Leadership Expansion Signals a New Chapter for MIT List’s Curatorial Team and Programming Vision

The MIT List Visual Arts Center is pleased to announce the appointment of Marina Caron as the museum’s new Assistant Curator. In this role, Caron will contribute to the research, organization, and realization of exhibitions, with a particular focus on the museum’s signature List Projects series, an ongoing platform for new and under-recognized artists and practices. Frequently serving as the site of artists’ first institutional exhibitions, List Projects offers a critical space for experimentation and visibility within the broader contemporary art landscape.

As Assistant Curator, Caron will organize approximately three List Projects exhibitions annually and support the development and execution of major exhibitions. In addition to curatorial planning, Caron will engage in scholarly research tied to the museum’s exhibitions and collections, including initiatives for the List Center’s upcoming 40th anniversary, and will also contribute to public programs and community outreach.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Marina Caron to the List Center,” said Natalie Bell, Chief Curator. “Along with wide-ranging international experience, Marina brings a deep commitment to artist-centered curatorial work, a warm, collaborative spirit, and a discerning, research-driven approach. I’m excited for the energy, thoughtfulness, and creativity she will bring to our team and to the artists we support.”

The List Center is also proud to announce two key internal title changes that reflect the leadership and contributions of core staff members:

Natalie Bell, who joined the List Center in 2020, has been named Chief Curator. During her tenure, Bell has organized numerous critically acclaimed exhibitions, including Sung Tieu: Civic Floor; Basel Abbas and Ruanne Abou-Rahme: Only sounds that tremble through us; Steina: Playback; and, most recently, Pedro Gómez-Egaña: The Great Learning. She also co-curated Symbionts: Contemporary Artists and the Biosphere alongside Caroline A. Jones and Selby Nimrod. Bell’s projects have extended the List Center’s reach beyond Cambridge: Only sounds that tremble through us recently traveled to the Perlman Teaching Museum at Carleton College, while Steina: Playback was recently on view at the Buffalo AKG Art Museum and will continue its tour at the National Gallery of Iceland and the Reykjavik Art Museum in October 2025. With these ambitious curatorial projects, Bell continues to advance the List Center’s contributions to MIT and support the practices of groundbreaking artists, while reaching diverse global audiences.

Additionally, Kristen Wawruck has been named Associate Director of the List Visual Arts Center. Since joining the team in May 2024, Wawruck has significantly elevated the museum’s visibility and impact—evidenced by the 94% increase in attendance from the previous fiscal year, 50% increase in philanthropic support, and the development of meaningful community partnerships. To prioritize equity and transparency, she led the List’s participation in Museums Moving Forward and in initiating certification with Working Artists and the Greater Economy (W.A.G.E.). She has also overseen the expansion of engagement initiatives, access-driven platforms, a sustainability plan, and the museum’s re-accreditation with AAM. As the List Center prepares to celebrate its 40th anniversary, Wawruck will lead the museum’s top strategic priorities, ensuring its mission continues to evolve in service of future generations of artists, audiences, and scholars.

“The List Center has always been a place where ideas and art push boundaries,” said Paul C. Ha, Director of the MIT List Visual Arts Center. “As we approach our 40th anniversary, we’re energized by a team that is both expanding our curatorial reach and reimagining how we connect with artists and audiences. With Kristen Wawruck advancing the museum’s visibility, equity, and engagement—and an extraordinary curatorial staff shaping ambitious, artist-driven programs—we’re poised to deepen our legacy and chart a bold future for the decades ahead.”