Teisha Bradley is an architectural designer focused on the way in which people influence a space. Growing up in public housing in Washington DC, Teisha has long felt the need to create space for people that look like her. It wasn’t until she started pursuing her Masters, that she realized she was in a unique situation. She quickly understood that she would need to design spaces for people that are typically perceived as a second thought. Growing up in poverty and with a family history of substance abuse, Teisha grew a passion for the social and communal aspects of architecture, specifically low-income housing, education, and Deaf Space Architecture. Teisha strongly believes that representation equals success and because of this, she taught “Black Architects (The Unsung Story)”, a winter sessions course at RISD. This class will educate students at RISD not only about famous black architects, but also the negative connotation of the color black.

She recently proposed insulation titled Black Bodies for the RISD 2020 Grad Show about how black individuals move through space not intended or created for their presence. This exploration aims to explore the precise moment where architecture becomes a performance, one that has an implied audience. Teisha strongly believes that she is paving the way for young black girls that share a similar background, experience, and story.