Kinshasha Holman Conwill facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Kinshasha Holman Conwill
Conwill in 2006
Born	Karen Holman  11 April 1951  Atlanta (United States)
Alma mater	Mount Holyoke College Howard University University of California, Los Angeles
Occupation	Board member, writer
Employer	Hollyhock House National Museum of African American History and Culture (2005–2022) National Museum of the American Indian Studio Museum in Harlem (1980–1999)
Works	Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing: How the Apollo Theater Shaped American Entertainment
Spouse(s)	Houston Conwill
Parent(s)	M. Carl Holman
Position held	museum director

Kinshasha Holman Conwill, born on April 11, 1951, is an important American museum leader. She helps run museums, advises on arts, writes books, and serves on many boards for cultural groups in the U.S.

Early Life and Education

Kinshasha Holman Conwill was born in Atlanta on April 11, 1951. Her father, M. Carl Holman, was a writer and a key person in the civil rights movement. She was a very smart student and graduated from Mount Holyoke College.

She also studied at Howard University in Washington, D.C., where she earned a degree in fine arts. Later, she got her business degree from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) in 1980.

A Career in Museums and Arts

While studying in Los Angeles, Conwill worked as an arts educator. She also helped organize activities at the Hollyhock House. After finishing her studies in 1980, she became the Deputy Director at the Studio Museum in Harlem. She then served as the Director of this museum from 1988 to 1999.

Leading the Studio Museum in Harlem

Conwill explained how important the Studio Museum was for the Black community. She said it was a community center and a place for artists. It was also a forum for important discussions. She saw it as a center of life not just in Harlem, but also in New York. It was even a center for a larger Black art world.

During her time as director, the museum worked with many famous artists. These included Elizabeth Catlett, Miles Davis, and Glenn Ligon. She also helped create over 40 major art shows for the Studio Museum. Some of these shows traveled to other places across the country.

Working in New York City's Cultural Scene

From 1999 to 2005, Conwill held several jobs in New York City's cultural world. She worked with groups like the American Association of Museums. She also worked at the National Museum of the American Indian.

Shaping the National Museum of African American History and Culture

In 2005, she became the deputy director of the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington D.C.. This was a very important role. She helped raise money for the museum and built partnerships. She also helped grow the museum's collections. She worked on developing new exhibits and programs.

Conwill also helped write and edit several books for the museum. In 2022, she announced her retirement from this role. She then became the Deputy Director Emerita, which means she still has a special connection to the museum.

Serving on Important Boards

Conwill has also been a board member for major arts and cultural groups. These include the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts. She also served on the board of the Rockefeller Foundation.

Personal Life

From 1971 until his death in 2016, Conwill was married to the artist Houston Conwill.