SAINT LOUIS, MO.- The Saint Louis Art Museum announced that Simon Kelly will assume the role of curator of modern and contemporary art on September 15, 2010.

Kelly joins the Museum after four and a half years with The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City where he was associate curator of European painting and sculpture. During his tenure, Kelly curated nine exhibitions, including Manet to Matisse: Impressionist Masters from the Marion and Henry Bloch Collection (2007). He also worked from 2002–2005 as the Andrew W. Mellon Post-Doctoral Curatorial Fellow in Eighteenth and Nineteenth Century Art at the Walters Art Museum in Baltimore. While there he curated three exhibitions, including The Road to Impressionism: Landscapes from Corot to Monet (2004). Previously, he was the 2001 Chester Dale Post-Doctoral Fellow in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's department of European paintings.

"Simon's appointment was the result of an extensive and highly competitive international search," said Brent R. Benjamin, Museum director. "We are delighted to have Simon join the Museum. His appointment is a testament to the caliber of applicants that the Saint Louis Art Museum attracts."

Kelly received his Bachelor of Arts degree in history and art history from Jesus College at the University of Cambridge in England, and he earned a doctorate in art history from the University of Oxford. Kelly has lectured extensively and has published numerous articles and the book Untamed: The Art of Antoine-Louis Barye (2006). Among his recent scholarly efforts are essays in Renoir Landscapes 1865–1883 (National Gallery, London, 2007) and In the Forest of Fontainebleau: Painters and Photographers from Corot to Monet (National Gallery of Art, Washington, 2008).

Kelly was visiting associate professor at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. He also taught the history of contemporary art at the Ruskin School of Drawing and Fine Art at the University of Oxford. He is a Professional Development Committee Co-Chair and Trustee of The Association of Art Museum Curators.

"We are very excited to have Simon join the Museum," said Andrew Walker, assistant director for curatorial affairs and curator of American art. "With extensive experience in organizing exhibitions, lecturing and collection research, his expertise will be invaluable as we prepare for the installation of the expanded Museum."