My work as a curator and arts leader is rooted in care—for artists, audiences, and the broader arts ecosystem.

This care extends beyond exhibitions to supporting the intellectual and creative pursuits of artists. I believe arts leaders must prioritize artistic freedom and ensuring access to art, even while external pressures (financial, political) make this work challenging. Above all else, art institutions should serve as spaces for creativity, questioning, experimentation, and diverse perspectives.

I began my institutional work as a volunteer organizer during graduate school, approaching the role with an artist’s perspective. I discovered a talent for addressing gaps in support for artists through administrative and practical work that some artists couldn’t or preferred not to do. Supporting artists and fostering opportunities have been central to my work ever since. Artists are vital contributors to our cultural lives—without them, galleries and museums wouldn’t exist. As an advocate for equitable practices, I support Working Artists and the Greater Economy (W.A.G.E.), where self-certified institutions commit to fair artist pay. Oregon Contemporary became W.A.G.E.-certified in 2017 under my leadership and remains one of only four certified organizations in Oregon.

Throughout my career in mid-sized academic and nonprofit arts spaces, I have focused on creating pivotal opportunities for artists. These include large-scale, experimental solo exhibitions and group shows that contextualize their work and connect it to broader contemporary dialogues. I aim to fill gaps in regional programming, showcasing art that has lacked institutional support locally. I often work with artists at critical junctures in their careers—those producing politically resonant, experimental, or career-defining work requiring new levels of support, funding, and time.

At Oregon Contemporary, my vision centers on identifying and addressing what Portland and the region need, including what hasn’t yet been imagined. Collaborating with multiple curators is essential to this mission, enabling programming that is flexible, timely, and responsive to cultural shifts and diverse perspectives. My approach holistically considers the regional arts ecosystem—supporting local artists while fostering connections to national and international contemporary art through varied curatorial voices.