Atlanta Contemporary has announced the appointment of Lauren Haynes as its new executive director, starting on March 16. She succeeds Everett Long, who served as interim director since last summer.
Haynes comes with extensive curatorial expertise from various institutions across the United States. Most recently, she held the position of vice president of arts & culture and head curator at the Trust for Governors Island, which is known for its vibrant arts programming, including exhibitions, site-specific installations, residencies, and an art fair.
Prior to her role at Governors Island, Haynes contributed her talents to the Queens Museum, Duke University's Nasher Museum in North Carolina, the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, and the Studio Museum in Harlem. She is also a board member of the Association of Art Museum Curators.
Throughout her two-decade career, Haynes has curated notable exhibitions featuring artists such as Tracey Rose, Lyle Ashton Harris, Georgia O'Keeffe, Alma Thomas, and Stanley Whitney.
In a statement, Haynes expressed her enthusiasm, stating, "Atlanta Contemporary's commitment to supporting artists, encouraging creative exploration, and representing diverse perspectives aligns closely with my own values and practices."
As the new executive director, she aims to bring stability to the institution, which was founded in 1973 as an artists' collective and has operated without a permanent collection. The previous interim director, Everett Long, took on the role after Floyd Hall's resignation following an 18-month tenure.
Currently, Atlanta Contemporary is showcasing six exhibitions until May 17, featuring solo shows by artists Brittany Adeline King, Jean Shon, and Natalie Rose Eddings. Additionally, there is a group exhibition highlighting five Georgia-based artists who utilize books, as well as "Unbound Narratives," which emphasizes artists who engage with language. Another notable exhibition is "Images of Black Liberation from the Johnson Publishing Company Archives," created in collaboration with the Getty Research Center and Spelman College in Atlanta.