Our Team

Adam D. Cohen, Co-Founder

Adam is a Raleigh, N.C.-based visual artist whose life and career has centered around the unifying power of creativity.  He worked in advertising for over 30 years as an agency owner, creative director, writer, illustrator, and commercial director. Other creative ventures included syndication of a daily comic strip, development of an animated TV pilot for Cartoon Network, and work as a standup comedian. The common thread uniting all this work – and ArtGivers – is a devotion to using creativity to help people make deeper emotional connections with others and themselves.

(Note - Adam doesn’t receive payment for art he contributes to ArtGivers.)

Cooper Heins, Co-Founder

Cooper is a marine biologist and museum educator who is passionate about the intersection of science and art, and making both fields accessible to the broadest audience possible. In fact, it became obvious to her decades ago – particularly when studying plankton, one of her areas of expertise – that nature IS art. At the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, she creates and delivers educational programs for visitors of all ages and backgrounds. She is dedicated to the belief that human interaction is the key to tearing down the walls that have prevented people from participating more meaningfully in both science and art.

Board of Directors

  • Pam Blondin

    Pam opened the gift shop DECO Raleigh after almost 30 years as a non-profit executive. She is an active member of the Raleigh community, serving on several nonprofit boards and advisory groups. An advocate for public art in Raleigh, Pam sponsored Raleigh’s first parklet and first sidewalk mural, and Deco has funded several murals and art installations. DECO works with more than 100 independent artisans and makers.

  • Asia Fowler

    Asia is the owner of the accounting firm Gina Scott & Associates, and has spent her career using her expertise in operations and finance to advocate for small business owners, nonprofit organizations, and the federal government. Her experience leading various nonprofit organizations has focused on administrative and programmatic management. She has a strong background in business operations, human resources, budgeting, financial management and project monitoring.

  • Jalen Jackson

    Jalen is a visual artist whose paintings explore African American culture, collective memory, and experiences. His work features cultural references aimed at motivating those who face adversity. Born in Durham, NC, Jalen received his BFA in Visual Arts from NC A&T State University in 2021. He is currently the HBCU Artist in Residence at Artspace in downtown Raleigh, and has exhibited at 311 Gallery, Anchorlight Studios, and Artspace.

  • Carly Jones

    Carly is the CEO of Artspace in Raleigh, NC and an accomplished performing artist. She has extensive experience working with a wide range of nonprofit organizations across the Triangle, with particular expertise in grant work, arts funding, community programming, and nonprofit development. She has spearheaded work surrounding ways to make arts programming, arts resources, and arts funding more equitable, inclusive, and accessible for all communities and artists throughout the state of North Carolina.

  • Peter Marin

    Peter Marin has been painting for 30 years, and exhibits both nationally and internationally. His work is part of many public and private collections and foundations. He has taught art for 23 years to undergraduates, graduates, active adults, and teens. As a teaching artist, Marin works with the North Carolina Museum of Art, Wake Tech Community College, Living Arts College, Pullen Arts Center, Sertoma Arts Center, Cary Arts Center, Cary Academy, Diamante Cultural Arts Center, Artspace and Arts Together. He was born and raised in Mexico City and his studio is at Artspace in Raleigh.

  • Merrill Mason

    Merrill is an attorney at Smith Anderson in Raleigh, NC, with decades of experience representing entrepreneurial and emerging enterprises. Prior to joining Smith Anderson, Merrill co-founded Triangle-based Hutchison + Mason in 1996, where his leadership helped the firm grow to 20 lawyers specializing in meeting the general corporate needs of technology and life sciences companies. Passionate about working with developing entrepreneurs and law students, Merrill has taught as an adjunct instructor at the University of North Carolina’s Kenan-Flagler Business School and the University of North Carolina School of Law.