The role of a curator is not static! Meet Jessica Hong, the new chief curator at the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art, and hear how her forward-minded ideas are expanding what it means to be a curator, going beyond the confines of the art institution. Jessica highlights her deep love of working directly with artists, whom she considers the lifeblood, and she cultivates a sense of curators working as a “collective fabric”. And, in her eloquent way, she also considers how to move forward in the current political climate.

Creative capacity can extend beyond the production of compelling art. Case in point: Elise Gagliardi has found passion and talent in the worlds of art curation and gallery operations, and now she has expanded on this by becoming the director of the new ION Gallery in Kansas City. All while balancing her own art career and being the mother of 3 children!

As an artist herself, she can more precisely hone in on the under-appreciated needs of fellow artists. Stay tuned — she has some hopeful ideas about meeting these!

Meet the new executive director of The Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art in Kansas City, Jessica May. What a joy to find that she is a bright, creative, and down-to-earth leader who is poised to help the museum reach a fuller potential. Building on its already strong foundation, Jessica brings fresh eyes and inspiring ideas to her role at the Kemper, forging in a new direction.What does the future hold for this treasured institution of art? Her answers may both surprise and delight you.