| Adarsh Alphons | |
| Birth Date: | 4 July 1984 |
| Birth Place: | Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala |
| Occupation: | Entrepreneur, Educator, Artist |
| Years Active: | 2011- present |
| Website: | https://projectart.org |
| Known: | Founder at ProjectArt and Founder at Postmoda |
Adarsh Alphons (born July 4, 1984) the founder of ProjectArt, is an American entrepreneur, philanthropist and artist.[1] As of 2017, ProjectArt is the largest free art school for children in the US.[2] [3] In addition, he is the founder and CEO of Postmoda, a fashion resale marketplace built in partnership with brands and retailers.[4] [5]
Alphons got his BFA in 2006 from the Maryland Institute College of Art. Alphons attended Boston University and got his MS in Arts Administration in 2007 from there. In 2014, he was made a Community Scholar at Columbia University[6] At the conclusion of his time there, he was invited to lecture at the Faculty Hall for their Speaker Series.
Alphons claimed that art saved his life.[7] In 1996, he created "Mother's Golden Hands", a painting he did based on his encounter with Mother Teresa. The painting focuses on her hands rather than her face.[8] The painting was sold in London during Alphons's global exhibition in 1999.[9] He painted another portrait of Mother Teresa for Pope John Paul II's visit and Holy Mass in New Delhi.[10] [11] Alphons is the son of Alphons Kannanthanam.[12]
In 2015, Alphons was listed among 50 Biggest Philanthropists in the World by Town and Country Magazine.[13] In 2015, he was named a CNN Hero.,[14] Later that year, he was selected a 40 Under 40 in Art Business the US by Apollo Magazine., and in 2015 he was chosen as a Global 40 Under 40 by that publication.[2] He was made Community Scholar at Columbia University.[15] In 2011, Alphons was featured by NY1 News as the New Yorker of the week.[16]
In 2011, Alphons founded ProjectArt, a nonprofit organization that provides exposure to creative exploration to children in high-need areas across the US. Its cost-effective model circumvents traditional operational expenses by partnering with public libraries and utilizing empty spaces in libraries to host classes.[17] As of 2024, its programs are offered in New York City, Miami, Los Angeles, Detroit, Pittsburgh and Cincinnati.[18]
In 2017 ProjectArt launched My Kid Could Do That, a widely-acclaimed exhibition and fundraiser featuring never-seen-before artwork from some of the world’s leading contemporary artists. It held its fourth exhibition in November 2022. Participating artists include Ed Ruscha, Catherine Opie, Kenny Scharf, Rirkrit Tiravanija, Philip Pearlstein, Daniel Arsham, KAWS, Cecily Brown, Sanford Biggers, Matthew Ritchie, Urs Fischer, Olafur Eliasson.[19] [20]
Alphons founded Wardrobe in 2019, a peer-to-peer fashion rental startup, which pivoted to Postmoda, a fashion resale marketplace in 2022.[21]