Kaywin Feldman

Kaywin Feldman is a renowned American museum director, currently serving as the director of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., following in the footsteps of esteemed directors like J. Carter Brown and Earl A. Powell III. She has had a distinguished career, with previous appointments at the Minneapolis Institute of Art and the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art, where she worked alongside notable curators like Theresa Papanikolas and Elizabeth Glassman. Feldman's leadership has been influenced by her experiences at institutions such as the Getty Museum and the Whitney Museum of American Art, and she has collaborated with prominent artists like Kehinde Wiley and Amy Sherald. Her work has also been shaped by her involvement with organizations like the Association of Art Museum Directors and the American Alliance of Museums.

● Early Life and Education

Kaywin Feldman was born in Boston, Massachusetts, and grew up in a family that valued the arts, often visiting institutions like the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston and the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. She pursued her undergraduate degree at Williams College, where she studied Art History under the guidance of professors like Lane Faison and Whitney Davis. Feldman's academic background also includes a master's degree in Art History from the University of California, Berkeley, where she was influenced by scholars like T.J. Clark and Svetlana Alpers. Her education has been complemented by her experiences at programs like the Getty Leadership Institute and the Center for Curatorial Leadership, which have helped her develop skills in museum management and leadership.

● Career

Feldman's career in the museum world began at the Minneapolis Institute of Art, where she worked as a curator and eventually became the director, overseeing exhibitions like the Rembrandt retrospective and the Impressionist show featuring works by Claude Monet and Pierre-Auguste Renoir. She has also held positions at the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art and the Dallas Museum of Art, collaborating with curators like Bonnie Pitman and Olga Viso. Feldman's expertise in Modern Art and Contemporary Art has been recognized through her involvement with exhibitions like the Whitney Biennial and the Venice Biennale, which have featured artists like Gerhard Richter and Cindy Sherman. Her work has been influenced by her interactions with artists like Richard Serra and Jenny Holzer, as well as her participation in organizations like the College Art Association and the International Council of Museums.

● Director of

the National Gallery of Art As the director of the National Gallery of Art, Feldman has been responsible for overseeing the museum's collection, which includes works by Leonardo da Vinci, Vincent van Gogh, and Pablo Picasso. She has also been involved in the planning of exhibitions like the Vermeer show and the Tintoretto retrospective, which have been made possible through collaborations with institutions like the Rijksmuseum and the Gallerie dell'Accademia. Feldman's leadership has been shaped by her experiences working with curators like David Brown and Dorothy Kosinski, as well as her involvement with programs like the National Endowment for the Arts and the Institute of Museum and Library Services. Her work has also been influenced by her interactions with artists like Kerry James Marshall and Njideka Akunyili Crosby, as well as her participation in events like the Art Basel and the Armory Show.

● Awards and Honors

Feldman has received numerous awards and honors for her contributions to the museum world, including the National Medal of Arts and the American Institute of Architects's Architecture Award. She has also been recognized by organizations like the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the National Academy of Design, which have honored her for her leadership and vision. Feldman's work has been acknowledged by institutions like the Smithsonian Institution and the Library of Congress, which have partnered with her on various projects and exhibitions. Her awards and honors are a testament to her dedication to the arts and her commitment to making museums more accessible and inclusive, as reflected in her involvement with initiatives like the Museum of Modern Art's MoMA PS1 and the Walker Art Center's Out There series.

● Personal Life

Feldman is married to Michael W. Fried, a Baltimore-based lawyer, and they have two children together. She is an avid supporter of the arts, and has served on the boards of organizations like the Baltimore Museum of Art and the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art. Feldman's personal interests include traveling and reading, and she has a particular fondness for the works of Henry James and Edith Wharton. Her love of literature has been influenced by her interactions with authors like Toni Morrison and Donna Tartt, as well as her participation in events like the National Book Festival and the PEN America literary festival. Feldman's commitment to the arts and her dedication to her family and community make her a respected and admired figure in the museum world, with a network of colleagues and friends that includes notable figures like Glenn Lowry and Thelma Golden.