Our Board
Makgati Molebatsi is the founder and director of Mak’Dct Art Advisory & Agency, which provides guidance to private collectors, corporates, and early career artists in navigating the contemporary art world. In 2019, she was part of the team which cofounded Latitudes Art Fair in Johannesburg. She has served on the board of The Bag Factory Artists’ Studios, and the selection committee for the David Koloane Award and the Cassirer/Welz Award. Makgati currently sits on the board of Business and Arts South Africa (BASA) and has participated in their mentorship programme to the Ithuba Art Fund, a CSI initiative for emerging artists by the Citiq Group. She juried the artists’ selection for Emergence: Contemporary Artists to Watch at Galerie Myrtis in Baltimore, Maryland in the US and formed part of the selection committees for The Turbine Art Fair (2017-2019), the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture for the acquisition of artworks for the National Art Bank and the Sasol New Signatures Awards (2019).
Niya Bascom is a photographer, interior designer and partner in Ishka Designs. He entered the design space having worked for many years in set design within the film industry. In addition, he has a depth of experience as a photographer. Over the last fifteen years he has focused his lens on celebrities, still life/commercial products as well as interiors, the latter honing his eye for design thereby cementing his keen sense for style. . Born in England to Jamaican and Guyanese parents, and raised in Brooklyn, New York, Niya not only brings an interesting worldly style to Ishka Designs but promotes efficiency and clean, modern aesthetics.
As a photographer, his work has been featured in galleries, embassies and museums including Danny Simmons’ Rush Arts gallery and the Polish embassy for Swarovski crystal. His work has also been featured in several publications, most recently Elle Decor. He studied photography and film at Hunter College in New York.
Alicia Felder is an arts leader and cultural producer committed to education and fostering communities of care. She currently serves as Vice Chair of the STILL Artist Residency in Johannesburg, South Africa, an arts organization supporting and advancing the careers of primary caregivers returning to their art practice, LGBTQIA artists, and artists from the SADC region. Felder’s arts leadership background includes 14 years as Managing Director of Kid’s Opera Art Posse, an initiative introducing children and teens to fine art and opera in partnership with museums and the Metropolitan Opera House in New York City; as well as 11 years as Brand and Talent Manager to an award-winning SAG-AFTRA film and television actress, overseeing contract negotiations and developing career strategy with top entertainment industry professionals.
Prior to her career in arts management, Felder held leadership positions at luxury brands such as Donna Karan New York, Swatch Group, Christofle, and Bloomingdale’s, managing multi-million-dollar accounts and driving strategic growth. As Account Manager at Donna Karan New York, Felder successfully managed nine million dollars in retail accounts and drove business expansion through sales analyses, data evaluation, sales associate training, and in-store execution. As Regional Sales Manager for Calvin Klein Watches at Swatch Group, she directed business expansion for the United States’ East Coast region for independent retailers and national accounts. Felder also spearheaded the Corporate Sales and Business Development division for French luxury tableware brand, Christofle, during which she exceeded sales targets by 500%, owing to her marketing and merchandising skills, as well as aptitude for cultivating client and stakeholder relationships, the latter of which endures in her current work across public, nonprofit, and arts & culture sectors.
Felder studied History, Political Science, and Anthropology, and holds a degree in International Relations from Tufts University.
Tiffanye Threadcraft assists equity sponsors, other borrowers and lenders in a range of corporate finance transactions, including working capital facilities, debt restructurings, acquisition financings and cross-border financings.
Tiffanye also advises ad hoc lender groups, alternative capital sources, hedge funds and other financial investors in connection with distressed investments.
Tiffanye has experience in private equity fund formation as well as in advising public companies regarding compliance with U.S. securities laws and exchange listing requirements.
Tiffanye is active in the firm’s pro bono practice, representing creative non-profits and other clients in a range of corporate transactions. She externed with a local legal services organization prior to her time at Akin and provided comprehensive legal counsel to community based organizations and members of the impact finance and investment industry. She maintains connections to the community of impact finance and investment professionals and organizations as the industry evolves.