Why Janiva Ellis and Rizvana Bradley Withdrew from a Harvard Event Over ‘Exploitative’ Practices

When celebrated artist Janiva Ellis and esteemed scholar Rizvana Bradley announced their withdrawal from a prominent Harvard University event, the decision echoed far beyond the ivy-covered walls. Their choice, spurred by concerns over unethical and exploitative event practices, has sparked a vital conversation about the dynamics between institutions and the creatives and intellectuals they seek to showcase.

The Harvard Event That Sparked Controversy

The event in question was a highly anticipated academic gathering at Harvard University, bringing together influential voices from the art and academic worlds. Janiva Ellis, known for her bold, emotionally charged paintings, and Rizvana Bradley, a respected scholar whose work bridges visual culture and Black feminist theory, were invited as central figures.

Their inclusion signaled a major moment for the event, promising a powerful dialogue between theory and practice. Yet, what began as an exciting opportunity soon became a platform for critique, as the two figures discovered deeper issues beneath the surface.

Ellis and Bradley revealed that they encountered troubling indications of exploitation. From vague terms of participation to a lack of transparency around labor and compensation, their concerns reflected systemic issues that often go unchecked in academic spaces.

Their findings called attention to how institutions sometimes capitalize on artists’ and scholars’ reputations without offering fair terms of engagement or acknowledgment of their labor.

These issues are far from isolated. For many in academia and the arts, such experiences are alarmingly common, especially when institutions fail to involve collaborators in meaningful planning or uphold shared values of equity and respect.