Lineton Gilchrist encourages his fellow artists to express themselves with soft-spoken, direct advice:
“All you need to do is get in the zone.
Be free. Don’t think about it too much.”
Lineton has taken an exciting step in his artistic career. AHRC New York City’s ArTech Collective and The Museum of Modern Art are continuing their longtime partnership through a new avenue—employment.
Since Fall 2025, Lineton has worked part-time at the world-renowned institution in midtown Manhattan. His duties include preparing the studio classrooms and art supplies for workshops, assisting the teaching artists who lead the programs, and helping visitors with wayfinding through the galleries.
“We are lucky as a museum to work with Lineton and bring his expertise to our programs,” said Theresa Rodewald, Associate Educator, Access Programs and Initiatives at MoMA.
Culmination of Collaboration
ArTech and MoMA began working together in 2020 with virtual educational workshops for artists at AHRC NYC programs. Numerous virtual and in-person partnership programs have since continued, along with several exhibitions, including the most recent one, My Heart Is on the Left.
Following these successes, Theresa and Pola-Ana Mora, ArTech Director, discussed how to further artists’ professional development and transferable skills.
“We want artists to not only have exhibition opportunities to show their work but also be involved in the creative planning processes and programming,” Theresa said.
Lineton has been creating since his high school years and has continued to flourish since joining AHRC NYC. He is well-versed in multiple mediums, such as pencil sketching, manga, graphic design, GIF animations, and flip books. His artistic experience and personable nature made him a great fit for working at MoMA.
Theresa added, “Museum work is all about making people feel welcome, creating the opportunity for people to expressing themselves and share their ideas, and Lineton brings that energy and support to the program through who he is as an artist. I know our staff and the teaching artists have really valued his collaboration.”
“MoMA Has Changed My Life”
Lineton is currently working with teaching artist Dounia Bendris on a six-week workshop for people from AHRC NYC’s Queens-based Day Services programs. On a recent visit, the artists were learning new techniques using ink well paint, black markers, and charcoal.
Dounia instructed the artists to break out of their comfort zones.
“We’re not going to think about color today. Make it about movement, mark-making and how to be loose with your tools.”
When an artist had trouble with the abstract nature of the exercise, Lineton encouraged them to close their eyes while drawing to facilitate a unique perspective that still adheres to the artist’s mental projection of their work.
Dounia said, “It’s been so fun and a pleasure to work with Lineton. It’s a weight lifted off my shoulders to help manage materials and work with people in the classes. I want people to have individualized encouragement and help—having an extra person is really helpful.”
Lineton has thoroughly enjoyed his experiences with Dounia and the museum at large. He said his goal is to one day design and teach his own workshops.
“I’ve met new people, got to know my fellow artists more, and I’ve come up with new ideas for myself,” Lineton said. “MoMA has changed my life.”
