Leadership
Nora Ochoa de Ellis – Founder
Passion. Creativity. Community. In 2010, Nora Ochoa de Ellis founded Visual Art Sur on these three fundamental cornerstones, immersing herself in the challenge of translating what had been, until that point, a personal love of Latin American art into an international network. VAS’ development into a successful platform for stimulating cultural exchange through art is a testimony to one of Nora’s most fervent ideals: the idea that creativity can forge bonds between people, whether they come from different countries or live in neighboring towns.
It is no secret that Latin American artists face intense political, economic and social pressures that affect the region, not only regarding the infrastructure of the art world but also in the daily tasks that shape everyday life there. Such challenges, however, in no way dampen the creative explosion of Latin American artists and it is this vibrant talent that motivates Nora’s quest to support and promote emerging artists by creating a bridge between cultures with VAS.
Although Nora moved across the waters to the United States two decades ago, she remains deeply connected to her roots in Venezuela and to the community of talented Latin American artists whose work reflects on their social and cultural backgrounds. But Nora’s philosophy on art goes far beyond a trade or a hobby; instead, she conceives of it as a powerful and empowering platform for transforming our lives and reflecting on them.
That why outreach is a pillar of the VAS philosophy and a natural extension of Nora’s concerns and motivations that builds a route to connecting very distinct realities and cultural identities through art-based activities that emphasize dialogue, so members of local communities go from being spectators to active participants.
As a born communicator and a committed mother, it is no surprise that Nora sought out this way of maximizing the expressive diversity of art as space where people can express themselves, think about their lives, and the challenges that face them but also find a canvas to project their dreams.
It is this vision and dynamism that drives the human programmers and volunteer work that is central to VAS’s mission and which, of course, guarantee it will continue to thrive and expand in the future.
Nora is a member of the Collector Council of the Bruce Museum, Greenwich Art Society, Greenwich Art Council and Honorary Advisory Board Member of the Aid for AIDS International in NYC.
Juan Vicente Ellis Ochoa – Co Founder
Juan Vicente graduated in June 2023 from Northeastern University in Boston with a Bachelor of Science in Communication Studies, with a concentration in the music industry. During his first semester, he studied abroad at John Cabot University in Rome, Italy, as part of his vision to explore new languages and cultures.
Despite his young age, he has extensive experience in social work alongside his two brothers, who inspired him to follow in their footsteps, not just in the academic world but also in the impact they have generated through the social programs they manage. He overcomes cultural and language challenges by speaking proper English and Spanish, and he is currently studying Italian.
Juan Vicente began experimenting with the information technology world at a very early age, leading him to study computer science at:
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology, MIT (MIT Splash program)
- Columbia University (IDTECH Java)
- New York University, NYU (Advanced Java)
- Purchase College (Summer tech)
- King School, Stamford (Robotics)
- Codecademy, NYC (Java, Ruby, and HTML)
As the co-founder of “The Embracing Art Volunteer Team,” his responsibilities include organizing workshops, auctions, donations, art exhibits, etc., directly engaging with the community, collaborating with various Latin American artists. He also manages social media networks and tracks news, events, or particular community activities since 2011.
He is the founder of the first bilingual Art News Network directed towards children and teenagers, known as “ExpresArt News” and “Noticias ExpresArte.” Their production includes short institutional videos showcasing relevant news in the art world and our communities. The messages in their videos emphasize promoting family values, respect, and responsibility. Juan Vicente handles recording, assembly, editing, adding the soundtrack, production, and post-production of the videos.
Furthermore, Juan Vicente is the co-founder of the Guillermo Barreto Art Scholarship, benefiting disadvantaged children in the Connecticut area since 2014. He also co-founded the “My Hero” Visual Art School Pilot to support the Aid for AIDS International Foundation in NYC in 2013 and initiated the AIDS Awareness Campaign under the Aid for AIDS International Foundation.
He served as a representative of the United Nations Program at Model UN-Brown University from 2014 to 2017 and was part of the Varsity Team Cross Country.
Juan Vicente has received numerous recognitions, including:
International Organization Recognitions:
- Aid for AIDS International, My Hero Award, New York City – 2017
Community Recognitions:
- Greenwich Art Council Recognition Award, 2017
- Latincolors Magazine Award, 2017 Stamford, CT
- Studio Arte Recognition Award, 2017 Norwalk, CT
- Greenwich Art Council Recognition Certificate, Greenwich, CT, May 2016
- Studio Arte Recognition Certificate, Norwalk, CT, June 2016
- Latincolors Magazine cover feature, September 2016
He is currently working as an analyst at the financial firm Gencap & Co in Greenwich, CT.
Juan Andrés Ellis Ochoa – Co Founder
Juan Andrés is an exceptional individual, distinguished by his academic achievements and diverse range of skills.
In May 2018, he graduated with honors from Columbia University, earning a B.A. in Economics with Summa Cum Laude, Phi Beta Kappa, and Dean’s List distinctions. At Columbia, he excelled in both quantitative subjects such as Mathematics and Economics, as well as qualitative areas including Language, Literature, and Art History. Juan Andrés’ commitment to excellence is evident in every project he undertakes, driven by a relentless pursuit of knowledge through diligent research and commitment. With determination, he consistently achieves his objectives while expanding his capacity for learning.
Possessing exceptional communication and leadership capabilities, Juan Andrés demonstrates initiative and resolution in developing and empowering others, consistently surpassing cultural challenges. Fluent in English and Spanish as well as proficient in French and Italian, he effortlessly navigates diverse linguistic and cultural environments.
During high school, Juan Andrés pursued summer studies at Harvard University, where he distinguished himself in courses such as Law and Psychology, as well as War Crimes, Genocide, and Justice, receiving top marks. Throughout his academic journey, he has been recognized on the King Scholar Honor Roll, has been inducted into the Cum Laude Society, has received the AP Scholar with Distinction award and was named a National Hispanic Recognition Program Scholar. Additionally, Juan Andrés pursued a full immersion summer course in Italian at the prestigious Institute of the Italian Language “Italiaidea” in Rome.
Passionate about giving back to the community, Juan Andrés dedicated his time as a volunteer English teacher for adult immigrant groups facing adversity at the non-profit institution Neighbors Link in Stamford, CT. Through his commitment to empowering others through education, he made a significant impact on the lives of disadvantaged individuals.
Co-founding The Embracing Art Volunteer Team organization, Juan Andrés played a pivotal role in organizing workshops and art exhibitions that showcased talented Latin American artists. Throughout high school, he spearheaded the preparation of art workshops.
Juan Andrés consistently makes a positive impact, ensuring a brighter future for the wider community. He is a Co-Founder of the Guillermo Barreto Art Scholarship and the Visual Art School Pilot to benefit the Aid for AIDS International Foundation in NYC.
He is now a volunteer for Aid for Life International. Aid for Life (AFL) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to generating social impact and enhancing the lives of immigrants at risk of social vulnerability in New York City.
During his time at university, Juan Andrés gained valuable experience as an Analyst at Gencap & Co, where he worked as a summer intern. After graduating, he continued to contribute his expertise to the firm, solidifying his knowledge of the industry and further developing his skills before moving on to Wall Street. Currently, Juan Andrés serves as a Debt Capital Markets Vice President at BNP Paribas.
Roy Alejandro Ellis Ochoa – Co Founder
Good leaders have natural skills as well as a proper preparation to help them to exalt their talents. That is why Roy Alejandro, despite his youth, already stands out as a great leader in every goal he sets up. He overtakes cultural challenges by speaking Spanish, English, and French correctly. Roy is a great collaborator, planner, and innovator, whose communication capabilities allow him to establish possible goals that create opportunities for all those who start up with him any activity.
Not surprisingly, coming from an entrepreneur family, he decided to study at Stern Business School at NY University, (NYU), where he graduated in May 2017, focusing on a Finance and Global Business double major with a minor in Mathematics. Also, he has a significant experience in the working world. He has been an intern for the Hedge Fund Discovery Capital Management in Connecticut in 2014 and 2015. In 2016, Roy worked as an intern at the NYU Future Labs as a Research Analyst. Additionally, he was selected by Bank of America-Merrill Lynch’s Summer Internship Program in 2012.
At NYU, social responsibility is key in every curricular and extracurricular activity. The formal education he receives at this prestigious university represents for him the opportunity to apply the acquired knowledge and to keep developing the volunteer programs in the United States and Latin America.
Roy has taken summer classes in Economics Principles at Harvard University in Boston, and Introduction to Economics at Columbia University in New York, obtaining the best marks in his class. He is member of the Cum Laude Society, and was awarded the AP Scholar prize with honor, as well as the High Honor and Students Scholar awards. Likewise, he was President of the Spanish Cultural Immersion Club. He has taught English as a volunteer to immigrant groups in a disadvantaged situation at Neighbour Link Stamford CT.
As a co-founder of “The Embracing Art Volunteers Team,” he is responsible for organizing the workshops and art exhibitions with the different Latin American artists, and also for the preparation of the auctions, sales and donations of the art pieces made by the team. These operations directly benefit the community through non-profit organizations, as the Immigrants Center Neighbor Link in Stamford, the Westport Art Center and the Greenwich art society. He has also worked as a volunteer for political rights organizations, “Votojoven” and “Embajadores del Voto” in New York City.
Roy worked for Gencap & Co in Greenwich, CT as an Analyst. Later, in Alix Partners in New York City, and currently works in OIC as Vice President in the Investment Performance & Optimization Group responsible for driving value creation, improving efficiency, executing follow-ons and divestitures, and mitigating risk across OIC’s investment portfolio. OCI stand for “is we believe investing in environmentally and socially innovative infrastructure is critical to accelerating the transition to a sustainable future”.
Andrés Ruh – President
Andres is an outstanding student at Greenwich High School and a distinguished athlete who swims competitively throughout the year, either with the GHS Boys Varsity Team or with the YMCA Greenwich Marlins. He has been recognized for his achievement as a member of the winning Connecticut High School Class LL and State Open Champion Swimming Team since he joined the team his freshman year. He has also qualified for the YMCA National Championships since 2016.
Swimming has played a major role in shaping Andres’s personality; discipline, effort, sacrifice, team work, and perseverance are key components of Andres’s character.
Having a diversity of interests, both artistic and scientific is very unique of him.
Andres in not only a very sensible and creative person who likes writing, doing art, and listening to music, but also a person with a passion for knowing more about nature and biology and has become very curious on the subject. During the summer of his freshman and sophomore years, he volunteered at the Bruce Museum’s Seaside Center where he was able to apply his passion for nature and his love for working with young children guiding the kids through the exhibits, and teaching them about all aspects of the Long Island Sound’s marine life.
His art work has been selected for display on the District Art Show of Greenwich several years.
Andres was born in Mexico and moved to the United States 14 years ago. He has a special interest in learning about other cultures and has challenged himself to become fluent not only in English and Spanish, but also in French. He was ranked among the top 15 for the National French Exam in 2018 and was elected vice president of the French Honor Society of the Greenwich High School Chapter.
He is also a member of the Spanish Honor Society (Sociedad Honoraria Hispánica del Colegio de Greenwich) and the Math Honor Society.
He loves teaching and has worked as a math tutor teaching Algebra 1 and Algebra 2 during the summers of 2017 and 2018.