LONG ISLAND CITY, NY.- Socrates Sculpture Park announced Kaitlin Garcia-Maestas as the next Curator and Director of Exhibitions at Socrates Sculpture Park. She joins the park from the Momentary in Bentonville, Arkansas, where she was Acting Curator of Visual Arts. Kaitlin has organized exhibitions, outdoor installations, and residencies with artists like Tavares Strachan, Matthew Barney, Diana Al-Hadid, Yvette Mayorga, and Andrea Carlson.

“I am thrilled to welcome Kaitlin to New York as Curator and Director of Exhibitions at Socrates where she will be a wonderful addition to the team,” said Tamsin Dillon, Executive Director of Socrates Sculpture Park. “Kaitlin has developed a clear and exciting vision as a curator with artists and audiences central to her work in museums, galleries and in outdoor public settings. I am looking forward to working with and supporting her in developing an exciting and ambitious program of art projects that builds on and continues the legacy of Socrates.”

Kaitlin's work centers artist-driven projects and initiatives and takes an invigorated approach to exhibition programming and the support and presentation of contemporary artists, with a vision to expand organizations’ mission, values, and reach. Her research and curatorial interests have primarily been devoted to exploring themes of decolonial resistance, displacement, and cultural heritage in the United States and the Americas.

Her achievements at the Momentary include the launch of the new contemporary art space in 2020, the development of the outdoor art program, and a robust exhibition program focused on site-specific architectural interventions. Past projects also include Mi Tierra: Contemporary Artists Explore Place at the Denver Art Museum and the Biennial Ambassadors artist residency program, a collaboration between the Biennial of the Americas and SOMA Mexico City. 

“I am excited to begin my role as Curator and Director of Exhibitions at Socrates, an organization that acts as a powerful incubator for collaboration, experimentation, and public engagement in visual art," said Kaitlin Garcia-Maestas. "I have long admired the Park’s artist-centric model, unique outdoor studio space, and commitment to supporting artists with on-site production. Uniquely situated between two rapidly evolving neighborhoods–Long Island City and Astoria–I look forward to contributing to the future of the Park at this pivotal moment of growth and transformation.”