MITSUKO CLARKE-VERDERY
MARKETING ASSOCIATE
Mitsuko Clarke-Verdery (she/her) is a versatile artist, artistic director, and dedicated arts administrator. Born and raised in Manhattan, Mitsuko embarked on her artistic journey at a young age studying music, dance, and visual art, and later studying visual art at Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School. She obtained a BFA in Visual Art from Carnegie Mellon University and a certificate for the Independent Study program at the Ailey School, showcasing her diverse creative talents.
In 2015, Mitsuko, in collaboration with her partner Anya Clarke-Verdery, founded and currently leads MICHIYAYA Dance–a queer and femme-centric contemporary dance company based in New York City. Under the umbrella of MICHIYAYA, Mitsuko recently assumed the role of founder and director at "inter-," a multidisciplinary artist residency space located in Pittsburgh. This initiative underscores her commitment to fostering and nurturing the arts within her community. As a solo artist, Mitsuko has exhibited her visual and performance works at esteemed institutions such as the Brooklyn Museum, the Andy Warhol Museum, Miller Gallery, BRIC Arts Media Gallery, among others. Her exceptional talent has been duly recognized through awards, including the prestigious Emily Phyllis Howard and Wilfred Readio Awards from Carnegie Mellon University.
With a parallel career in arts administration, Mitsuko has been actively engaged in the field since 2017. Her roles have included marketing and communications positions at renowned arts organizations such as the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, Gibney, A BroaderWay Foundation, and Peridance Capezio Center. With over six years of experience in arts marketing, Mitsuko is excited to share her expertise with MOVE|NYC|.