Six Characters in Search of a Curator

Maureen O'Brien, Frank Robinson Curator of Painting and Sculpture, will share her curatorial process of art acquisitions reflecting on the meaning and origins of specific pieces and illuminating the considerations of committing to long-term care and preservation. O’Brien has been able to acquire significant paintings by Berthe Morisot, Leonora Carrington, Aaron Douglas, Adele Romany and Carolus-Duran for the museum collection during her tenure. Plus, discover how these acquisitions connect to historical works of art within the collection.

Free. Registration requested.
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This lecture is supported by the Selma L. Bernstingle Memorial Docent Fund, named in honor of the late RISD Museum Docent, and organized annually by the RISD Museum Docents.

Maureen O’Brien is the Frank Robinson Curator of Painting and Sculpture at the RISD Museum, where she has shaped the institution’s direction for over 37 years. She leads the care, interpretation, and presentation of a collection that spans centuries and diverse cultural traditions, curating exhibitions and guiding acquisitions that expand the museum’s reach and relevance.
Her notable exhibitions include Image and Enterprise: The Photographs of Adolphe Braun (2000) and Edgar Degas: Six Friends at Dieppe (2005), both supported by scholarly catalogues. She has championed the inclusion of underrepresented voices in the collection, acquiring works by artists such as Berthe Morisot, Adèle Romany, Leonora Carrington, Aaron Douglas, and Richmond Barthé.
Previously the museum’s Curator of Prints, Drawings and Photographs, O’Brien has long integrated historical depth with contemporary insight. Her enduring commitment to accessibility and scholarship continues to shape the RISD Museum’s role in the community and the field.