Mission Statement

At Tellie Collaborative, I am committed to transforming education through the power of visual arts, innovative curriculum design, and scholarly inquiry — integrating creative practice with research-driven approaches to foster meaningful learning and authentic human growth.

I collaborate with individuals and institutions to cultivate technical skill, creative expression, and educational excellence — whether developing arts-integrated curricula, providing personalized instruction, or consulting on identity, equity, and culture. Across all of my work, I bring a curriculum theorist's lens alongside an artist's sensibility, grounded always in creativity, care, and intellectual rigor.

I believe education should be accessible, relevant, and transformative. Through Tellie Collaborative, I partner with learners, educators, and organizations to lead and grow with purpose, imagination, and integrity.

Clients

My work spans partnerships with organizations across the nonprofit, museum, healthcare, consulting, and educational sectors, including K–12 and higher education. Select clients include:

Infographic illustrating top technology trends in 2024 with colorful geometric shapes and a bold outline
Text saying 'REACH THE WORLD' with the 'O' in 'WORLD' stylized as a globe
Kaiser Permanente logo featuring three stylized human figures and a rising sun design, with the company name below.
Logo for Kid Power Inc. with purple text and stars
Logo of Opal Creek Ancient Forest Center featuring a green tree above blue wavy lines and the text "Opal Creek Ancient Forest Center".
Logo for Justin K. Valenti with the text 'ARTISTIC EXPRESSIONS BY Justin K. Valenti' and colorful abstract brush strokes in blue and orange
KOL SHALOM logo with stylized red and gold waves
National Gallery of Art logo in black text.
CaringMaters logo with a heart-shaped design, text reads "Facing Illness & Grief. Finding Compassion & Support."
Logo of Teachers College, Columbia University, featuring a shield with initials TC above the college name.

What People Are Saying

“Ben Tellie has been one of the most influential mentors in my life. As my high school art teacher, he not only encouraged my creativity but also helped me develop a strong portfolio that opened the door to my college opportunities. After graduating, I had the privilege of working alongside him to teach graphic design to his high school students. His ability to connect with students, inspire confidence, and foster a supportive learning environment is remarkable. Ben is a dedicated teacher and collaborator who pushes those around him to grow as artists and as people.”

— Eric Sayag

Graphic Designer, Web Developer, and owner of EricZSayag.com

“Ben's tutoring and personalized visual and digital arts curriculum was amazing for my artistic development. His guidance in helping me create a visual arts portfolio and artwork was thoughtful and insightful. Ben's mentoring helped me grow my technical skills and sparked creative thinking. I was able to start my own art business and design my own website with Ben’s help. I highly recommend his exceptional services at Tellie Collaborative."

— Justin K. Valenti

Artist, Author, Advocate, and owner of Artistic Expressions by Justin K. Valenti

“Over the past four years, I have had the privilege of working with Ben on many projects related to equity and inclusion, education, and the arts. When I joined Dr. Valaida Wise Consulting, Ben was working as a DEIB consultant and served as a role model for me. As he coached me through the process of facilitating focus groups for DEIB data collection, I remember being incredibly impressed by the care and effectiveness by which he engaged employees in conversation about difficult topics. I learned a great deal working with him in this role.

It was around this time that I also saw Ben single-handedly take on the creation of a teacher's training manual for the American branch of a massive international independent school system. The final document was over a hundred pages of incisive, equity-forward, student-centric guides toward curriculum revision and best practices.

Finally, Ben and I worked together on a research project about teaching race and antiracism in the high school visual arts classroom. Seeing him in the classroom only increased my respect for his skill, care, and approach. I can confidently say that Tellie Collaborative will be an asset for your business or school!!."

— Elliott Schwebach, Ph.D.

Political Theory Scholar, Equity Consultant, and Political Science Faculty at Wenzhou-Kean University (WKU)

Visit https://www.elliottschwebach.com/