Our Staff & Board

Jen Olson

Executive Director

As the head of our organization's outreach, engagement, programming, and operational management, Jen is responsible for leading PlatteForum. All while delivering our mission, vision, and values, in collaboration with the staff and Board of Directors.

she/her — jolson@platteforum.org

A Little Bit of Background:
Jen has been in arts education for nearly 25 years, in both K-12 and nonprofit settings. She spent the early part of her career in museum education, then worked for Pasadena Unified School District in California, overseeing an equitable expansion of arts programming district-wide. Most recently, she was Executive Director of Think 360 Arts for Learning, growing the organization through partnerships and resource development. In regards to education, she has a BS in Community Education from Boston University, and an MA in Arts Education from California State University, Northridge.

Favorite Mediums:
Collage! She loves to thrift old books and fabrics.

Two Truths and a Lie:

She was once a professional clown
Currently has 10 pets
Has eaten frog legs

Ilan Gutin

Curator & Engagement Director

Plays a vital role in overseeing our curation of artists, programming, marketing, and event planning, collaborating with Resident Artists and staff to guarantee seamless exhibitions of our artists' creations.

he/him — igutin@platteforum.org

A Little Bit of Background:
Ilan is an artist, educator, and curator. His goals are to promote and support artists, raise awareness about the arts, and help build creative communities. He loves to bring people together, provide resources, and share information that creatives and others are eager to learn and explore. Before moving to Denver in 2020, Ilan received an MFA in Printmedia from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC), co-founded a gallery in Chicago for emerging artists, taught in the Fiber and Material Studies Department at SAIC, and worked as an International Admissions Counselor. He is an interdisciplinary artist, and extensive world traveler, and has used his experiences abroad to help shape his studio practice. Formalism, the ephemerality of light, place, and the wonder of looking are recurring themes in his work.

Favorite Mediums:
Screen Printing, Fiber Arts

Two Truths and a Lie:

Is deathly afraid of bananas.
Irons his clothes every morning.
Can speak 3 languages.

Alejandra Calvo

Program Director

Works with ArtLab, her main focus and goal is to create and foster a safe and creative learning environment for youth where they feel seen, connected and develop a sense of belonging. In collaboration with artists and others, she dedicates her time and energy into bringing more resources, access and experiences to ArtLab interns. She's the person to contact if you're interested in collaborating with PlatteForum's ArtLab internship program.

Bilingual in Spanish
she/her — acalvo@platteforum.org

A Little Bit of Background:
Alejandra began working with youth early in her career during a year long service with AmeriCorps. Upon completion, she returned to school to become a math and SpEd teacher and taught in various Title 1 schools across the Denver Metro Area. Her love for the arts took her back to school to study Fine Arts - this is how she stumbled upon PlatteForum, a place where her passions intersected: art, community and education.

Favorite Mediums:
A little bit of everything! Painting, sound and photography are her main mediums, but her curiosity expands her practice into diving into other materials.

Two Truths and a Lie:

Is fully deaf from her right ear
Has written the first five chapters of a book
Fully converted a van to adventure across the US, but instead went back to school

Kendall Kultgen

Grants Manager

Works to leverage resources and manage grants for PlatteForum's impactful programs.

she/they — kkultgen@platteforum.org

A Little Bit of Background:
Kendall has a decade of non-profit experience, beginning her career while a student at Colorado College, then working for Concrete Couch under the mentorship of Steve Wood, before landing in Denver. She has organized, volunteered, and facilitated with a handful of organizations working in the realms of art, environment, housing justice, and at countless schools - teaching arts education programming to all ages.

Kendall started at PlatteForum in 2019 as the ArtLab Facilitator, then the Creative Programming Manager, up until August 2023. Now, they have the privilege of leveraging critical resources to support our programs.

Favorite Mediums:
Ceramic mosaic, DIY sculptures, collage

Two Truths and a Lie:

Helped make a giant mosaic tile pumpkin
Played Division 1 college soccer for 6 months
Has a world class art studio

Jade Peterson

Administrative Coordinator

Plays a pivotal role in ensuring a seamless flow of operations by handling administrative tasks. Assisting the Executive Director, they also collaborate on specific tasks with other key staff members

she/they — jpeterson@platteforum.org

A Little Bit of Background:
Jade is a queer, disabled artist who prefers to view the world behind a lens. She has had work featured at The Kennedy Center, ItalianVogue, and Google. She believes that a photograph can preserve a moment by creating a bridge between fantasy and reality.

Favorite Medium:
Photography

Two Truths and a Lie:

They are right-handed.
Has had work honored at the Kennedy Center.
They are left-handed

Lizeth Hernandez

ArtLab Facilitator

Works in partnership with the Creative Programming Manager and community partners to successfully implement PlatteForum’s award winning youth program, ArtLab.

Bilingual in Spanish
she/her — lhernandez@platteforum.org

A Little Bit of Background:
Lizeth Hernandez graduated from Community College of Denver in 2018 with an associate of Studio Art. She continued her education at the Metropolitan State University of Denver and in 2021, receiving her Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Photography and Jewelry Making + Metalsmithing. Over the years, Hernandez has created various artworks that focus on her personal experiences with culture, physical health, and feminism. Through her art, she aims to educate and inform people from all backgrounds, encouraging open dialogue and conversation: “Art is such a powerful medium for expression and I am grateful for the platform to share my voice and perspectives with the world.”

Favorite Mediums:
Textiles and metals

Two Truths and a Lie:

She qualified for swimming at the Olympics but had to pull out due to an injury
As a child, I took a nap underneath a circular clothing rack at Walmart and my mom thought I got kidnapped which ended in a lockdown
I've had spinal reconstruction surgery

Zaida Sever

Studio Assistant

Assists in the progress production of Resident Artists' and overall development of exhibitions; frequently aids staff in community engagement, additional projects, social media, and management of PlatteForum’s Annex Gallery space.

she/her — zsever@platteforum.org

A Little Bit of Background:
A graduate from PlatteForum’s ArtLab Internship Program herself, Zaida Sever has established her presence in Denver’s art scene as early as high school. Since completing her Associates in Applied Sciences in August of 2022, she’s stepped away from the college environment; is fully invested in pursuing a freelance career and alternative educational programs, among them the MCA’s Creator’s Studio Internship, Generation Teach, and now the Youth Roots GIV Fellowship. Sever’s first solo exhibition was in October 2022; she’s eager to expand her body of work, build within the creative community, and seeks to curate and collaborate on multiple projects in the upcoming years.

Favorite Mediums:
Zaida chiefly works in illustration, combining impressionist and comic book elements via digital, traditional, and public art mediums.

Two Truths and a Lie:

She is the oldest of three kids
Was born in South Dakota
Has fallen into a water well

David Grajeda Gonzalez

Marketing & Design Assistant

Social media engagement, creating our graphic designs, and furthering our accessibility with Spanish translations, all while aiding Resident Artists' exhibitions.

Bilingual in Spanish
he/him — davidg@platteforum.org

A Little Bit of Background:
Embarking on his artistic journey through PlatteForum as an ArtLab intern in 2020, David has strived to pursue avenues of creative expression ever since. He participated locally in the arts through additional internships, showcases, and displays while also serving on our Board of Directors as a Youth Voice. Meanwhile, David created two murals at DSST: CVHS before graduating in 2023. Now, David attends the University of Denver. His mission is to delve into the art world and harness his potential for artistic expression as he establishes his art practice.

Favorite Mediums:
David adores all mediums including fiber arts, animation, digital art, and traditional ones such as graphite pencils and acrylic paints.

Two Truths and a Lie:

He once owned 10 hamsters
Aspires to be a comedian
Has an absurdly long music playlist

Axel Leonhardt

Art Handler & Resident Goofball

Assists PlatteForum with installs, exhibition openings, and any odd jobs around the office, including making their coworkers smile.

they/them — aleonhardt@platteforum.org

A Little Bit of Background:
Axel has been with PlatteForum since their time as an ArtLab intern. After graduating the program, they served as the Administrative Assistant, mostly working under the Executive Director. They have recently transitioned into the Art Handler role and when they're not at PlatteForum, you can find them painting houses around Denver.

Favorite Mediums:
Paint! All kinds!

Two Truths and a Lie: