Robert Rauschenberg Foundation Appoints Three New Board Members

Image: Robert Rauschenberg, painter, New York, May 2, 1960. Photo: Richard Avedon © The Richard Avedon Foundation

The Robert Rauschenberg Foundation announced the appointment of three distinguished experts in modern and contemporary art to its Board of Directors. The newest board members include: Dr. Kellie Jones, Professor in Art History and Archaeology and the Institute for Research in African American Studies (IRAAS) at Columbia University; Dr. Glenn D. Lowry, Director of The Museum of Modern Art; and A.C. Hudgins, a well-known collector of African-American art with experience in the field of finance.

Robert Rauschenberg, painter, New York, May 2, 1960. Photo: Richard Avedon © The Richard Avedon Foundation

“Kellie, Glenn, and A.C. are intimately involved with the creative lives of artists across the globe and firm believers that the foundation’s artistic and philanthropic programs must reflect Rauschenberg’s own fearlessly experimental and collaborative approach to living and working,” said Kathy Halbreich, executive director of the organization. “Indeed, Bob’s own values provide us with unusual freedom to be nimble in how we work and iconoclastic in what we support; these three new board members, each leaders in their fields, understand the particular relevance of Bob’s work to artists working today, and his legacy will benefit greatly due to these highly-respected individuals’ expertise and passion.”

Dr. Kellie Jones – the daughter of poets Hettie Jones and Amiri Baraka – is a scholar and accomplished curator of exhibitions at various institutions, including the Hammer and Brooklyn museums. As a respected professor and researcher, she examines African-American and African Diaspora artists, Latinx and Latin-American artists, and issues in contemporary art and museum theory. Dr. Jones is the recipient of several fellowships and awards, including a grant from Creative Capital and the Warhol Foundation, a term as a Scholar-in-Residence at the Terra Foundation in France, and a MacArthur Foundation Fellowship. Dr. Jones received her Ph.D from Yale University in 1999.

Additionally, Dr. Glenn D. Lowry, as the director of The Museum of Modern Art for nearly 25 years and an Islamist by training, provides the Foundation with a global overview of artists and the institutions that support them in a rapidly changing world. Lowry leads a staff of over 750 people and directs an active program of exhibitions, acquisitions, and publications. He is strong advocate of contemporary art and publishes widely. Lowry is a member of The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation's Board of Trustees, a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and a resident member of the American Philosophical Society. He also serves on the advisory council of the Department of Art History and Archaeology at Columbia University and is a Trustee of the Association of Art Museum Directors. In 2004, the French government honored Mr. Lowry with the title of Officier dans L'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres. Mr. Lowry obtained a B.A. degree magna cum laude from Williams College, Williamstown, and M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in history of art from Harvard University.

Finally, the Foundation is thrilled to welcome A.C. Hudgins to the board. Hudgins is a private collector of African-American art, including early works by David Hammons, Senga Nengudi and Henry Taylor. He has been on the Board of Trustees at the Museum of Modern Artsince 2012 and has donated several iconic African-American pieces to the museum’s collection. Additionally, he serves as Board President Emeritus of the Harlem Stage.

Since 2012, The Robert Rauschenberg Foundation has worked to extend the legacy of Robert Rauschenberg’s innovative work and increase the breadth of artists who follow in his activist footsteps through new scholarship, exhibition planning, philanthropic initiatives, and residencies.