Cleo Barnett is a New Zealand–born, Pacific Northwest–based creative director, public art curator, and cultural strategist working at the intersection of art, storytelling, and systems change.

For nearly two decades, she has led large-scale cultural initiatives that mobilize artists, institutions, and movements to shape public imagination and engage mass audiences. Her work spans North America, Europe, and Australasia, where she has directed public art campaigns and placemaking projects that transform shared spaces into sites of connection, reflection, and collective meaning.

As Executive Director of Amplifier, Barnett has built one of the world’s largest networks of artists and educators advancing social change—activating over 10,000 artists across 90+ countries, commissioning more than 1,000 artworks, and leading campaigns that have reached hundreds of millions globally. Under her leadership, Amplifier has developed a widely recognized model for how art can function as civic infrastructure—supporting public education, strengthening movements, and shifting culture at scale.

In parallel, through her independent practice, she has directed over 300 public art and cultural activations across five continents, advising mission-driven organizations, cultural institutions, and global brands on storytelling, cultural strategy, and impact design.

Her work has been featured in The New York Times, NPR, and National Geographic, and exhibited at institutions including the Brooklyn Museum and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Her practice explores how culture—images, narratives, and shared experiences—shapes what societies believe is possible, and how art can expand that horizon.

She is a Salzburg Global Fellow and holds an M.A. in Art and Public Policy from New York University, along with dual bachelor’s degrees in International Business and Political Science from the University of Auckland.