About Me
Photo by Kenji Kubota, Atlanta, GA
Professional Overview
As an art historian and curator, I am dedicated to broadening the American art historical canon through the study and elevation of African American and African Diasporic art. With a career spanning over 25 years in museums and academia, I focus on bridging the gap between rigorous archival scholarship and the human experience of visual art. My work is defined by a commitment to ensuring that diverse cultural narratives are permanently integrated into the center of global art history.
Current Leadership & Curatorial Role
Currently, I serve as the Larry D. and Brenda A. Thompson Curator at the Georgia Museum of Art, where I oversee the development and care of a premier collection of African American and African Diasporic works. My leadership at the museum has included roles as Acting Chief Curator and Deputy Director of Curatorial and Academic Affairs. In these positions, I shaped the institution's overarching curatorial vision and led improvements in departmental communication and processes.
Major Exhibitions & Recognition
I am recognized for spearheading landmark exhibitions of recovery and reclamation. Currently, I am the organizing co-curator for the major traveling retrospective "Edmonia Lewis: Said in Stone" (2026) and co-editor of its accompanying scholarly publication. This project follows the national success of "Emma Amos: Color Odyssey," which was named one of the "Best Art Exhibitions of 2021" by The New York Times and received top honors from the Southeastern Museums Conference. Throughout my career, my projects have secured grant funding from prestigious organizations, including the Terra, Wyeth, and Henry Luce foundations.
Academic Museum Stewardship
With a career rooted in stewardship in academic museums, I previously served as the Director of University Galleries at North Carolina A&T State University. There, I oversaw the permanent collection and curated various exhibitions by artists of Africa and the diaspora. This foundation in collections management and HBCU leadership deeply informs my current research and my mentoring of the next generation of curators and art historians.
Scholarship & Publications
As an award-winning scholar, I focus my research on the modern arts of the African Diaspora and the complex histories of art patronage. My book, Expanding Tradition: Selections from the Larry D. and Brenda A. Thompson Collection, was honored with the 2018 James A. Porter and David C. Driskell Book Award in African American Art History.
Accolades & Education
A 2021 alumna of the Center for Curatorial Leadership, I was named Museum Professional of the Year by the Georgia Association of Museums in 2022. I hold a Ph.D. and M.A. in Art History from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a B.A. in African American Studies from Yale University.