Alumni Spotlight: Reshavan Naicker

Alongside my own artistic practice, I serve as the Studio Manager for the contemporary photographer Ayana V. Jackson, who works between New York and Johannesburg, and as the Associate Director of Programs at STILL Artist Residency in Johannesburg.

At the moment, I am working on several exciting projects. I am developing a new photographic series, two works from which will be exhibited during Art Basel. At STILL Artist Residency, I am coordinating the collaborative booth between STILL and the TILGA Foundation for the 2026 edition of FNB Art Joburg. This will be STILL's third consecutive year participating in the fair, and each year, we introduce a performance or interactive element that creates a moment of genuine visitor engagement within the inherently commercial environment of the art fair model. We are also beginning work on STILL's five-year celebratory exhibition, scheduled for February 2027, which will be another major institutional milestone.

 How does your current job relate to your Bennington education? 

More than anything else, my Bennington education taught me how to adapt. Across my different roles, I have found that the ability to respond creatively to new problems is often more valuable than having a fixed set of technical skills.

One of the greatest strengths of the Bennington model is that it encourages students to pivot when necessary: to redefine their goals, rethink their methods, and build new pathways when circumstances change. That flexibility has been invaluable in the arts, where careers are rarely linear and job responsibilities are often amorphous.

This is true in my administrative roles, but perhaps even more so within my own artistic practice. Here, I must simultaneously be the project manager, logistics coordinator, and much more. Bennington prepared me not simply for a particular profession, but for the ability to continually define my own.

How did your Field Work Term experiences connect to or inspire your current career path? 

I approached my four Field Work Terms as separate-but-interconnected opportunities to better understand the notoriously opaque art world. Rather than repeating similar experiences, I intentionally sought placements across different types of institutions: an artist's studio, a small gallery, a major museum, and an artist foundation.

Experiencing these distinct environments gave me a broad perspective on how the art ecosystem functions and allowed me to make more informed decisions about where I wanted to position myself within it. It taught me what kinds of workplaces and values resonate with me and, perhaps more importantly, what does not.

With that range of experience, I realised that I wanted to work as close as possible to the production of art. I enjoy bringing ideas to fruition and supporting artists in realising ambitious projects. My current positions feel like a natural continuation of the intentions behind my Field Work Terms, combining practical work with a sustained engagement in the creative process.

Some of my proudest professional achievements have come through collaborative projects that bring artists and audiences together. I assisted curated EXUVIAE, a solo presentation by Emmanuel Koto for STILL Artist Residency's 2025 Benefit Dinner, and helped produce STILL Matters: On Memory and Place, a series of artist conversations exploring the geographies of identity, displacement, and gentrification. I also managed STILL Art Benefit Week in 2024 and 2025, coordinating 10 days of finely curated arts and cultural programming serving as a prelude to FNB Art Joburg, and curated the art collection for the head offices of the South African Gold Coin Exchange.

Alongside these projects, one of my primary goals is to continue developing my own artistic practice. Additionally, I aim to continue contributing to institutions that create meaningful opportunities for artists and foster thoughtful engagement within the contemporary art ecosystem.

Do you have any career advice to share with current Bennington students? 

My biggest piece of advice is simply to ask for help. The people you meet through Field Work Term, your faculty members, alumni, friends, and even their parents all become part of your community. You never know who someone knows or what opportunity might come from a conversation. Every meaningful opportunity I have had has been possible because of the generosity and support of many people. More often than not, people are much more willing to help than you expect; you simply have to ask.

I would also say that it's okay for your plans to change. Some of the ambitions you have at eighteen will fade away or become less feasible, and that's perfectly fine. In their place will come opportunities and ideas that you could never have imagined. Stay open to them, trust your curiosity, and allow your path to evolve rather than trying to force it to follow a plan you made years ago.