advisory board
Dr. Deirdre Clemente
Dr. Deirdre Clemente is the Curatorial Director of the Brad Johns Archives. A public historian and costume curator, she is a professor of history at UNLV and associate director of the Reid Public History Institute. A former fashion and beauty writer, Clemente studies the history of the American garment industry and the relationship between clothing and social change. She is the author of Dress Casual and The Little Book of California Style. Her work has been profiled in The New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, Vogue, WWD, and the Washington Post.
Johns was Clemente’s mentor for thirty years. As Curatorial Director, she guides the archive’s vision and works to make his creative legacy accessible to students, scholars, and the public.
Donovan Blyden
Creative Director, Donovan Blyden was Brad’s partner, collaborator, and confidant. Their shared love of arts and culture took them to celebrated art openings in New York and Los Angeles and one-room photography shows in Pittsburgh.
Blyden brings to the Board a commitment to presenting Brad’s signature aesthetic—from the stark black and white of his New York years to his “blue” phase, inspired by California skies. With an intimate understanding of how Brad expressed his aesthetic through both his art and his wardrobe, Blyden offers a personal perspective on the connections between Brad’s life and work.
Marianne Dougherty
Marianne Dougherty is an award-winning writer and former beauty editor and publisher, who has appeared on Live in L.A., Lifetime’s New Attitudes, and Weekend Today. In 2017 she received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Beauty Bus Foundation in recognition of outstanding and invaluable service to the community. and was a finalist for a Golden Quill Award for journalistic excellence in 2019 and 2022. She published her first novel, What We Remember, in 2023, and co-wrote Dye: A Memoir of Art, Music, Faith, Family and Hair Color with Brad.
Julian Ciccone & Family
The Ciccone family brings a vital personal perspective to the Brad Johns Archives Advisory Board. Brad’s cousins Chris and Lynn and sister Shari offer firsthand knowledge of his life and artistic evolution, while Julian, a student at California State Los Angeles, represents the family’s next generation. Together, they honor Brad’s deep pride in his Pittsburgh roots, his devotion to family, and the lasting influence of the women who shaped his life.
Jenn Feldman
Jenn Feldman is a nationally recognized, Los Angeles–based interior designer celebrated for creating highly livable spaces. She has led projects across the country, ranging from major renovations to ground-up residences. Her work has been featured in Architectural Digest, Luxe, Elle Decor, Rue, and House Beautiful.
Jenn was Brad's long-time publicist in New York City and his interior designer in Los Angeles.