Art history Ph.D. candidate receives assistant curator appointment at the Portland Museum of Art

Elizabeth S. Humphrey, art history Ph.D. candidate - curatorial track, will soon begin her newly appointed role as the assistant curator of American art with the Portland Museum of Art (PMA). Andrew Eschelbacher, deputy director and head of art and exhibitions, is excited to have Humphrey join the PMA team and said, “Humphrey will support the research, interpretation, exhibition development and stewardship of the museum’s American art collections while contributing to the PMA’s mission of Art for All through innovative scholarship, community engagement and inclusive curatorial practice.”

Known for its extensive collection of American, European and contemporary art, the PMA expects Humphrey to be a vital part of its curatorial team and to contribute to its roster of diverse, knowledgeable scholars. During her tenure in the University of Delaware Department of Art History, Humphrey has focused on North American art and material culture, and on Blackness and identity formation.

Humphrey is looking forward to her work at the PMA and intends to apply her interdisciplinary and object-centered experience in the position. “The art history department’s curatorial track Ph.D. and the Museum Studies Graduate Certificate programs have contributed to my preparation for the role,” she said. “I’ve had the opportunity to deepen my studies in North American art and gain practical experience through internships.”

While at the PMA, Humphrey will continue working on her dissertation, Degrees of Blackness: Racial Perception in North American Art, 1830–1864, exploring the visual construction of race in 19th-century North American art. The Department of Art History would like to congratulate Humphrey on her new role and is excited to see all she will accomplish with the PMA. The department is immensely proud of its alums and talented Ph.D. candidates who are taking on important roles in their fields and beginning their careers.

Click to see the PMA’s announcement of Humphrey’s appointment.