What Is Contemporary Art?

Christian Rattemeyer is a distinguished curator who served as the Harvey S. Shipley Miller Associate Curator in the Department of Drawings & Prints at The Museum of Modern Art from 2007 to 2019, before becoming Director at SculptureCenter in Long Island City, New York. During his tenure at MoMA, he curated numerous significant exhibitions that showcased both contemporary and historical works. His notable curatorial projects include "SURROUNDS: 11 Installations" (2019), "Unfinished Conversations: New Work from the Collection" (2017), and "Transmissions: Art in Eastern Europe and Latin America 1960-1980" (2015). He also organized important exhibitions focusing on individual artists, such as "Alighiero Boetti: Game Plan" (2012) and "Projects 95: Runa Islam" (2011). Rattemeyer's curatorial vision particularly shines through in his thematic exhibitions exploring contemporary drawing practices, including "Eyes Closed/Eyes Open: Recent Acquisitions in Drawing" (2012), "I Am Still Alive: Politics and Everyday Life in Contemporary Drawing" (2011), and "Compass in Hand: Selections from The Judith Rothschild Foundation Contemporary Drawings Collection" (2009). His work has significantly contributed to the understanding and presentation of contemporary art, particularly in the medium of drawing and installations.

Erica Papernik-Shimizu serves as an Associate Curator in the Department of Media and Performance at The Museum of Modern Art, where she has been instrumental in shaping the institution's approach to time-based art since 2006. Her expertise lies in developing best practices for preserving and exhibiting time-based artworks, making her one of the founding members of MoMA's Media and Performance Department. Her career at MoMA has included significant curatorial achievements, such as organizing the MoMA PS1 iteration of "Carolee Schneemann: Kinetic Painting" (2017-18) and curating "Images of an Infinite Film" (2013). As Assistant Curator (2011-17), she co-organized "Tony Oursler: Imponderable" (2016) with Stuart Comer, and during her time as Curatorial Assistant (2007-10), she coordinated the landmark exhibition "Marina Abramovic: The Artist Is Present" (2010). Her experience extends to MoMA PS1, where she worked on various exhibitions between 2005-07. She holds a BA from the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor (2004) and an MA in History of Art from University College London (2005), bringing strong academic credentials to her curatorial practice. Most recently, she has curated "Shigeko Kubota: Liquid Reality," demonstrating her ongoing commitment to showcasing pioneering artists in media and performance art

Sean Anderson is currently Associate Professor and Director of the Bachelor of Architecture program at Cornell University, following his impactful tenure as Associate Curator in the Department of Architecture and Design at The Museum of Modern Art. His unique background combines architectural practice with art history, specializing in African art and architecture. During his time at MoMA, he curated several significant exhibitions including "Insecurities: Tracing Displacement and Shelter" (2016-17) and "Thinking Machines: Art and Design in the Computer Age, 1959-89" (2017-18)

Sophie Cavoulacos serves as Assistant Curator in the Department of Film at The Museum of Modern Art, where she specializes in moving image programming and exhibitions. She has made significant contributions to MoMA's film programming, including co-teaching the online course "What Is Contemporary Art?" which explores modern artistic practices and their cultural context. Her curatorial achievements include organizing the landmark exhibition "Club 57: Film, Performance, and Art in the East Village, 1978-1983" (2017) and co-curating the film series "New York Film and Video: No Wave-Transgressive" with Ron Magliozzi. As lead curator for Modern Mondays, MoMA's avant-garde series, she has brought innovative programming featuring artists like Alexander Kluge, Bernadette Mayer, Morgan Ritter, Metahaven, and Nazli Dincel. Her role on the selection committee for New Directors/New Films demonstrates her commitment to discovering and promoting emerging talent in contemporary cinema. Through her curatorial work and educational initiatives, Cavoulacos continues to bridge the gap between historical film preservation and contemporary moving image practices.

Arièle Dionne-Krosnick is a notable figure in the field of contemporary architecture and design, having served as a Curatorial Assistant in the Department of Architecture and Design at The Museum of Modern Art from 2016 to 2020. Her work is deeply engaged with the socio-political dimensions of architecture, focusing on how design intersects with issues of displacement and systemic racism. She played a key role in coordinating the Young Architects Program at MoMA/MoMA PS1 and contributed to significant exhibitions such as Insecurities: Tracing Displacement and Shelter (2016), Frank Lloyd Wright at 150: Unpacking the Archive (2017), and Reconstructions: Architecture and Blackness in America (2021). This latter exhibition critically examined the impact of systemic racism on urban design in the U.S., showcasing how architecture can reflect and challenge social injustices. Currently pursuing her PhD in architecture at McGill University, Arièle continues to explore these critical themes, shaping discussions around the future of architectural practice and its role in society.