Ashley James (curator) facts for kids

Ashley James is an American curator. A curator is someone who chooses and organizes art for museums. She has worked at famous places like the Studio Museum in Harlem and the Museum of Modern Art. In 2019, she made history. She became the first full-time Black curator at the Guggenheim Museum in New York City.

Ashley James's Journey

Early Life and Education

Ashley James comes from a family with Jamaican roots. She studied at Columbia University and earned her first degree in 2009. After that, she gained experience as an intern. She worked at the Studio Museum in Harlem.

Later, Ashley went to Yale University. There, she earned her master's degree. She focused on English literature and African American studies. While at Yale, she helped organize an art show. In 2014, she co-curated an exhibition. It was called Odd Volumes: Book Art from the Allan Chasanoff Collection. This show was at the Yale University Art Gallery. She also worked as a fellow at the Museum of Modern Art.

Working at the Brooklyn Museum

In 2017, the Brooklyn Museum hired Ashley James. She became an assistant curator of contemporary art. Contemporary art means art made in our time. While at the Brooklyn Museum, she played a big role. She helped create a very popular exhibition. It was called 'Soul of a Nation: Art in the Age of Black Power.'

Ashley was the main curator for this show. It was the biggest exhibition she had ever worked on. She also helped the museum get new art pieces. And she created public programs for visitors.

Making History at the Guggenheim

In November 2019, Ashley James started a new job. She became an associate curator of contemporary art. This was at the Guggenheim Museum. This was a very important step. She is the first Black curator to work there full-time.

Her first exhibition at the Guggenheim was in 2021. It was named Off the Record. This show featured 13 artists. Their artworks questioned how history is recorded. They looked at journalism and photography. They challenged the idea that these things are always completely fair and true.