Sign In

Lauren Kelley

Artist and curator

Lauren Kelley is a prominent artist, curator, and arts administrator. She served as the Director and Chief Curator of the Sugar Hill Children's Museum of Art & Storytelling in Harlem from 2017 to 2020, where she played a pivotal role in shaping the museum's exhibitions, public programs, and outreach efforts. Prior to this role, she was the Associate Director of Curatorial Programs at the same institution starting in 2013, where she launched initiatives such as the Artist-in-Residence program and curated exhibitions featuring both emerging and established artists, with a focus on Harlem and Northern Manhattan connections.14

Kelley holds a Master of Fine Arts from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and has an extensive background as an artist. Her work, which often incorporates stop-motion animation and explores themes like race and identity using unconventional materials such as plastic dolls, has been exhibited at venues like the New Museum (New York), Spelman College Museum of Fine Arts (Georgia), and the Contemporary Art Museum Houston (Texas). She has received several accolades, including the Creative Capital Award (2015) and the Louis Comfort Tiffany Award (2011).123

Before her tenure at Sugar Hill, Kelley was the founding director of Prairie View A&M University’s art gallery, where she developed exhibitions and cultural programming for over a decade. Her artistic practice continues to influence her curatorial approach, emphasizing storytelling and community engagement.14

Highlights

Sugar Hill Children's Museum of Art & Storytelling
Jul 19 · artadia.org
Lauren Kelley - Artadia
Lauren Kelley - Artadia
May 12 · museum.spelman.edu
Lauren Kelley, Big Gurl, 2006 - Spelman College Museum of Fine Art
Jul 12 · aam-us.org
Leveling the Playing Field at Sugar Hill
Lauren Kelley - Creative Capital
Lauren Kelley - Creative Capital
Jun 7 · culturetype.com
Sugar Hill Children's Museum in Harlem Announces New Leadership
Sugar Hill Children's Museum in Harlem Announces New Leadership
[PDF] THE SUGAR HILL CHILDREN'S MUSEUM OF ART + ...

Related Questions

What inspired Lauren Kelley to create the Sugar Hill Children's Museum of Art & Storytelling?
How does Lauren Kelley incorporate storytelling into the museum's exhibits?
What are some notable exhibitions Lauren Kelley has organized at the Sugar Hill Children's Museum?
How has Lauren Kelley's background as an artist influenced her curatorial approach?
What is the Artist-in-Residence program at the Sugar Hill Children's Museum, and how does it benefit the community?
Lauren Kelley
Lauren Kelley, photo 1
Lauren Kelley, photo 2
Add to my network

Location

New York, New York, United States