Jennifer Finkel named curator of Wake Forest’s art collections

Jennifer Finkel

Jennifer Finkel has been named Wake Forest curator of collections to oversee all aspects of the University’s art collections. The position joins the Office of the Provost’s growing arts initiatives under Christina Soriano, associate provost for the arts and interdisciplinary initiatives.

The University’s art collection presents an exceptional resource for teaching, learning and research. In collaboration with faculty, Finkel will develop interdisciplinary programs that support the curriculum across the college and professional schools.

“My goal is for faculty and students to use the collection in new and innovative ways,” said Finkel. “Many universities have art collections; however, Wake Forest’s collection is superb in quality, and students, faculty and staff live with the art in offices, lobbies, corridors and conference rooms.”

The collection is made up of a range of media including paintings, prints, photography, sculpture, drawings, furniture and textiles. The collection has grown from commissions, gifts, bequests and purchases. One of Finkel’s initial goals is to make the collection’s database available online.

Finkel moved to Winston-Salem from Cleveland, Ohio, where she was the curator of Cleveland Clinic’s contemporary art collection, overseeing acquisitions, installations and commissions and helping to grow their collection to more than 7,000 artworks.

“What makes contemporary art especially challenging (in a good way) is that, like the world around us, it has become more diverse and cannot be easily defined. In this way, the art of our times may serve as a catalyst for open discussion and intellectual inquiry about the world today.”

Finkel studied art history at Georgetown University and received her doctorate in Renaissance art at Case Western Reserve University. She has been working in the world of contemporary art for the past 15 years.