn, NY 

 

EDUCATION 

2022 MFA Ceramics, Tyler School of Art & Architecture, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 

1996 Bachelor of Fine Art (BFA), Summa Cum Laude, Textile Surface Design, Fashion Institute of Technology, New York, NY 

1994 Associate in Applied Science, AAS, Fashion Illustration, Fashion Institute of Technology, New York, NY 

RESIDENCIES 

2022 Haystack Mountain School of Craft

2021 Watershed Ceramics, Newcastle, ME 

2021 Judson Studios, Los Angeles, CA 

2021 Anderson Ranch, SnowMass Village, CO 

2019 Africa Crafts Travel, Ghana, West Africa hosted by NCECA Honorary member Winnie Owens Hart 

2018 Greenwich House Pottery, New York, NY 

2018 Sculpt Italy, Pietrasanta, Italy 

SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS 

2022 What’s Left Behind, Clay Studio Philadelphia, PA

2022 Universe Within, Mindy Solomon Gallery, Miami, FL 

2021 Baltimore Clay Works, Baltimore, MD 

2021 NCECA Multicultural Fellowship Exhibition, DAAP Galleries, Cincinnati, OH (Juried) 

2021 Small Favors, Clay Studio, Philadelphia, PA 

2021 Temple Contemporary, Philadelphia, PA 

2021 Crafted Identities, Cullis Wade Depot Art Gallery, Mississippi State, MS 

2020 Design Miami, Miami, Florida 

2020 Black Creativity -Museum of Science + Industry, Chicago, Illinois (Juried) 

2020 Ceramics Now, Jane Hartsook Gallery, New York, New York 

2020 Biennale, Clay Studio, Philadelphia, PA 

2019 Deeper Than Text, 1st Dibs, New York, NY 

2019 Beyond the Mask, Plant Seven, High Point, North Carolina 

2019 Texas Contemporary, George Brown Convention Center, Houston, Texas 

2019 Crafting A Legacy, Neuehouse, New York, New York 

2017 Handmade Week, Dongdoeman Design Plaza, Seoul, South Korea 

2013-15 Boutique Design, Jacob Javits Center, New York, New York 

2010-15 International Contemporary Furniture Fair, Jacob Javits Center, New York, New York 

2010 Architectural Digest Show, Pier 88, New York, New York 

SELECTED PROJECTS 

2019 Chatsworth, New York, New York, Wine Room 

2018 Moxy Hotel, New York, New York, All Bedrooms & Lobby custom carpets 

2017 WeWork, New York, New York, Conference room/custom carpet 

2017 NBC Telemundo, Miami, Florida Reception/custom carpet 

2017 Viacom, New York, New York Dining room/custom carpet 

2016 Avalon West, New York, New York 7th floor lounge/custom carpet 

2016 212 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York Office/custom carpet 

2015 Chatsworth, New York, New York Lobby & Model apartment/custom carpet 

2014 Saks Fifth Avenue, New York, New York Women’s collection/custom carpet 

2013 Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, Lobby/custom carpet 

2011 Albany State University, Albany, Georgia, Ballroom/custom carpet 

2011 Baystone Hotel, Mauritius, East Africa, Bedrooms/custom carpet 

AWARDS

2022 Fulbright Jamaica 

2022 CAA Honorable Mention 

2021 Zenobia Award, Watershed Ceramics 

2020 NCECA Graduate Fellowship 

2020 Future Faculty Fellowship, Temple University 

2019 Designer of the Year, Interiors+Sources Magazine 

2019 Design Changemaker-Apartment Therapy 

2019 RADD (Real Estate, Art, Design & Development)Award, Brownstoner Magazine 

2019 NCECA Multicultural Fellowship 

2017 Nominee “Best in Flooring”, New York Spaces Magazine 

2016 Best in Carpet Design, Adore Home Magazine 

SELECTED LECTURES & TALKS 

2021 Rhode Island School of Design 

2021 National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts (NCECA)- Artist Lecture “ Grounded & Free”, Cincinnati, OH 

2020 Greenwich House Pottery, Artist Lecture “Connecting with the Ancestors”, New York, New York 

2019 Art Africa Miami, Panel Discussion “Beyond Representation: Trailblazing A Creative Path”, Miami, Florida 

2019 Affordable Art Fair, Panel Discussion, “Defining Culture & Process”, New York, New York 

2019 Neuehouse, Panel Discussion, “ Crafting a Legacy”, New York, New York 

2019 New York School of Interior Design, Moderator, “More than a Pretty Space”, New York, New York 

2019 Richmond Craft + Design, Featured Speaker “Craft the Forgotten Art”, Richmond, VA 

2019 Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS), Panel Discussion, “ Women in Design”, Las Vegas, Nevada 

2019 92nd ST Y, Panel Discussion, ” Entrepreneurial Spirit of Design”, New York, New York 

2018 92nd ST Y, Panel Discussion, ”Women in Design”, New York, New York 

2018 Society of Illustrators, Moderator, “How to turn your idea into a Product”, New York, New York 

2018 International Contemporary Furniture Fair, Panel Discussion, “The Impact of the Internet on the Interior Design Profession”, New York, New York 

2017 United Nations, Panel Discussion, “Leveling the Playing Field for Women” , New York, New York 

2017 Caribbean Start Up Summit, Keynote Speaker, “ The Power of Social Media, Bridgetown, Barbados 

2017 International Interior Design Association (IIDA), Panel Discussion, “ How to shatter the Glass Ceiling in the Design Industry”, New York, NY 

2015 Texas A&M University, “Diversity & Inclusion”, New York, New York 

2012 Goldman Sachs 10K SB/Tory Burch Foundation, Panel Discussion, “Women in Business”, New York, New York 

2011 University of the West Indies, Artist Lecture, Keynote, St. Augustine, Trinidad & Tobago 

2011 Design Caribbean, Artist Lecture, “The Business of Design”, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic 

2011 Wood Tobe Coburn Fashion School, Instructor, New York, New York 

2010 TEDX Talk, “Trusting my Gut”, Stamford, Connecticut 

SELECTED ARTICLES, PUBLICATIONS & TV APPEARANCES 

2022 Hospitality Design Magazine, December

2022 Brownstoner Magazine, May

2021 House Beautiful, February 

2020 New York Times, September 

2020 Galerie Magazine 

2020 Departures Magazine, August 

2019 Interior + Resources, Cover, “Malene Barnett Stays Creative Through Art & Design”, July 

2019 Elle Decor, “ Creative Force”, April 

2019 Brownstoner Magazine, Cover story, “Malene Barnett Boosts Design”, Spring/Summer 

2019 Home Furnishing News Magazine, “Inspiring Women”, December 

2019 Interior Lives with Wendy Goodman, June 

2019 Traditional Home, “Crafting New Diversity”, August 

2019 Interior Design Magazine, “Women Shaping the Future of Design”, May 

2019 The Cut “Meet Malene Barnett and the Black Artists & Designers Guild”, March 

2019 Architectural Digest, “Malene Barnett Explores a New Medium to Inspire Creativity”, December 

2018 Ceramic Monthly “Artists in Resident” 

2018 African Voices Magazine-Cover art, Ms. P, Summer/Fall 

2018 House Beautiful, The Search for Your Forever Rug”, September 

2018 Domino Magazine “A Caribbean Cool Brownstone”. September 

2017 Brooklyn Magazine “Work From Home” August 

2016 Maco Caribbean Living, “Her Magic Carpet Ride”, Volume 18, Issue 1 

2016 Ebony Magazine “Success by Design”, August 

2014 New York Spaces Magazine, “Artist Profile”, September 

2014 Luxe Magazine, “StyleMaker”, Spring 

2013 New York Magazine “My Favorite Things”, September 

2013 Morning Joe, “Goldman Sachs 10KSB/Tory Burch Foundation”, May 

2013 MSNBC Your Business, “Women in Business”, May 

2011 House Beautiful “Rug Water”, July/August 

2011 HGTV Magazine, “The Rug designer in her living room”, May 

2010 Hospitality Design “Global Beauty”, September 

2011 Nate Berkus Show, “House Proud”, December 

2009 Interior Design Magazine, “World Traveler”, July 

SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY 

2018 Hygge & West Home-Design for Cozy Living, Aimee Lagos, Christiana Coop 

2016 In The Company of Women, Grace Bonney 

2013 Remix, Jeanine & Bryan Hays 

2010 Global Africa Project, Museum of Art & Design 

COLLABORATIONS & SPECIAL PROJECTS 

2021 Lulu & Georgia, Licensed Wallpaper, Worldwide 

2021 Samsung Frame TV Campaign 

2017 Kravet Inc, Licensed carpet collections, Worldwide 

2017 Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) Campaign for Brooklyn Community Service, Brooklyn, New York 

2017 Swell Bottle, Brooklyn Design Studio Tour, Spring Catalog, Worldwide 

2015 Surya, Licensed rug collection, Worldwide