KALAMAZOO, MI.- Vicki C. Wright has joined the staff of the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts as its new director of collections and exhibitions. In this role, she is responsible for planning the KIA’s exhibitions, managing the KIA permanent collection and supervising department staff.

Previously, Wright served as director of the Museum of Art at the University of New Hampshire (1986-2008), where she planned exhibitions, developed the permanent art collection and taught a course in museum studies.

She coordinated numerous exhibitions for the museum, such as The Simple Art: Printed Images in an Age of Magnificence (2006); On Great Bay: Paintings by Christopher Cook and Arthur DiMambro (2001); Art and Architecture: The Vision of Graham Gund (1998); Deeply Rooted: New Hampshire Traditions in Wood (1997); Realism and Invention in the Prints of Albrecht Dürer (1995-96).

Wright was the founding chair of the UNH Committee for Campus Aesthetics, and currently serves as vice president of the National Board of Advisors of the Richard M. Ross Art Museum at Ohio Wesleyan University. She has served as juror and guest curator for art exhibitions throughout New Hampshire and Maine, and has published and presented frequently in the field of art and art history.

Wright earned a B.F.A. in painting from Ohio Wesleyan University, and an M.A. in art history from Arizona State University. She previously held positions at the Art Gallery, University of Maryland, and the Phoenix Art Museum.

Part of the community since 1924, the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts provides visual arts experiences to people throughout West Michigan. Each year, thousands of visitors enjoy the KIA’s exhibitions, receptions and special events, educational programs, Art School classes and fine arts library.