Dear Colleagues,

Stephanie Smith, Chief Curator, has been appointed the first Chief Curator of the new Institute for Contemporary Art (ICA) at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) in Richmond, Virginia.  While I am sad that she is leaving the AGO, this is a remarkable opportunity for Stephanie. The team at the ICA has made an excellent choice in securing a leader of her expertise and experience and I know that she will accomplish great things in this new position.

The ICA at VCU will open in fall 2017 and Stephanie will have an extraordinary opportunity to shape a new contemporary art institution – collaborating with the director to chart the ICA’s future path, leading the curatorial team and building a dynamic curatorial program from the ground up. When it opens, the ICA will employ an interdisciplinary approach, showcasing a wide-array of international contemporary art ranging from visual and performing arts to design and film. Connected to the VCU and its School for the Arts (one of the nation’s leading art schools), the ICA will offer a vital new dimension to a national research university and contribute to a national and international dialogue.

Stephanie will be leaving confident in the knowledge that she has accomplished a great deal while here, including:

• Crafting a vibrant three year rolling exhibition program that includes path breaking AGO projects like Outsiders: American Photography and Film, 1950s-1980s, Theaster Gates: How to Build a House Museum, and Toronto: Tributes and Tributaries. Together with her team, she secured landmark touring exhibitions, including the Tate Modern’s Georgia O’Keeffe and the Hirshhorn’s Yayoi Kusama: Infinity Mirrors. She has supported the curators in developing a pipeline of exciting future projects.
• Overseeing major acquisitions, including personally securing the gift of internationally acclaimed Chinese artist Song Dong’s installation Communal Courtyard.
• Fostering curatorial collaboration with colleagues inside the Gallery – from closer work with the Advancement team, to presenting performance in gallery spaces – and building strong connections to a diverse range of colleagues across the city.
• Working with me to lead the crucial first phase of planning for the collection reinstallation.
• Building a strong curatorial team, positioning the division for success. Recent promotions include curators Sasha Suda and Sophie Hackett, as well as archivist Amy Furness. She also oversaw the hires of key new assistant curators Wanda Nanibush and Alexa Greist.

Stephanie’s last day at the AGO will be Friday October 21 and she will start in her new position in November.

Please join me in congratulating Stephanie on this exciting new chapter in her career.

 

Sincerely,

Stephan