Cézanne Charles is a creative practitioner and researcher with 25 years of experience working at the executive and senior management level within the creative industries (USA/UK). Her work focuses on the intersection of design, technology, culture, and public policy. Cézanne co-directs with John Marshall, rootoftwo. rootoftwo is an award-winning research and development civic + creative studio based in Detroit. Together, they explore the consequences of under-imagined futures— producing innovative research, publications, strategic frameworks, artifacts, spaces, experiences, events, and public works.

Marshall and Charles coauthored and led the research for the forthcoming Looking Back to Move Forward report (rootoftwo 2024). The study was designed to inform strategies and identify opportunities to center racial equity in recovery and renewal efforts for creative practitioners and communities in Detroit, Memphis, and New Orleans. From 2008-2019, Cézanne served as director of creative industries at Creative Many, where she led the design and implementation of the company’s creative industries research. Here, Cézanne also designed and directed programs that empowered the practices of Michigan artists, designers, and makers, with a core focus on Detroit.

Charles is an active participant on local and national boards, advisory councils, and as a presenter focused on creative industries, equitable artist infrastructure and ecosystems, urbanism, and emerging technology. She holds a Master of Public Affairs from the University of Michigan Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy.