VPAM Foundation

The Vincent Price Art Museum Foundation (VPAMF) was established in 1989 as a 509(a)(3) nonprofit to advance and sustain the work of VPAM. As the museum’s fundraising and advocacy partner, the Foundation plays a vital role in supporting VPAM’s exhibitions, educational and community engagement initiatives, and facilitating new acquisitions to expand the museum’s collection. 

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

George Yin
Chair
Length of Service: 2015 –

George is an attorney with Kaufman Legal Group, where he advises candidates, elected officials, nonprofits, and public agencies on compliance with local, state, and federal laws. With over a decade of experience in municipal, education, and administrative law, he is a trusted legal advisor across sectors. He has served on the boards of the Chinese Historical Society of Southern California, OCA–Greater LA, the Asian Professional Exchange, and the Pacific Asia Museum Chinese Arts Council. George holds degrees from UCLA, the London School of Economics, and Cornell University. He is committed to building bridges between communities through civic and cultural leadership.

Cynthia Fuentes
Vice-Chair
Length of Service: 2023 –

Cynthia is Vice President of Community and Government Engagement at the Los Angeles Philharmonic, where she oversees civic partnerships, policy priorities, and cross-sector collaborations that strengthen equity, access, and cultural vitality across Walt Disney Concert Hall, the Hollywood Bowl, The Ford, and the Beckman YOLA Center. From 2020 to 2025, she served as Director of The Ford, centering Los Angeles–based artists and launching FordLab, an incubator for local producers. A South Los Angeles native, Cynthia began her career with the LA Phil in 2010, holding leadership roles in Marketing and co-founding its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Council. She has also served on the Los Angeles County Cultural Equity and Inclusion Initiative Advisory Committee.

Adrian Rivas
Secretary
Length of Service: 2023 –

Adrian is a Los Angeles–based arts services professional with more than 25 years of experience as a business owner, gallery director, independent curator, and patron supporting artists and cultural projects. He co-founded g727, a downtown LA art space known for exhibitions that brought artists, urban planners, and policymakers into dialogue about contemporary art and urbanism. His curatorial projects include shows in Los Angeles and Bogotá that elevated the voices of emerging and established artists. Born in Boyle Heights and raised in Montebello, Adrian is deeply rooted in the local arts community and committed to fostering creative expression across the region.

Tony Hernandez
Treasurer
Length of Service: 2017 –

Tony is Vice Senior Relationship Manager at Bank of Montreal (BMO), specializing in commercial lending and financial services for business clients. A graduate of Loyola Marymount University, Tony has built a successful banking career spanning more than four decades. He has also been active in advocacy groups including the Hispanic Youth Task Force and Hispanic Leaders Group, and in 2007 received a national award for Access to Capital in Washington, D.C. A strong advocate for economic opportunity, Tony values giving back to the community through mentorship and board service.

Alex Anderson
Member
Length of Service: 2025 –

Alex is a Los Angeles-based artist whose ceramic practice explores identity, beauty, and power through a distinctive blend of figuration, ornamentation, and cultural symbolism. He received his BA in Studio Art and Chinese from Swarthmore College and his MFA in Ceramics from UCLA. Anderson also studied at the Jingdezhen Ceramic Institute in China and was awarded a Fulbright Grant to pursue further research in ceramic art at the China Academy of Art in Hangzhou. His work has been widely exhibited in the U.S. and internationally, with recent exhibitions at Jeffrey Deitch Gallery, Venus Over Manhattan, The Hole, OCMA, the Museum of Arts and Design, among others. His work has been reviewed in Artforum, Artsy, Cultured, CARLA, and the Los Angeles Times. Anderson brings to VPAM a dynamic perspective shaped by his global experiences and deep commitment to expanding the expressive potential of ceramic art.

York Chang
Member
Length of Service: 2025 –

York is a Los Angeles–based interdisciplinary artist whose work spans installation, performance, painting, and video. His practice explores how memory, language, images, and belief shape our understanding of truth and reality, often incorporating archival and forensic materials to create poetic frameworks that challenge new forms of propaganda. Trained as both an artist and a lawyer, Chang brings a dual perspective that bridges creative and civic life. He served on the City of Los Angeles Cultural Affairs Commission from 2005–2013 (President, 2009–2013), leading new urban design guidelines and artist-centered commission processes for public art. His work is held in the collections of LACMA and the Santa Barbara Museum of Art, and his honors include the 2020 VPAM Thomas Silliman Award, a 2022 COLA Fellowship, and a 2025 Guggenheim Fellowship.


Paula Ely
Member
Length of Service: 2025 –

Paula is president of Kazmark Ely Group, a boutique television syndication firm that develops strategic partnerships across linear, cable, streaming, and audio platforms. She also contributes to cultural life through board service with Art Muse Academy, the Getty Museum Photographs Council, and the National Gallery of Art’s Photography Initiative. Paula has served as Board Chair for both the Photographic Arts Council Los Angeles and Cornerstone Theater Company. With her partner, she has collected fine-art photography for more than 20 years, focusing on Latin American and Latinx artists. Originally from the Midwest, Paula is an avid reader and a piano student, keeping creativity close to her everyday life.

Cristina Frias
Member
Length of Service: 2025 –

Cristina Frías is an award-winning artivista recently recognized as a Latina of Influence by Hispanic Lifestyle. She is the first Latina tenure-track faculty member in the Theater Arts Department at East Los Angeles College, where she teaches Acting for Stage and Screen. Her proudest achievement has been writing a GE-approved Chicano Theater course now offered online and in person. Cristina’s artistic mission is to produce culturally meaningful theater productions and campus events that bring students together with prominent artists and activists, including Luis Alfaro, Cherríe Moraga, Luis Valdez, and Dolores Huerta. As a professional actor, she has performed on stages and screens worldwide, appearing in productions on Netflix, CBS, HBO, Amazon, and Audible. She holds an MFA from CalArts, a BA from UC Berkeley, and is a proud member of SAG-AFTRA and AEA.

Mariel D. González
Member
Length of Service: 2025 –

Mariel serves as Director of Partnership Marketing at the Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC), where she leads collaborations with major sports teams and brands to create high-impact partnerships. Her work centers on building authentic connections between organizations and the diverse communities of Los Angeles. She previously managed creative services and sports partnerships at Univision Communications Inc., bringing major sponsorships to life across the region. Bilingual in Spanish and English, Mariel brings cultural fluency and a passion for equity to her role. She is a dedicated mentor and advocate for women in leadership, and she finds inspiration in using sports and culture as pathways to community empowerment.

Dan Guerrero
Member
Length of Service: 2013 –

Dan is an award-winning producer and director whose work spans television, live performance, and cultural programming at institutions including the LA Opera and the Kennedy Center. He lends his experience as a cultural leader and activist to VPAM. Dan’s acclaimed solo show ¡Gaytino! Made in America was adapted into a full-length film in 2019, and his speaking program Activism & the Arts has reached audiences nationwide. A lifelong advocate for Latinx and LGBTQ communities, he has also served as UC Regents Lecturer in both Chicana/o Studies and LGBTQ Studies at UCLA. Dan sees art as inseparable from activism and community storytelling.

Barbara Hensleigh
Member
Length of Service: 2005 –

Barbara has been a Vincent Price Art Museum Foundation board member since 2005, supporting acquisitions and the Museum Studies Internship Program through sustained philanthropy. She enjoyed a distinguished legal career as a litigator specializing in healthcare law, including antitrust and hospital privileging disputes. She has collected art for over three decades, building a collection that reflects curiosity and commitment to the arts. Outside of her board work, Barbara is an avid backpacker and dedicated volunteer, passionate about advancing justice, equity, and sustainability in her community.

Miguel Angel Luna
Member
Length of Service: 2020–

Miguel is the founder of Urban Semillas and a Principal at DakeLuna Consultants, where he builds partnerships between community organizations, elected officials, environmental groups, and government agencies. He brings extensive experience in shaping equitable urban policy and expanding access to environmental resources. Featured by High Country News for his work creating water-quality jobs for youth, Miguel has long advanced opportunities for underserved communities. Originally from Colombia, he has lived in Los Angeles for 25 years and has commuted by bike and public transportation since 2005. His daily life reflects his deep commitment to sustainability, equity, and grassroots leadership.



Carmen Rodriguez
Member
Length of Service: 2025 –

Carmen is Vice President and Bank Manager at BMO in Downtown Los Angeles, where she provides financial guidance and strategic planning to support small businesses and entrepreneurs. Known for her hands-on approach, she is a trusted advisor in both the local economy and civic life. She has served on the boards of Park101 and The Jeffrey Foundation, co-founded the Partners of Weingart Center Association, and volunteers with organizations including Union Rescue Mission and the Downtown Women’s Center. Carmen is also a member of Rotary Club LA5 and the LA Athletic Club. Affectionately called the “Ambassador of Downtown LA,” she helped launch the original Downtown LA Art Walk.



Panney Wei
Member
Length of Service: 2023–

Panney is Chief Empowerment Officer of See the Way Consulting, where she works as a motivational speaker, clinical hypnotherapist, and empowerment coach helping individuals, especially women, overcome obstacles and realize their potential. She is also an award-winning activist serving on multiple boards and advisory councils at the intersection of arts, entertainment, and politics. Her career honors include recognition as one of ASCEND’s Top 40 Global Emerging Leaders, an Outstanding Asian American in Business by the Asian American Business Development Center, and a Top 100 Taiwanese American by Taiwanese.org. Panney is also a writer and proud mother, dedicated to raising the next generation of community leaders.





BOARD Emeritus

Chelo Montoya
Member Emeritus
Length of Service: 2015 –2023

Chelo Montoya is a creative leader with nearly 20 years of experience in the arts, specializing in community engagement and public programming. She joins the LA Phil as Director of The Ford, following her role as Assistant Vice President of Public Programs at LACMA. She was previously Director of Education and Public Programs at the California African American Museum, and the founding administrator of the MFA in Public Practice at Otis College of Art and Design. A former Chair of the California Arts Council and emeritus board member of the Vincent Price Art Museum, Chelo remains deeply engaged in civic, cultural, and climate work across Los Angeles.

Cover Photo credit: Monica Orozco.