Laura Minton named Acquavella Director of University Art Galleries and Collections

Laura Minton (’11) has been appointed the Acquavella Director of University Art Galleries and Collections at Wake Forest, effective September 15, 2025.

In this role, Minton will oversee the newly renovated Charlotte and Philip Hanes Art Gallery, the stArt Gallery for student art, and University collections. Her work will guide the care, interpretation, and presentation of Wake Forest’s permanent collections while fostering innovative exhibitions and educational opportunities for students, faculty, staff, and the broader community. The Acquavella Director will report to the chair of the art department, a new structure designed to enhance communication and collaboration with the department while maintaining the role’s core functions.

As an undergraduate art history major at Wake Forest, Minton discovered her passion for curating during an internship at the Reynolda House Museum of American Art.  

“Laura’s return to Wake Forest is a perfect homecoming,” said John Curley, professor and chair of the art department. “She has a rare gift for making complex art accessible and engaging, and she will create exhibitions and programming that resonate across our campus and throughout the community. Laura understands what makes Wake Forest special, and I’m excited to see how she will invigorate our campus with her innovative vision for the visual arts.”

Minton joins Wake Forest from the George W. Bush Presidential Center, where she served as senior program manager of museum operations and led the development and implementation of all museum programs and exhibitions. Her experience also includes leadership roles at several higher education institutions. Minton most recently served as interim chief curator and curator of exhibitions at the Fralin Museum of Art at the University of Virginia. During her tenure, she led the curatorial department, oversaw the development and production of more than a dozen exhibitions annually, curated original shows, and managed a collection of more than 14,000 works of art.

Additional experience includes curatorial roles at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston; the Bardo Arts Center at Western Carolina University; and the Spencer Museum of Art at the University of Kansas. Minton earned her doctorate and master’s degrees in art history from the University of Kansas and holds a bachelor’s degree in art history from Wake Forest.