ART IS MEANT TO BE LIVED IN.
LAILANI GIBSON
ARTIST · CREATIVE DIRECTOR · CULTURAL PRODUCER
Creating art, experiences and opportunities that bring people closer to culture and each other.
I make art. I build worlds. I bring people together.
Artist · Creative Director · Cultural Producer
My name is Lailani Gibson (Lay-LAH-nee), and I’m a New York City-based multidisciplinary artist working across visual art, creative direction and live experiences.
My work explores the intersection of art, culture and everyday life. With a background in live entertainment, audiovisual production and independent media, I combine artistic experimentation with the experience to turn ambitious ideas into reality.
I’m also the founder of The Art Meetup and The Creative Plug, 2 independent platforms connecting thousands of people through art, community and career opportunities.
Now, I’m expanding my practice through original artwork, exhibitions, fashion and creative direction, creating work that people can live in, use, hear, experience and remember.
I believe art belongs in everyday life.
I've always been someone who believes that if the spaces we need don't exist, we have the ability to create them. That belief led me to found The Art Meetup, where I've independently produced over 20 programs, brought thousands of people together and worked with institutions including the New York Public Library, NYC Parks and the NYC Department of Transportation.
I'm an artist, but I'm also a producer, a storyteller and someone who genuinely loves bringing people together. My career has taken me from cultural institutions and large-scale entertainment venues to managing audiovisual productions in Times Square. Along the way, I've built The Creative Plug, an independent publication reaching over 7,000 subscribers and helping people discover opportunities to move their lives forward.
I'm endlessly curious about people, culture, fashion, music and the ways our environments shape who we become. I love making things, but I'm equally fascinated by what happens when people experience them. I want my work to spark conversations, challenge perspectives and remind people of their own creative potential.
I'm still exploring what kind of artist I can become, and that's what excites me most. I want to experiment across mediums, create things people can wear and interact with, and build experiences that exist far beyond traditional galleries.
Ultimately, I want to make art that becomes part of people's lives, not just something they admire from a distance.
The Art Meetup at NYC Summer Streets, commissioned by the NYC Department of Transportation (NYC DOT). Bringing art, creativity and community into public spaces.
I'm creating a world where art isn't something we simply visit. It's something we live within.
What I've built.
I build things people can actually use. Spaces where strangers become community, platforms that connect people to opportunity, and experiences that give people a reason to create, participate, and feel like they belong.
I build what I wish existed, then make it available to everyone.
The Art Meetup
FOUNDER & CREATIVE PRODUCER
Making room for creativity and connection.
I founded The Art Meetup to make art, community and creative experiences more accessible throughout New York City.
Through public, donation-based gatherings, workshops and live performances, I've created opportunities for people to discover artists, share their work and build genuine connections.
What began as an independent project has grown into an ongoing creative community, with programming in NYC parks, public spaces and cultural institutions.
20+ programs produced · 2,000+ RSVPs
Creating spaces where art brings people together.
The Creative Plug
FOUNDER, WRITER & PUBLISHED
Connecting talent to opportunity.
I created The Creative Plug to make career information more accessible and help people discover opportunities they might otherwise miss.
Today, it's an independent, bestselling Substack publication reaching over 7,000 subscribers with curated jobs, career resources and industry insights across creative and professional fields.
My goal is to help people find work, recognize their value and build greater financial independence.
7K Newsletter Subscribers · 100+ Jobs per Roundup
Connecting creative people to jobs and opportunities that move them forward.
The work speaks for itself.
Independent ideas. Real people. Measurable impact.
7K+
Newsletter subscribers
20+
Creative programs
100+
Jobs in a single roundup
2,494
Event Registrations
300
Largest event audience
$5
Monthly newsletter access
An idea that brought thousands of people together.
The Art Meetup is a public, donation-based creative community bringing people together across New York City through art, workshops, live performances and shared experiences.
I started it because I wanted to create more opportunities for people to experience art, make something and genuinely connect with one another.
Since May 2025, it has grown through the people who continue to show up, participate and help turn unfamiliar rooms into community.
Every registration represents someone choosing to participate in a creative community built independently, intentionally and open to everyone.
2,494
Cumulative event registrations from May 2025 – September 2026
The Art Meetup: Community Growth
From Behind the Scenes to Building My Own Stage
Art. Culture. Entertainment. Production. Community.
My career has taken me behind the scenes of some of New York City's most recognizable entertainment venues, cultural institutions and corporate spaces.
From audiovisual production and live entertainment to public art programming, I've learned how to turn creative ideas into experiences that people remember.
Today, I bring that experience into my independent work, combining artistic vision, technical knowledge and production management to develop projects from concept to execution.
Unedited footage of The Art Meetup’s September 2026 gathering at the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts at Lincoln Center, featuring workshops, community activities and live open mic performances.
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I'm interested in paid projects involving creative direction, original artwork, brand campaigns, cultural production, speaking and hosting.
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I'm developing my practice across visual art, fashion and experimental creative projects. Share your concept, budget and timeline for consideration.
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I'm interested in opportunities to speak about creativity, community building, career access and independent cultural production.
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Original artwork, collections and exhibition developments will be announced as they become available.
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Pricing depends on the scope, deliverables and timeline. Include your proposed budget in your professional inquiry.
Times Square & World Trade Center
Program & AV Operations Manager
Corporate audiovisual production, live events, executive programming and technical operations.
Radio City Music Hall
Front-of-House Operations Coordinator
Large-scale entertainment operations and audience experiences.
Museum of the City of New York
AV Event Technician
Technical production supporting cultural programming and live events.
New York Public Library at Lincoln Center
Creative Programming Partner
Independent production of artist workshops, live performances and community experiences.
NYC Department of Transportation
Community Programming Partner
Public art activations and accessible creative experiences across NYC.
NYC Parks & Partnerships for Parks
Community Programming Partner
Outdoor arts programming and community-centered cultural experiences in public spaces.
Create it
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Live it
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Dream it
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Create it 〰️ Live it 〰️ Dream it 〰️
Upcoming Exhibition
My debut solo exhibition concept.
We love the image of revolution. But do we love each other enough to practice it?
I'm exploring what happens when the symbols of resistance become fashionable while the communities behind them continue fighting to survive.
Through oil pastels, textiles, music and immersive installations, I'm creating a world that questions what we wear, what we value and what we owe one another.
What if art could do more than represent the world we want?
Step inside my world and follow the journey from concept to creation.
Debut
Exhibition
Have an opportunity in mind?
Let's make something worth experiencing.
I create art, build communities and bring ideas to life across fashion, culture and live experiences.
I'm looking to expand my work, reach new audiences and connect with people who see the potential in what I'm building.
Have a creative opportunity, brand partnership, exhibition, speaking engagement or media inquiry? Let's connect.
Please include your project , budget and timeline.
Be part of what comes next.
Whether it's a one-time contribution or ongoing support, every donation helps me create more independently, explore new ideas and bring my artistic vision to life.
Your contribution is voluntary and doesn't guarantee event admission, products or other benefits.
