JESSICA CUSICK

Jessica Cusick is president of Cusick Consulting, which specializes in civic art and community development. Ms Cusick was the founding director of the civic art and design program for the Cultural Arts Council of Houston and Harris County. While there, she conceived and oversaw the precedent setting Houston Framework planning process, which received awards from both the American Planning Association and the American Institute of Architects. Prior to being in Houston, she founded and directed the nationally acclaimed art program for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority in Los Angeles.

Ms. Cusick has a degree in art history from the Sorbonne in Paris, and a Masters from New York University. Since 1979, she has worked almost exclusively on public art and urban design projects and is frequently invited to lecture on related topics throughout the country.

Jessica Cusick is an adjunct professor at the University of Southern California, Public Art Studies program. Currently she serves as a member of the professional advisory committee for the Miami International Airport, as well as a peer professional for the General Services Administration’s Design Excellence program. From 1998 to 2000, Ms. Cusick served as chair of the steering committee that worked to develop a national service organization for public art professionals. When Americans for the Arts established the Public Art Network (PAN) in 2000, she served as the first chair of the PAN Council, through January 2002.

Ms. Cusick recently received an award from the Women’s Caucus for Art in recognition of her work in the field of public art and on behalf of women artists and artists of color.