I learned so much from watching her, watching how she managed progress and change at the board level at the Art Institute, Gardner said. Dow Jones Reprints at 1-800-843-0008 or visit www.djreprints.com. Her history with the museum dates back to 1995, when she began her decades-long involvement with the Leadership Advisory Committee. Gardner said she wants Chicago museum to be 'here for the public, not the few'. ARTnews is a part of Penske Media Corporation. "I realized there were a whole set of artists I never heard about growing up: Romare Bearden, Jacob Lawrence and then here in Chicago Charles White, Elizabeth Catlett. In this role, I can help the museum accelerate their progress, she said. In 2021, Denise Gardner made history when she was elected to be the chairman of the board of trustees of the Art Institute of Chicago, making her the first Black woman in the United States to lead a major museums board. Gardner will succeed Robert M. Levy as the leader of the governing body of both the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) and the Art Institute of Chicago museum. I hope she knows whats happening and I think she would have been overjoyed, Gardner said. This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. Im particularly excited for our students, particularly our women students and our students of color.. Join us this year for an exciting lineup of exhibitions, lectures, screenings, and special events. Weemss work is of particular importance to their collection, as a few years ago they faced a lack of wall space to accommodate a particularly large work by the artist. Gardner has experienced firsthand the benefits of making meaningful connections throughout the city. CHICAGO (WLS) -- It was announced in April of 2021 that Denise. The longtime art collector and marketing executive Denise Gardner will become the chairwoman of the Art Institute of Chicago in November, perhaps the countrys first Black woman to hold that position on a major museum board. Their collection of more than 130 works focuses on modern and contemporary Black artists, with works by Henry Ossawa Tanner, Carrie Mae Weems, Sam Gilliam, Ed Clark, Amy Sherald, Nick Cave, and Elizabeth Catlett. Courtesy of the Art Institute of Chicago. On the business front, Gary enjoyed a long career starting and building beauty and personal care companies. Gardner and his wife reside in Chicago, Illinois, where they run the Gary and Denise Family Foundation and maintain a private art collection. I look forward to working with the institutions leadership and staff to fully realize our aspiration of ensuring that people of all ages from throughout the Chicagoland area and beyond, particularly children, see the Art Institute of Chicago as a place where they are welcome and truly belong.. I welcome that. Lived In Arlington Heights IL, Canoga Park CA, Phoenix AZ, West Hills CA. Gardner has been a vice chair on the board for the past five years and was a clear choice as his successor, said Robert M. Levy, the current board chair. Courtesy the Art Institute of Chicago In a historic move, the Art Institute of Chicago has named art collector and patron Denise Gardner as its next board chair. Works by Black artists have surged in popularity in recent years, as curators and collectors reappraise their place in the canon. Denise Garder is chair of the Art Institute of Chicagosboard of trustees. As a member of the Black Trustees Alliance, Gardner is developing key relationships across institutions and playing a critical role in shaping the future of arts leadership throughout the country. And so I think about her and people like her. I am thrilled that Denise has agreed to take on this responsibility, shared Levy. She will take the steering role at the encyclopedic art museum and leading art college at a pivotal moment in their history. "We're here for the public, not the few. influential artists, designers, and scholars. Yet even established collections can use a tune-up, said Ms. Gardner, who has focused lately on adding works by women of the African diaspora. She currently sits on the boards of The Arts Club of Chicago and the Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation. .css-16c7pto-SnippetSignInLink{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;cursor:pointer;}Sign In, Copyright 2023 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved, Amy Sherald's 2017 work, 'A clear unspoken granted magic. She was the lead sponsor of the 2018 Charles White retrospective and has funded acquisitions to the museums drawing and modern and contemporary art departments over the years. Levy will remain on the board and Gardner will take over as chair when Levy's term ends in November. It is believed that she will be the first Black woman to head the board of a major U.S. art museum, although such demographics are hard to come by. James Rondeau, the Art Institutes president and director, remembered going to see artists in their studios with Gardner when he was a curator in modern and contemporary art, visiting such up-and-comers as Jennifer Packer and Mark Bradford. Levy will remain on the board and Gardner will take over as chair when Levys term ends in November. Distribution and use of this material are governed by She has helped the museum craft impactful plans and programs to engage new audiences. Serving from 1995 to 2006, Jones, who died Friday in Los Angeles at age 95, brought Gardner into contact and then deep involvement with the museum, Gardner said. Denise Garder is chair of the Art Institute of Chicago's board of trustees. . She is a transformational leader, drawing the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and museum closer to those we serve, while expanding who is in that audience. Watch footage of You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown at the Marriott Theatre! Denise joined the museum's board in 2006 and has been a member of the governing board of the School of the Art Institute since 2011. Gardner has a longstanding commitment to access, diversity, and equity in the arts. Denise Gardner, who will start in the post in November, is believed to be the countrys first Black woman to lead a major museum board. The Art Institute of Chicago announced today the election of Denise Gardner as the organization's new chairperson of the Board of Trustees. In 2021, Denise Gardner made history when she was elected to be the chairman of the board of trustees of the Art Institute of Chicago, making her the first Black woman in the United States to. https://www.wsj.com/articles/collectors-eye-they-built-a-world-class-collection-of-black-artists-work-who-are-they-acquiring-now-11594828483. A leader with her credentials is exactly what we need right now to take us into the future, James Rondeau, the museums director, said in a phone interview on Monday. Robert M. Levy, the current board chair, will remain on the board after Gardner assumes the position in November. A. She has built a comprehensive collection predominantly composed of art by Black makers with a focus on women artists and encourages access and engagement by funding diverse exhibitions throughout the city and loaning works to shows throughout the U.S. She is a collector ambassador for SOUTH SOUTH, a global platform of galleries dedicated to promoting art from the Americas, South Asia, and Africa. View Address. She has built a comprehensive collection predominantly composed of art by Black makers with a focus on women artists and encourages access and engagement by funding diverse exhibitions throughout the city and loaning works to shows throughout the U.S. She is a collector ambassador for SOUTH SOUTH, a global platform of galleries dedicated to promoting art from the Americas, South Asia, and Africa. Gardner will succeed Robert M. Levy as the leader of the governing body of both the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) and the Art Institute of Chicago museum. Weve never had a woman leader, weve never had a leader of color. Denise Gardner. Her collection focuses on Black and female artists, including Frank Bowling, Nick Cave and Carrie Mae Weems. If you have Her election may mark the first time a Black woman was elected to lead the board of a major U.S. art museum. I really want people of all ages and backgrounds to feel welcome at the museum, at home at the museum, and that they belong there and that theres something there for them, she said. Go inisde reheartsals with newly released photos and video of the company in action! Gardner will succeed Robert M. Levy as the leader of the governing body of both the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) and the Art Institute of Chicago museum. The Art Institute of Chicago on Tuesday elected Chicago philanthropist and art collector Denise Gardner as its next board chair, beginning in November. Representation is important.. She and her husband, Gary, are avid art collectors with a strong interest in African American art and works by Chicago artists. The Art Institute announced Tuesday that Chicago philanthropist and marketing executive Denise Gardner was elected chairperson of its board of trustees. Before leaving to join Team Israel, Cubs prospect Matt Mervis shared why this WBC means so much to him. Steele retired all six Padres batters he faced, then headed to the bullpen to throw 25 more pitches. With her professional background and a nearly 30-year relationship with the Art Institute as a volunteer and philanthropic leader, including 15 years as a trustee and five years in her current role as vice chair of the board, Gardner is uniquely positioned to advance the strategic vision of both the museum and the school. While their holdings include the works of major historical figures like Norman Lewis, Jack Whitten, Elizabeth Catlett, and Charles White, they have intentionally focused on purchasing the work of living artists. 10am PT/11am MT/12pm CT/1pm ET. Lori Sapio, Denise Gardner, 2021. CircEsteem has announced the return of Casino Night, a night of both winning and giving back to the communities we serve. Denise is at the vanguard of making art and design education more inclusive, said School of the Art Institute of Chicago President Elissa Tenny. Gaby Sulzberger, a Metropolitan Museum of Art board member and one of Gardners fellow founding members of the Black Trustee Alliance, said in an email she did not know of any Black women who have chaired major art museum boards. A Northwestern MBA and a marketer in the corporate world, Gardner founded the beauty products company Namaste Laboratories with her husband in the 1990s, and they sold it in the following decade, she said. I feel a little extra pressure to succeed. Denise Gardner, 66, has worked at the Art Institute for nearly 30 years, including 15 years as a trustee and five years in her current role as vice-chairman of the board. I look forward to supporting her vision as board chair.. ', Amy Sherald/Monique Meloche Gallery, Chicago. An art collector, Gardner said she has many favorite pieces of art in the museum, but one of her favorites is the Two Disciples at the Tomb by Henry Ossawa Tanner, acquired by the Art Institute in 1906. Shes thought to be the countrys first Black woman chairperson of a major museum board, though she said she wishes there was better evidence to confirm that. All Rights Reserved. Im looking forward to collaborating with her and the chair of SAICs board of governors, Anita Sinha, as we plan for the future.. I look forward to working with the institutions leadership and staff to fully realize our aspiration of ensuring that people of all ages from throughout the Chicagoland area and beyond, particularly children, see the Art Institute of Chicago as a place where they are welcome and truly belong.. Read more. "For date nights, a lot of the times, we'd (go) to the Art Institute. Get Denise Gardner's email address (d*****@artic.edu) and phone number (773216..) at RocketReach. Includes Address (6) Phone (6) Email (3) See Results. I n November 2021, Denise Gardner became the Chair of the Board of Trustees at The Art Institute of Chicago (AIC). A 15-year trustee of the museum,. A former marketer and advertiser, she was president of the research-based marketing and strategic planning firm Insights & Opportunities, co-founder of Namaste Laboratories, and a former VP of Marketing at Soft Sheen Products Company. I was exhausted., Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. The appointment comes at a time when cultural institutions are seeking to diversify their staffs, boards and programming. Dr. Gardner provides psychotherapy to parents, children, adolescents and young adults. I am grateful to our current chair, Bob Levy, for his leadership, particularly as we navigated the uncertainty of the past year.