Ryan Haley Thomas is a fiber artist and museum professional focused on utilizing materials that have existed before her, whether that is found plastic or primary sources dating back before she was born, she understands the importance of applying historical context to her art. Currently, Ryan works at the Harvey B. Gantt Center as the Collections + Exhibitions Manager. However, her background is in storytelling, she received a BA from Howard University's School of Communication in 2022, for Media, Journalism, and Film. Ryan believes through researching and storytelling her own identity and the identities of others she can strengthen our global community. Her earliest interaction with researching was through investigating her own lineage and selfhood. She grew up in between Atlanta, Georgia and Charlotte, North Carolina. Both of her mother’s parents were born in Puerto Rico. Her father’s father was born in Trinidad and his mother’s lineage goes back to North Carolina. Together two descendants of Caribbean and American heritage, raised Ryan and her sister, two young Black women in the south. Ryan is deeply invested in people, the patterns of people, the outliers, and how this all presents itself throughout time.