Welcome to the Nia Network: A Program Bureau, a division of Celeste Bateman & Associates. The program bureau features visual and performing artists, historians, writers and motivational speakers of African descent who present in various venues nationally and internationally. CB&A has compiled a roster of extraordinarily talented individuals who are available to perform and present at colleges and universities, performing arts centers, schools, churches, corporations, festivals, trade shows, etc. What makes this program bureau unique is that all of the participants present topics and art forms pertaining to the African Diaspora.
Nia is the Swahili word for ‘purpose.’ Our purpose is to promulgate what is rich and positive about African, Caribbean, and African-American culture, history, heritage and art. For booking information, email us at info@celestebateman.com or call 973.705.8253.
PLEASE NOTE: We are unable to take on additional artists/speakers at this time, but please feel free to forward your information for future consideration.
Nia is the Swahili word for ‘purpose.’ Our purpose is to promulgate what is rich and positive about African, Caribbean, and African-American culture, history, heritage and art. For booking information, email us at info@celestebateman.com or call 973.705.8253.
PLEASE NOTE: We are unable to take on additional artists/speakers at this time, but please feel free to forward your information for future consideration.
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Gladys Barker Grauer
Gladys Barker Grauer has been an exhibiting visual artist since 1946. Born in Cincinnati, she studied at the Art Institute of Chicago, Loyola University and Rutgers, and came to Newark from Chicago in 1957. Her works are displayed in galleries around the country and in Senegal. In 2005, the Newark artist’s work came home to Newark’s Rutgers University campus. Grauer’s paintings, assemblages and mixed media works were shown at the Paul Robeson Art Gallery that fall, while an exhibition of her wearable art, crafts and dolls were displayed at the campus’s John Cotton Dana Library.
Grauer’s works are on permanent display in the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, the National Museum of American Art; the Noyes Museum of Art in Oceanville, NJ, The Newark Museum, the Jane Voorhees Zimmerli Art Museum at Rutgers-New Brunswick, and the Morris Museum, among others. She also has shown her work at numerous college galleries, libraries, and corporate art galleries of London, New York (MOMA), Washington, D.C. and Maryland.
After raising four children, she opened the first African American art gallery in Newark, NJ in 1971. She also taught art at the Essex County Vocational School until retiring.
At 80, Grauer remains an active artist. She now works with paint and mixed media, is a popular speaker on the arts and volunteers with community and youth organizations. She is both a guest artist and painting instructor at The Newark Museum, and is an artist-in-residence with the Arts Council of the Essex Area. Grauer also is a mentor with the City Without Walls gallery.
Ms. Grauer gives slide presentations for all ages on her unique work and workshops on various topics related to art.
Grauer’s works are on permanent display in the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, the National Museum of American Art; the Noyes Museum of Art in Oceanville, NJ, The Newark Museum, the Jane Voorhees Zimmerli Art Museum at Rutgers-New Brunswick, and the Morris Museum, among others. She also has shown her work at numerous college galleries, libraries, and corporate art galleries of London, New York (MOMA), Washington, D.C. and Maryland.
After raising four children, she opened the first African American art gallery in Newark, NJ in 1971. She also taught art at the Essex County Vocational School until retiring.
At 80, Grauer remains an active artist. She now works with paint and mixed media, is a popular speaker on the arts and volunteers with community and youth organizations. She is both a guest artist and painting instructor at The Newark Museum, and is an artist-in-residence with the Arts Council of the Essex Area. Grauer also is a mentor with the City Without Walls gallery.
Ms. Grauer gives slide presentations for all ages on her unique work and workshops on various topics related to art.