PROVIDENCE, RI.- The RISD Museum announced two transformative developments that highlight its dedication to celebrating and preserving art: a generous $2 million gift from Stephen and A. Ewa Metcalf to endow the position of curator of Painting and Sculpture and the appointment of María Fernanda Mancera as assistant curator of Indigenous Art. These milestones underscore the museum’s ongoing commitment to advancing its curatorial vision and fostering meaningful connections with diverse art communities.

RISD Museum Receives $2 Million Gift to Endow Curatorial Position

The RISD Museum is thrilled to announce a generous $2 million gift from Stephen and A. Ewa Metcalf to endow the position of Curator of Painting and Sculpture. In recognition of the remarkable contribution, the curator position will be named the Frank Robinson Curator of Painting and Sculpture, honoring the legacy of the museum’s former director.

This endowment ensures permanent support for the curatorial leadership of one of the museum’s most significant collections, which includes works spanning centuries and representing diverse traditions in painting and sculpture. The newly named Frank Robinson Curator of Painting and Sculpture will continue to deepen the museum’s engagement with its audiences through innovative exhibitions, research, acquisitions and programs highlighting the collection’s breadth and cultural importance.

In celebrating this transformative gift, the RISD Museum also honors Maureen O’Brien, the museum’s esteemed current curator of Painting and Sculpture. With over 37 years of dedicated service, O’Brien continues to play a pivotal role in shaping the museum, leaving an indelible mark on the institution and its community.

O’Brien’s curatorial vision has led to a series of standout exhibitions, including Image and Enterprise: The Photographs of Adolphe Braun (2000) and Edgar Degas: Six Friends at Dieppe (2005), both of which were accompanied by significant scholarly catalogues. Her commitment to expanding the museum’s holdings has resulted in important acquisitions, particularly works by women artists such as Berthe Morisot’s Child with a Red Apron, Adèle Romany’s Portrait of Auguste Vestris, and Leonora Carrington’s Stella Snead and Her Cat and artists of color including Aaron Douglas’s Building More Stately Mansions and Richmond Barthé’s Portrait of Julius Perkins, Jr.

She has also been a leading advocate for accessibility in museum spaces, ensuring that exhibitions and collections are available to a broader audience. O’Brien’s tenure at RISD has been defined by her exceptional ability to present and interpret art, her dedication to scholarship and her ability to engage audiences through compelling storytelling. Before assuming her current role, she served as the museum’s curator of Prints, Drawings and Photographs in the 1990s, where she played a key role in developing programming that bridged historical and contemporary perspectives. Her contributions thus far have shaped the museum’s identity and will continue to influence its future.

“We are deeply grateful to Stephen and Ewa Metcalf for their extraordinary generosity,” said Tsugumi Maki, director of the RISD Museum. “Their visionary gift not only honors Frank Robinson’s lasting impact on the museum but also ensures that the RISD Museum remains a vibrant center for art, scholarship, and community connection. At the same time, we recognize and celebrate Maureen O’Brien’s incredible contributions, which have enriched the museum for nearly four decades.”

Franklin W. Robinson served as the RISD Museum’s director from 1979–92 and made significant contributions to the museum’s growth and reputation as a leading institution for art and design. Naming this curatorial position in his honor reflects his profound influence and enduring legacy.

“It is an honor to support the RISD Museum and its mission to inspire creativity and inquiry through art,” said Stephen Metcalf. “We hope this gift will help ensure that the museum continues to thrive and that Frank Robinson’s passion for art and the community is celebrated for generations to come.”

The RISD Museum’s collection of painting and sculpture is a cornerstone of its holdings, including important examples of European and American art ranging from the 12th through the early 20th centuries, including medieval and Renaissance sculptures and paintings by Edouard Manet, Claude Monet, Berthe Morisot, and Winslow Homer. The endowed position will enable the museum to enhance its stewardship of these works, support ambitious curatorial initiatives and create opportunities for public engagement with this vital area of the collection.

María Fernanda Mancera Joins as Assistant Curator of Indigenous Art

María Fernanda Mancera brings extensive experience in the arts, having worked in various roles in Boston. She served as a curatorial fellow at the Tufts University Art Galleries from 2022–23 and as programs manager at the Urbano Project, a Boston-based nonprofit, from 2020–22. Originally from Colombia, Fernanda Mancera moved to the United States in 2019 after years of working with visual arts galleries and organizations in her home country.

The assistant curator of Indigenous Art position reflects an expanded vision for the museum’s commitment to Indigenous art. This role broadens the scope of the museum’s previous assistant curator of Native American Art position, emphasizing an inclusive approach to the museum’s Indigenous art collection and fostering stronger connections with local and national Native American art communities. Fernanda Mancera will build on the exceptional foundation established by her predecessor, Sháńdíín Brown.

In her role, Fernanda Mancera will oversee approximately 1,700 objects classified as Indigenous art within the RISD Museum’s collection. She will collaborate with museum staff to ensure compliance with NAGPRA (Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act) and contribute to the care, assessment and cataloging of these works. Additionally, she will develop exhibitions and projects that offer fresh and dynamic interpretations of Indigenous art while thoughtfully expanding the collection.

“We are thrilled to welcome María Fernanda Mancera to the RISD Museum,” said Dominic Molon, Richard Brown Baker Curator of Contemporary Art. “Her experience, vision, and commitment to Indigenous art will enhance our ability to engage diverse audiences and deepen our relationships with Indigenous communities.”