(Atlanta—November 2, 2021) The Art Institute of Chicago, the High Museum of Art, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston (MFAH), The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, and the Philadelphia Museum of Art are pleased to announce the 2021–22 class of fellows designated for The Andrew W. Mellon Undergraduate Curatorial Fellowship Program. The fellowship returns after a one-year postponement due to the pandemic. As a result, the program, which normally takes place over two years, has been temporarily adjusted to host one-year fellowships that will accommodate more students in 2021–22. The fellowship provides specialized training to students across the United States from historically underrepresented groups in the curatorial field and supports the goal of promoting inclusive, pluralistic museums. The students began their fellowships this fall. More information about the need for a diverse educational pipeline into the curatorial field is available in the 2018 Art Museum Staff Demographic Survey.
Fellows participate in The Andrew W. Mellon Undergraduate Curatorial Fellowship Program during their undergraduate career, with the goal of continuing their education through graduate work. The fellowship provides students with hands-on experience in a museum setting, assisting curators and staff on exhibitions, collections, and programs. Fellows are matched with a curatorial mentor at each museum who works to enrich the academic experience and to increase exposure to the museum context while broadening a fellow’s understanding of art and art history. Fellowships include regular engagement during the academic school year followed by full-time engagement over the summer.
Since the program began in 2014, 54 fellows have completed The Mellon Undergraduate Curatorial Fellowship program. Eighteen of the alumni attend or have completed a number of graduate programs, including at the American University in Cairo, Carnegie Mellon University, Cornell University, The Courtauld Institute of Art, Harvard University, The Institute of Fine Arts, NYU, Lindenwood University, the Maryland Institute College of Art, School of the Art Institute Chicago (SAIC), SOAS University of London, Stanford University, Williams College, University of California, Los Angeles, University of Cambridge, University of Chicago, University of Pittsburgh, University of Southern California, and the University of Texas at Austin. Many of the individuals who have completed The Mellon Undergraduate Curatorial Fellowship program are also working in the arts either in staff positions or in other fellowship opportunities
Selected fellows for the 2021–22 program are as follows (full bios start on page 3):
- Art Institute of Chicago: Annika Bohanec, Loyola University Chicago; curatorial mentors: Elizabeth McGoey, Ann S. and Samuel M. Mencoff Associate Curator for Arts of the Americas. Elise Colón, Wheaton College; curatorial mentor: Sarah Kelly Oehler, Field-McCormick Chair and Curator for Arts of the Americas. Denise González, University of Illinois Chicago; curatorial mentor: Erica Warren, Associate Curator of Textiles. Taj Pollard, Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design; curatorial mentor: Robyn Farrell, Associate Curator of Modern and Contemporary art.
- High Museum of Art: Nailah Barnes, Spelman College; curatorial mentor: Katherine Jentleson, Merrie and Dan Boone Curator of Folk and Self-Taught Art. Sojourner Hunt, Emory University; curatorial mentor: Stephanie Heydt, Margaret and Terry Stent Curator of American Art. Nyaradzai Mahachi, Auburn University at Montgomery; curatorial mentor: Lauren Tate Baeza, Fred and Rita Richman Curator of African Art.
- Los Angeles County Museum of Art: Marisa Cruz Branco, Pitzer College; curatorial mentor: Bindu Gude, Associate Curator of South and Southeast Asian Art. Lilia Destin, University of Southern California; curatorial mentor: Clarissa Esguerra, Associate Curator of Costume and Textiles. Alexa Ramirez, Pomona College; curatorial mentors: Bobbye Tigerman, Curator; Rosie Mills, The Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Foundation Associate Curator; and Staci Steinberger, Associate Curator, in the Decorative Arts & Design department. Kiko Thomas, University of California San Diego; curatorial mentors: Tim Benson, Curator, and Erin Sullivan Maynes, Assistant Curator, in the Rifkind Center for German Expressionist Studies.
- The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston: Emily Goff, University of Houston; curatorial mentor: Alison de Lima Greene, Isabel Brown Wilson Curator, Department of Modern and Contemporary Art. Mia Guien, Rice University; curatorial mentor: Mari Carmen Ramírez, the Wortham Curator of Latin American Art and Director of the International Center for the Arts of the Americas. Jackie Huang, Rice University; curatorial mentors: Malcolm Daniel, Gus and Lyndall Wortham Curator of Photography, and Lisa Volpe, Associate Curator of Photography. Tatyana Neal, Texas Southern University; curatorial mentor: Cindi Strauss, Sara and Bill Morgan Curator, Department of Decorative Arts.
- The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art: Jetzel Chavira, University of Missouri-Kansas City; curatorial mentor: April Watson, Senior Curator, Photography. Logan Crompton, Kansas City Art Institute; curatorial mentor: Stephanie Fox Knappe, Samuel Sosland Senior Curator, American Art. Miriamne Marlowe, Kansas City Art Institute; curatorial mentors: Ling-en Lu, Curator of Chinese Art, and Kimberly Masteller, Jeanne McCray Beals Curator of South and Southeast Asian Art.
- Philadelphia Museum of Art: Morgan Lloyd, Camden County Community College; curatorial mentor: Alexandra Kirtley, The Montgomery-Garvan Curator of American Decorative Arts. Alissa Roach, Temple University; curatorial mentors: Erica Battle, The John Alchin and Hal Marryatt Associate Curator of Contemporary Art, and Alison Tufano, Collections Assistant of Contemporary Art. Zakiyah Stewart, The University of the Arts; curatorial mentor: Jack Hinton, The Henry P. McIlhenny Curator of European Decorative Arts and Sculpture. Grace Tran, Cornell University; curatorial mentor: Peter Barberie, The Brodsky Curator of Photographs, Alfred Stieglitz Center.
“We are thrilled to welcome Annika, Elise, Denise, and Taj to the Art Institute of Chicago this academic year. Their interests and voices will help advance the study of our renowned collection and we look forward to the reciprocal exchange of knowledge and perspectives that has come to define The Mellon Undergraduate Curatorial Fellowship program here in Chicago. We remain grateful to the board, leadership, and staff of The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation for prioritizing the important work of supporting these emerging leaders,” said James Rondeau, President and Eloise W. Martin Director at the Art Institute of Chicago.
“At a time when representation and equity in every profession are imperative, the museum field’s commitment to diversifying itself is vital. If we don’t, our institutions will never fully reflect, nor be essential to, our communities,” said Rand Suffolk, Nancy and Holcombe T. Green, Jr., Director of the High Museum of Art. “We’re therefore thrilled to welcome the next class of Mellon Undergraduate Curatorial Fellows and to support their bright futures as colleagues.”
“We are fortunate to welcome our newest Mellon Undergraduate Curatorial Fellows, who can help us see important areas of our collection in a new light,” said Michael Govan, LACMA CEO and Wallis Annenberg Director. “This program enables us to continue expanding the voices and narratives we share with the public, which is a cornerstone of our vision for a more beautiful future.”
“Our museum is grateful for The Mellon Foundation’s groundbreaking commitment to diversifying the museum field,” said Gary Tinterow, Director and The Margaret Alkek Williams Chair of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. “For the past seven years, 14 of these talented students have brought their singular perspectives and rigorous commitment to a range of curatorial initiatives here in Houston. We are honored to once again host an incoming class of fellows from this distinguished program.”
“These students represent the wealth of diversity and multiplicity of stories that are embodied in the Nelson-Atkins collection, and we are grateful for The Mellon Foundation’s continued support of this important program,” said Julián Zugazagoitia, Menefee D. and Mary Louise Blackwell CEO & Director of the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. “We are delighted to be a part of this educational process and look forward to fostering this next generation of curatorial vision.”
“In building our capacity to advance young talent and diversify the ranks of museum professionals, this wonderful program is making a critically important contribution to the field by giving much-needed opportunities to new voices with fresh perspectives. For this we are deeply grateful to The Mellon Foundation. Furthermore, it offers not only rewarding learning experiences for our fellows, but also mentorship experiences for our staff, providing rich opportunities for them to share and learn together. This year’s fellows will gain hands-on experience working with some of our most important collections. We look forward to their contributions and to the adventures that lay ahead for them,” said Timothy Rub, The George D. Widener Director and Chief Executive Officer, Philadelphia Museum of Art.
THE ANDREW W. MELLON UNDERGRADUATE CURATORIAL FELLOWS:
Art Institute of Chicago
Annika Bohanec is a fourth-year student at Loyola University Chicago, where she is double-majoring in art history and psychology with a minor in gender studies. On campus she works in the university library and is vice president of the Art History Club. Prior to joining the museum as an undergraduate curatorial fellow, she participated in the 2020 JAM Event at the Art Institute of Chicago and was an after-school volunteer through Chicago Public Schools. Her research interests focus on feminist theory as it applies to late 19th-century and 20th-century American art. This year she will work on her senior thesis, which examines the life and arc of the “Tiffany Girls.” After graduation, she hopes to travel and continue her study of art history at the graduate level, with a particular interest in researching female and underrepresented artists. Over the course of her fellowship, Annika will work closely with Elizabeth McGoey, Ann S. and Samuel M. Mencoff Associate Curator for Arts of the Americas.
Elise Colón is a third-year student at Wheaton College from Waco, Texas. She is double-majoring in cultural anthropology and Spanish with a minor in studio art. She works as a lead curator for the Museum of Tiny Art (MoTA) and as an assistant in Wheaton College’s Walford Galleries. She has also been a teaching and research assistant in art history and currently works as an archival research assistant in anthropology. In addition, Elise serves as the graphic designer for Unidad, the Latinx student union. Her creative and academic projects explore landscape and place, religion, creative practice, and Latinx identity. Her work has been accepted in a campus exhibition and two student-run journals, and she was named the winner of the Anthropology Department’s 2021 Fahs Paper Prize. Elise is mentored by Sarah Kelly Oehler, Field-McCormick Chair and Curator for Arts of the Americas.
Denise González is a Chicago native and grew up on the South Side. She is currently attending the University of Illinois at Chicago and is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in cultural anthropology with a minor in museum studies. Previously, Denise worked with the Field Museum on the Ancient Americas exhibition. Denise is passionate about learning more about Latin identity in the United States and has assisted in an ethnographic study focused on Cuban American genealogies. She also is interested in Latin American textiles and folklore. Currently, Denise is volunteering at the Field Museum and assisting with the preservation of Indigenous material culture from North America. During her fellowship, Denise will work closely with Erica Warren, Associate Curator of Textiles.
Taj Pollard is a multidisciplinary fine artist, emerging curator, and researcher based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He is currently a fourth-year student at the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design pursuing a BFA in the New Studio Practice: Fine Arts program. Taj’s work portrays themes of dualistic identities and a psychology of his own and surrounding Black bodies. Taj’s passions for community engagement, fine arts, and intersectional Black histories fuel his mission to cultivate spaces that encourage both emotional truth and cultural aesthetics. Taj’s favorite artists include William Pope.L, Kara Walker, and Glenn Ligon. Taj’s fellowship places him in the department of Modern and Contemporary art where he will be mentored by associate curator Robyn Farrell.
High Museum of Art
Nailah Barnes is a fourth-year student at Spelman College, where she double-majors in international studies and French with concentrations in cultural and curatorial studies. Before her Mellon Curatorial Undergraduate Fellowship, Nailah worked in St. Croix, USVI, recovering cultural materials of enslaved Africans on the former sugar plantation Estate Little Princess, where she shadowed a curator from the National Museum of African American History and Culture, conceptualizing an exhibition on the history of Afro-Crucian people. She is currently working with the architecture firm Cooper Carry and the National Trust for Historic Preservation on a cultural heritage project that will tell the history and significance of the Rockefeller Fine Arts Building at Spelman College. Additionally, she leads the non-profit organization The Brains with Beauty Project, a literacy program that works to inspire academic excellence and holistic wellness in Black girls and young women. Nailah’s curatorial mentor is Katherine Jentleson, Merrie and Dan Boone Curator of Folk and Self-Taught Art.
Sojourner Hunt is a fourth-year student at Emory University from Chicago, Illinois. She is majoring in Middle Eastern and South Asian studies and minoring in art history. Sojourner has worked at the Michael C. Carlos Museum in the department of education and is currently conducting provenance research on the Carlos’s Asian art collection for her undergraduate thesis. She is interested in object-based research, histories of collecting, and provenance research. After attending graduate school, she hopes to work as an object historian in a museum. Sojourner is mentored by Stephanie Heydt, Margaret and Terry Stent Curator of American Art.
Nyaradzai Mahachi is a fourth-year student pursuing a BA in art history, a certificate in museum studies, and a minor in anthropology at Auburn University at Montgomery. She is originally from Harare, Zimbabwe, and has broad research interests in the history of African art and the visual culture of the African diaspora. Beyond her coursework, Nyaradzai has held internships at the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts and Philadelphia Museum of Art. Presently, she serves as an art history tutor at Auburn University at Montgomery’s Learning Center and is a peer-mentor for the art history survey courses. A painter, she also maintains an active studio practice, and her work has been exhibited in the 43rd and 44th Montgomery Art Guild Museum exhibitions and the 21 Dream Arts and Culture exhibitions in Montgomery, Alabama. Nyaradzai is mentored by Lauren Tate Baeza, Fred and Rita Richman Curator of African Art.
Los Angeles County Museum of Art
Marisa Cruz Branco is a fourth-year student at Pitzer College pursuing a BA in art history. At the Claremont Colleges, she is learning not only from her peers and professors, but also the Tongva community, which hosts the residents of Los Angeles. She hopes to focus her art historical study on Indigenous art as well as representations of divinity and what they can tell us about ancient and modern perceptions of non-human animals, gender, and race. In her conversations and work with other artists and people interested in the art world, she hopes to center decolonial and zoocentric narratives. Bindu Gude, Associate Curator of South and Southeast Asian Art, is Marisa’s curatorial mentor.
Lilia Destin is a third-year student at the University of Southern California (USC) working toward her BA in art history. During her time at USC, Lilia has been working in the USC Libraries Digital Imaging Lab, handling archival materials and digitizing documents, images, film reels, and other items for increased access. Previously, she interned at Mixografía, a gallery and print shop in South Los Angeles. Lilia is currently a co-lead of the design team for a student-run arts magazine, RoskiMag, which features USC creatives. Born and raised in Los Angeles, she has a special connection to the city, and strives to transform museums into community centers, providing opportunities for education and programming while showcasing art that reflects the communities they serve. Lilia’s curatorial mentor is Clarissa Esguerra, Associate Curator of Costume and Textiles.
Alexa Ramirez is a first-generation student and Posse scholarship recipient at Pomona College. She is a third-year student majoring in media studies and double-minoring in studio art and Chicanx/Latinx studies, attempting to analyze the dynamics between representation, oppression, and liberation through her academic and artistic studies. Her life objective is to create beautiful things that make people feel and believe in beautiful things, whether it takes the shape of a written story, a painting, or a curated show. Regardless of the medium, she strives to center decolonization, queerness, and anti-power. As a curator, she hopes to be able to bend the boundaries and hierarchies between spectator and spectacle. Bobbye Tigerman, Curator; Rosie Mills, The Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Foundation Associate Curator; and Staci Steinberger, Associate Curator, in the Decorative Arts & Design department are Alexa’s curatorial mentors.
Kiko Thomas is an artist from Houston, Texas. He has lived in Los Angeles for over 13 years and is currently a fourth-year student at the University of California San Diego, majoring in studio art. He is an interdisciplinary artist interested in the history of the disappearance of civilizations through colonization, and the present-day challenges they have caused. Growing up in Houston, Kiko was first inspired by the Houston-based artist John Biggers and he graduated from the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts Houston. Kiko is interested in continuing his art education to receive a master’s degree in studio art. With a background in curatorial work, having managed Mestizo Gallery in Houston and COMA Alternative Space in Los Angeles, he remains interested in curating in a gallery, museum, or alternative space. Kiko’s curatorial mentors are Tim Benson, Curator, and Erin Sullivan Maynes, Assistant Curator, in the Rifkind Center for German Expressionist Studies.
Museum of Fine Arts, Houston
Emily Goff is a recent graduate of Lone Star College and a current undergraduate student at the University of Houston. A lifelong attendee of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, Emily has long been interested in the inner workings of the museum industry and the curatorial field. Academically, they are interested in history, philosophy, political science, anthropology, art history, and the intersections thereof. As a fellow, Emily seeks to pursue an interdisciplinary approach to understanding and contextualizing art, particularly modern and contemporary art that is political in nature. Their curatorial mentor is Alison de Lima Greene, Isabel Brown Wilson Curator, Department of Modern and Contemporary Art.
Mia Guien is a fourth-year student completing an art history and English double major along with a minor in museums and cultural heritage at Rice University. As a Mexican-American woman, Mia has been interested in seeing greater representation of Latino/a voices in both literary and visual cultures for the majority of her college career. She is currently completing her senior thesis on colorism within Latin American cultures. Miapreviously worked with the Rice Humanities Research Center to compile and transcribe Hispanic newspapers concerning the 1918 Influenza in hopes of providing resources to understand the spread of information within Spanish-speaking communities across the U.S. Mia also worked in Rice’s Moody Center for the Arts, engaging with visitors and learning more about exhibition planning. As a fellow, Mia seeks to gain insight on curating and looks to broaden her understanding of Latin American Art and the Latino experience as presented through art. Her curatorial mentor is Mari Carmen Ramírez, the Wortham Curator of Latin American Art and Director of the International Center for the Arts of the Americas.
Jackie Huang is a second-year student at Rice University majoring in art history and neuroscience. Her interdisciplinary studies have led her to discover a passion for curatorial work. In her time at Rice, she has served on the executive cabinet of her residential college. Jackie hopes to use her time as a fellow to further her goals of highlighting diverse perspectives in the museum world. She strives to develop a curatorial practice that spotlights art that dismantles preconceived notions of gender, race, and sexuality, with an emphasis on Asian American voices. Her curatorial mentors are Malcolm Daniel, Gus and Lyndall Wortham Curator of Photography, and Lisa Volpe, Associate Curator of Photography.
Tatyana Neal is a third-year student studying art history and art education at Texas Southern University. Born in Houston and raised in Chicago, Tatyana was given opportunities to be involved in various programs such as the Interlochen Film Academy and the Roosevelt University Entrepreneurship Academy. Attending Texas Southern University has provided her the opportunity to shadow and be mentored by museum director and curator Dr. Alvia Wardlaw. Tatyana is interested in bringing her perspective to the curatorial field while pursuing her passion for modern and contemporary art and art history. This year, she was an intern for Project Row Houses (PRH), shadowing curator Danielle Burns Wilson. Neal’s curatorial mentor is Cindi Strauss, Sara and Bill Morgan Curator, Department of Decorative Arts.
The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
Jetzel Chavira is a second-year student at the University of Missouri-Kansas City majoring in art history and minoring in Latinx & Latino studies. As a daughter of Mexican immigrants, Jetzel’s interest in Latino/Chicano photography developed during her childhood. Growing up, however, she never really saw herself or her culture represented in art museums. Jetzel first discovered the power of curating in 2019 when she was selected to participate in the Photography Scholars program at The Nelson-Atkins. Besides learning about the history of photography, she had the opportunity to evaluate and curate her own photographic work. Jetzel wants to curate collections and relatable exhibitions that elevate underrepresented artists and their communities. She also volunteers with KC Tenants, an organization that fights for tenant rights. Jetzel’s curatorial mentor is April Watson, Senior Curator, Photography.
Logan Crompton is a third-year student at the Kansas City Art Institute (KCAI). They are a Kansas City native who has spent their life exploring and experiencing art through their community. Their practice explores and constructs narratives through painting, printmaking, and collage. Aspects of pop culture and symbols are sprinkled throughout their work as a way to explore the effect one’s environment or community has on oneself. Logan’s interest in media and identity lends to their art history and painting double major at KCAI, allowing them to explore the effects of art historically important images and works on identity through the representation of people of color and of varying gender identities and sexualities. Dissection of images and what they mean are at the heart of Logan’s artistic practice and their career goals. As a black member of the LGBT community, Logan realizes the importance of representation, especially within museums. Their practice is to not only provide an accurate representation of themselves but also to provide that outlet and opportunity for other young Black artists. Logan’s curatorial mentor is Stephanie Fox Knappe, Samuel Sosland Senior Curator, American Art.
Miriamne Marlowe is a second-year student at the Kansas City Art Institute and is majoring in painting and art history and minoring in social practice. In high school in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Miriamne was an avid member of the art community and became the head editor for the Washington Literary Press, an art and poetry magazine at the school. The process of selecting poetry and art for the magazine first sparked Marlowe’s interest in curatorial work. At KCAI, she participated on a curatorial jury for the class of 2024’s end-of-year exhibition. Miriamne currently works as a gallery assistant at the H&R Block Artspace and collaborates with Sapien, an artist-run gallery and studio space. As both an artist and student, she attempts to find connection through empathetic means, using her artwork as an abstract catharsis for self-reflection and kindred contemplation. With an interest in curation and museology, Miriamne strives to find further opportunities for collaboration and connection through the storied narratives of both historical and contemporary artworks. Miriamne’s curatorial mentors are Ling-en Lu, Curator of Chinese Art, and Kimberly Masteller, Jeanne McCray Beals Curator of South and Southeast Asian Art.
Philadelphia Museum of Art
Morgan Lloyd is a second-year student at Camden County Community College in Blackwood, New Jersey, studying film and liberal arts. Upon her transfer to Rutgers University, she plans to study art history and African studies. An untraditional student, she is a professional writer, activist, and educator in Philadelphia. Her work advocates for expanding BIPOC narratives within the contemporary museum space, questioning how institutions can better serve marginalized communities, locally and beyond. Morgan has spoken at several institutions and clubs, such as Michener Art Museum and The National Association of Colored Women’s Club, supporting Latine, Afro-diasporic, and American-Indigenous causes. She is a ghost/content writer for prominent local artists, with written works featured inLens Magazine. Presently, she works at the African American Museum in Philadelphia, providing tours and professional training on the distinct histories of Afro-descended peoples from Philadelphia. Morgan has previously been an intern at the PMA, and she is excited to rejoin the institution as a Mellon Undergraduate Curatorial Fellow. Her curatorial mentor is Alexandra Kirtley, The Montgomery-Garvan Curator of American Decorative Arts.
Alissa Roach is a fourth-year student at Temple University majoring in sculpture. She was born in Kingston, Jamaica, and migrated to the United States in 2010 when she was 8 years old. Growing up in the suburbs of Philadelphia, she developed a love for art making and art history, which led her to pursue an arts education in the city. This past summer, Alissaworked as an intern for Mural Arts Philadelphia, painting alongside artists at various sites all over the city. As the president of the Artists of Color Collective at Temple University, she also organized and participated in a collaborative exhibition, Digital Entanglements, at the Tiger Strikes Asteroid gallery in Philadelphia. Alissa’s goal as a Mellon Undergraduate Curatorial Fellow is to not only bridge the gap between curator and maker in her own practice, but also to amplify the voices of marginalized artists within the institution. Alissa’s curatorial mentors are Erica Battle, The John Alchin and Hal Marryatt Associate Curator of Contemporary Art, and Alison Tufano, Collections Assistant in the Contemporary Art Department.
Zakiyah Stewart is originally from Bronx, New York, and now lives in Philadelphia. She is currently attending The University of the Arts, majoring in painting and minoring in art history. Growing up in New York allowed Zakiyah to experience the richness of diverse cultures. Zakiyah has a tremendous interest in contemporary art and POC contemporary artists, and is fascinated by artists Takashi Murakami, Aya Takano, and Yoshitomo Nara. She takes her inspiration from these artists in her own artistic endeavors. Zakiyah plans to continue her art history and museum studies in graduate school while engaging with Philadelphia’s POC art collectives and artists. Zakiyah’s curatorial mentor is Jack Hinton, The Henry P. McIlhenny Curator of European Decorative Arts and Sculpture.
Grace Tran is a third-year student at Cornell University double majoring in art history and the College Scholar Program, the latter of which entails an interdisciplinary, independent project. Her project is centered around the fields of public history, museum anthropology, cultural heritage, and ethics, and seeks to answer the questions of what role museums play in society and how museums can better serve and represent the communities around them. Originally from Portland, Oregon, Grace is interested in contemporary art of the Asian and Middle Eastern diasporas. She is currently the Asian Art curatorial intern at the Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art and hopes to pursue a curatorial career in the future. Grace’s curatorial mentor is Peter Barberie, The Brodsky Curator of Photographs, Alfred Stieglitz Center.
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Art Institute of Chicago
Kati Murphy | Executive Director of Public Affairs | 312 443-3758 | kmurphy5@aic.edu
High Museum of ArtMarci Davis | Manager of Public Relations | 404 733-4585 | marci.davis@high.org
Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA)Erin Yokomizo | Senior Communications Associate | 323 932-5825 | eyokomizo@lacma.org
The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston (MFAH)
Mary Haus | Marketing and Communications Director | 713 639-7712 | mhaus@mfah.org
Kathryn Jernigan | Publicist | 713 639-7516 | kjernigan@mfah.org
The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
Kathleen Leighton | Manager, Media Relations and Video Production | 816 751-1321 | kleighton@nelson-atkins.org
Philadelphia Museum of Art
Norman Keyes | Director of Communications | 215-684-7862 |nkeyes@philamuseum.org
NOTES TO EDITORS:
About the Art Institute of ChicagoThe Art Institute of Chicago is a world-renowned art museum housing one of the largest permanent collections in the United States. An encyclopedic museum, the Art Institute collects, preserves, and displays works in every medium from all cultures and historical periods as well as hosts special exhibitions. With a collection of approximately 300,000 works of art, the museum has particularly strong holdings in Impressionist and Post-Impressionist painting, early 20th century European painting and sculpture, contemporary art, Japanese prints, and photography. The museum’s 2009 addition, the Modern Wing, features the latest in green museum technology and 264,000 square feet dedicated to modern and contemporary art, photography, architecture and design, and new learning and public engagement facilities. In addition to displaying its permanent collection, the Art Institute mounts approximately 35 special exhibitions per year and features lectures, gallery tours, and special performances on a daily basis.
Location and Contact: 111 South Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL 60603 | 312 443-3600 | www.artic.edu
About the High Museum of Art
Located in the heart of Atlanta, the High Museum of Art connects with audiences from across the Southeast and around the world through its distinguished collection, dynamic schedule of special exhibitions and engaging community-focused programs. Housed within facilities designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architects Richard Meier and Renzo Piano, the High features a collection of more than 18,000 works of art, including an extensive anthology of 19th- and 20th-century American fine and decorative arts; major holdings of photography and folk and self-taught work, especially that of artists from the American South; burgeoning collections of modern and contemporary art, including paintings, sculpture, new media and design; a growing collection of African art, with work dating from prehistory through the present; and significant holdings of European paintings and works on paper. The High is dedicated to reflecting the diversity of its communities and offering a variety of exhibitions and educational programs that engage visitors with the world of art, the lives of artists and the creative process. For more information about the High, visit www.high.org.
Location and Contact: 1280 Peachtree Street, N.E., Atlanta, GA 30309 | 404 733-4400 | www.high.org
About the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA)
Located on the Pacific Rim, LACMA is the largest art museum in the western United States, with a collection of nearly 147,000 objects that illuminate 6,000 years of artistic expression across the globe. Committed to showcasing a multitude of art histories, LACMA exhibits and interprets works of art from new and unexpected points of view that are informed by the region’s rich cultural heritage and diverse population. LACMA’s spirit of experimentation is reflected in its work with artists, technologists, and thought leaders as well as in its regional, national, and global partnerships to share collections and programs, create pioneering initiatives, and engage new audiences.
Location and Contact: 5905 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90036 | 323 857-6000 | www.lacma.org
About The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston (MFAH)
Founded in 1900, The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, is among the 10 largest art museums in the United States. Located in the heart of Houston’s Museum District, the MFAH comprises two gallery buildings, a sculpture garden, theater, two art schools and two libraries, with two house museums, for American and European decorative arts, nearby. The encyclopedic collection of the MFAH numbers some 65,000 works and spans the art of antiquity to the present.
Location and Contact: 1001 Bissonnet, Houston, TX 77005 | 713 639-7300 | www.mfah.org
About The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
The Nelson-Atkins in Kansas City is recognized nationally and internationally as one of America’s finest art museums. The Nelson-Atkins serves the community by providing access and insight into its renowned collection of more than 33,500 art objects and is best known for its Asian art, European and American paintings, photography, modern sculpture, and new American Indian and Egyptian galleries. Housing a major art research library and the Ford Learning Center, the Museum is a key educational resource for the region. The institution-wide transformation of the Nelson-Atkins has included the 165,000-square-foot Bloch Building expansion and renovation of the original 1933 Nelson-Atkins Building. The Nelson-Atkins is committed to connecting people of all ages with meaningful art experiences. Through its partnerships with Kansas City community, civic, and cultural organizations and the national and international arts community, The Nelson-Atkins welcomes and engages the diverse population of Kansas City and the surrounding region with enriching exhibitions, cultural programs, and educational activities.
Location and Contact: 4525 Oak Street, Kansas City, MO 64111 | 816 751-1278 | www.nelson-atkins.org
About the Philadelphia Museum of Art
The Philadelphia Museum of Art is Philadelphia’s art museum. A place that welcomes everyone. A world-renowned collection. A landmark building. We bring the arts to life, inspiring visitors—through scholarly study and creative play—to discover the spirit of imagination that lies in everyone. We connect people with the arts in rich and varied ways, making the experience of the Museum surprising, lively, and always memorable. We are committed to inviting visitors to see the world—and themselves—anew through the beauty and expressive power of the arts.
Location and Contact: The Philadelphia Museum of Art is located on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway at 26th Street | 215 763-8100 | www.philamuseum.org
About The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation
The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation endeavors to strengthen, promote, and, where necessary, defend the contributions of the humanities and the arts to human flourishing and to the well-being of diverse and democratic societies. To this end, it supports exemplary institutions of higher education and culture as they renew and provide access to an invaluable heritage of ambitious, path-breaking work. The Foundation makes grants in five core program areas: Higher Education and Scholarship in the Humanities; Arts and Cultural Heritage; Diversity; Scholarly Communications; and International Higher Education and Strategic Projects. www.mellon.org