SculptureCenter Appoints Jovanna Venegas as New Curator

The SculptureCenter, located in Long Island City, Queens, is making headlines with its recent announcement of Jovanna Venegas as its new curator. This appointment comes after an 18-month vacancy in this prestigious role, and it marks a significant development for the institution.

A Prominent New Curator Takes the Helm

Jovanna Venegas, currently an associate curator at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA), is set to assume her new role at SculptureCenter in January 2024. Her mission? To oversee the institution’s evolving artistic program and programmatic calendar under the guidance of Director Sohrab Mohebbi.

Reflecting on her new position, Venegas expressed her enthusiasm, stating, “I have long admired SculptureCenter’s ethos of centering artistic vision and experimentation. Their bold commitment to commissioning and fostering opportunities for artists to present a new idea resonates with my interests.”

Venegas’ Impressive Background

During her six-year tenure at SFMOMA, Venegas has curated solo exhibitions for notable artists like Fernando Palma Rodríguez (2023), Charles Gaines (2021), and Rodney McMillian (2019). Additionally, she played a crucial role in organizing group exhibitions like “Shifting the Silence” (2022) and “SOFT POWER” (2019). Notably, she served as a curatorial advisor for the 2022 Whitney Biennial, focusing on projects centered around the U.S.-Mexico border.

Director Mohebbi praised Venegas, saying, “Jovanna is a curator with fresh ideas and the ability to work on different scales and timelines, especially in commissioning ambitious new work. In a moment of curatorial experimentation, her input, vision, and skills will be invaluable.”

The Hiring Process

Sohrab Mohebbi, who himself transitioned from a curator at large to director of SculptureCenter in February 2022, explained that they weren’t in a hurry to fill the role of curator. Instead, he aimed to establish his vision for the museum before making this critical appointment.

“We wanted the curator to start in a moment when they can have a clear sense of what has been important to SculptureCenter recently and a runway to build on and contribute new ideas to the exhibitions calendar,” he explained.

Since taking the helm, Mohebbi has initiated changes at the museum, including reconfiguring exhibition cycles to focus on “expanded artist-driven public programs” and reintroducing the “In Practice” open-call series, presented in a different format each year.

“We have been developing and refreshing a lot of what we do in preparation for a new voice to join the team, and Jovanna will contribute to all aspects of the program moving forward,” Mohebbi added.

Venegas Embraces the Vision

Venegas, excited about the opportunity, embraced Mohebbi’s vision. She emphasized the desire for the program to maintain an international dimension and provide artists with the resources and support to debut their work in New York.

“Transitioning from a larger institution to a smaller one, I am excited to have more flexibility and creative freedom to shape the program in close collaboration with the team,” she said.

In appointing Jovanna Venegas as curator, SculptureCenter seems poised to embark on an exciting new chapter, promising fresh perspectives and innovative exhibitions under her leadership. With her impressive track record and enthusiasm for experimentation, the future looks bright for this Queens institution.