Exhibition Design
Designing spaces for reflection and discovery
My Smithsonian lanyard (2019)
My love for designing experiences began at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. During my time at the museum, I was selected to be a part of the Youth Advisory Council for exhibit design, and I was given a voice to speak into the Cellphone: Unseen Connections exhibit seen by millions.
Exhibitions, when done well, tell a story, spark a new joy, or create a moment of reflection or inspiration. Since space shapes experience, the careful design and placement of artwork is essential to create the right atmosphere, emotion or narrative.
Washington Printmakers Gallery
National Small Works 2026
Catalog (35 pages)
My task was to create a cohesive show with pieces that were submitted nationally and juried by a prominent guest juror. The challenge was there was no theme, the only common thread for the art was that they were all small works!
I wanted to design a show that had flow and successfully integrated the full range of mediums, from packets of seeds to photographs of old forts.
I felt the best solution was collaboration, so we co-designed the show and we chose an iterative design process. The gallery assigned me end-to-end process responsibility, which began with catalog design and then I managed art arrival, installation, labeling, and eventually de-installation. Like all exhibitions the defining moment was the opening where it all comes together: the art, the visitors, the artists, and the energy.
Installation Day
Opening Reception
The gallery also provides opportunities for members to host their own shows. I was personally requested by one of the artists to collaborate with her in the curation and installation of the art for her solo show. This was an honor.
I learned the importance of truly listening to the artist and embracing their vision while sharing my insight and perspective into their show design.
Member’s Solo Show
