By Krysta M. Larson
The Dallas Museum of Art (DMA) recently announced its appointment of Anna Katherine Brodbeck (ΦBK, New York University, 2007) as The Nancy and Tim Hanley Assistant Curator of Contemporary Art. Brodbeck begins her new role in January 2017, leaving her current position as associate curator at the Carnegie Museum of Art in Pittsburgh, where she has been since 2013. In this position, Brodbeck will be working closely with Gavin Delahunty, the museum’s Hoffman Family Senior Curator of Contemporary Art, to organize exhibits.
Brodbeck graduated Phi Beta Kappa from NYU in 2007 with degrees in Fine Arts and Spanish, and later received her MA and PhD in art history from the same institution. Her dissertation focused on Brazilian artist Artur Barrio, known for pieces that incorporate the viewer into his art. Her background is largely in contemporary Latin American and Islamic art. According to Delahunty, Brodbeck’s unique approach to curation was one of the key factors in hiring her. She used her foundation in Latin American art “to expand her knowledge of art histories and practices from across the globe.” This approach connects with the DMA’s mission of emphasizing the rich diversity both in Dallas and worldwide. In a press release about the appointment, the DMA’s Eugene McDermott Director, Agustín Arteaga, said Brodbeck “has superb instincts with regards to presenting contemporary art in an encyclopedic museum,” and that her focus in Latin American and Islamic art “will come together in original and interesting ways for the DMA.”
Brodbeck has held several positions during her career that have contributed to her expertise in arts curation. As a curatorial research assistant at The Frick Collection, she provided research for Picasso’s Drawings, 1890–1921: Reinventing Tradition (2011). As a curatorial intern at the Museum of Modern Art, she contributed toward the 2007 exhibition Richard Serra Sculpture: Forty Years. She also worked as a gallery assistant at the Bronx Museum of the Arts. She has also served as an adjunct professor of art and art history at NYU and Hunter College.
During her time at the Carnegie Museum of Art, Brodbeck served as the coordinator between Carnegie, the Art Institute of Chicago, and the Whitney Museum of American Art to organize the first comprehensive US retrospective of Hélio Oiticica, a Brazilian artist who was a significant figure in the development of contemporary art. The exhibit opened at the Carnegie Museum of Art in October and will be available for viewing until January.
As assistant curator, Brodbeck will be taking on a number of tasks. She will be organizing exhibits with Delahunty, particularly in the Concentration series, as well as working with local artists and organizations, making acquisitions, researching art collections, and collaborating on installations. In the DMA’s press release, Brodbeck expressed her excitement to begin her new position, saying, “I am thrilled to join the Dallas Museum of Art, and not only because of the Museum’s commitment to contemporary art; its strong holdings in art that spans multiple cultures and time periods provide the necessary context in which to understand our interconnected present moment. I look forward to building on my experience in Latin American art in making those connections and being a part of this dynamic community.”
Krysta M. Larson is a senior at Creighton University majoring in English and journalism. She is a recently inducted member of Phi Beta Kappa. Creighton is home to the Beta of Nebraska Chapter of Phi Beta Kappa.