Becoming a Curator

Masters at Work

by Holly Brubach

An illuminating guide to a career as a curator written by acclaimed journalist Holly Brubach and based on the real-life experiences of an expert in the field—essential reading for someone considering a path to this challenging, yet rewarding profession.

Go behind the scenes and be mentored by the best to find out what it’s really like, and what it really takes, to become a curator.

Esteemed journalist Holly Brubach takes readers to the front lines to offer a candid portrait of the modern curatorial profession. Brubach shadows Elisabeth Sussman of the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York to reveal how a top curator actually works. In Becoming a Curator, Brubach reveals the path to becoming a curator in today’s ultra-competitive art world, from education to exhibition.

Sit in on acquisition meetings, plan a splashy new show, go on a studio visit with an up-and-coming artist, and attend an opening at famed David Zwirner gallery in Chelsea.

As museums step into the 21st century, the role of curator is changing and more crucial than ever. For those passionate about art, culture, and museums, this is the most valuable informational interview you’ll ever have—required reading for anyone considering this dream career.

Genres: Museums, Art

160 pages, Hardcover

Published September 3, 2019

Reviews

[Audrey Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

I finally managed to finish this audiobook. I thoroughly enjoyed the storytelling and how the author chose to go about writing Sussman's story. More importantly, I love the last chapter. It's a great way of closing off the book yet it keeps you wondering how successful yet humble Elizabeth was. Great read, would recommend it as something leisurely.

[Serhat · Rating 3 out of 5]

elizabeth sussman ismili bir küratörün, bu meslekteki gelişimine odaklanan bir kitap. (bu seride bir meslekten öne çıkan isimlerden birinin meslekteki gelişimine odaklanan bu tarz farklı kitaplar basılmış)

kürasyon gerçekten çok önemsediğim bir iş; çünkü sayısız eser arasından bir seçkiye hepimizin ihtiyacı var, zaman açısından bütün her şeyi bilme imkanımız yok. örneğin film festivalleri bu konuda çok iyi örnekler sunabiliyor. belli bir fikir çerçevesinde oluşturulmuş filmleri festivalin parçası yapabiliyorlar. sanatın daha çok eser üretilen resim gibi dallarında tabii çok daha kritik bir ihtiyaç haline geliyor kürasyon.

kitaptaki en büyük eksiklik bana kalırsa bu ihtiyacı giderecek mesleğin incelikli noktalarına direkt değinilmemiş olması. iyi bir küratör olmak için gerekli yetkinlikler, satır aralarında yakalanabilecek ya da gözden kaçabilecek kadar odak dışında bahsedilmiş. kısa bir zaman dilimini kapsayan biyografik bir eser formatında yazılmış.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting, yet not what I expected. This series of books, Masters at Work, is a fascinating idea, and written by lead journalists, described as a short, “virtual internship”. Becoming a Curator follows one successful curator throughout her career, how she got there, her character traits, and what the really entails. I loved it, since this what I went to school for, interned for, and worked as after graduating. Since having children, I’d say I’ve only curated my own home, haha! But I still love learning everything about the art field.

[Brian Hutzell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Both the title and the blurb on the back cover would lead you to believe this is a “how to” or career guide. Aside from less than 10 pages near the end, it is not. Rather, it is a profile of one specific curator, Elisabeth Sussman. It is an interesting profile, but I would like to have heard from a variety of curators in a variety of settings. Anyone considering entering the field of curatorship might enjoy this book, but will also want to search out other sources to gain a broader range of perspectives, and for more specific advice on how to pursue this career.

[Wendy Lu · Rating 4 out of 5]

very reminiscent of the mason currey books on daily rituals of the artist, or those studio vlogs millennial artists put out on youtube, but with a kinder impulse, i think. less voyeuristic. more biography than ten ways to kickstart your creative process. both are fun, nice reads, but just, ya know. different.

[Steven desJardins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Slim, readable volume covering curator Elizabeth Sussman's professional career, and by extension some of the artists she championed. By its nature, this isn't a comprehensive look at what curators do, it's only a look at one curator's approach to the job, but for someone starting from a position of great ignorance that is illuminating and interesting.