Chaédria LaBouvier facts for kids

Chaédria LaBouvier is an American art expert who organizes art shows and writes about art. In 2019, she made history at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York City. She became the first person of Cuban background to organize an art show there in 80 years. She was also the first Black writer to create a catalog for a Guggenheim exhibition. This catalog was for her show called "Basquiat's Defacement: The Untold Story."

Later, LaBouvier spoke out about her experiences at the Guggenheim. An outside group looked into her claims. While they did not find proof of racism, the museum's chief curator later left. The Guggenheim also hired its first full-time Black curator after these events.

Early Life and Learning

Chaédria LaBouvier grew up in Texas. She has shared that her family comes from the "Texas-Louisiana Creole enclaves" in the southern United States. Her interest in the artist Jean-Michel Basquiat started when she was a child. This was because her parents owned three of his drawings.

In 2007, LaBouvier earned a bachelor's degree in history from Williams College. Later, in 2014, she received a master's degree in screenwriting. She earned this degree from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).

Career Highlights

In 2019, the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum hired LaBouvier. She became the first Black guest curator at the museum. She was also the second Black curator in the Guggenheim's history. The first was Nigerian curator Okwui Enwezor in 1996. LaBouvier was also the first Black author to write a catalog for a Guggenheim exhibition.

Basquiat's Defacement: The Untold Story

LaBouvier's exhibition, "Basquiat's Defacement: The Untold Story," opened in June 2019. The show featured the work of Jean-Michel Basquiat. It also told the story of Michael Stewart. His death, caused by police actions, inspired Basquiat's painting, The Death of Michael Stewart.

The exhibition also included other Basquiat paintings about fairness and justice. Art by Keith Haring, George Condo, and Lyle Ashton Harris that featured Stewart was also part of the show. The focus on Stewart and the challenges faced by Black men in the U.S. made this show different. This was noted by the radio station WNYC. The exhibition was open for five months and attracted hundreds of thousands of visitors.

In February 2021, Williams College honored LaBouvier. She received a Bicentennial Medal. She was the youngest person ever to receive this award.

Making a Difference

Chaédria LaBouvier described her time at the Guggenheim as very difficult. She said it was "the most racist professional experience of my life." She shared more details about her treatment on her social media and in news articles.

After LaBouvier's criticism, the Guggenheim hired an outside company. This company investigated her claims. The investigation concluded that there was "no evidence that Ms. LaBouvier was subject to adverse treatment on the basis of her race." However, while the investigation was happening, museum employees wrote a public letter. They asked the museum's leaders to replace those who were not committed to fighting racism. After the investigation, the museum's artistic director, Nancy Spector, left her job.

Because of her public statements and actions, LaBouvier is seen as a key figure. She helped start the "Change the Museum" movement. This movement aims to make museums more fair and inclusive for everyone.