LOUISVILLE, KY.- The Speed Art Museum announced today that Erika Holmquist-Wall will become Chief Curator on January 30, succeeding Scott Erbes, who held the title since 2013. Erbes wishes to return to his first love at the Speed, the museum’s extensive Kentucky collection and its outstanding decorative arts and design collections, in his capacity as Curator of Decorative Arts and Design. Erbes helped guide the reinstallation and design of the new Speed Art Museum in 2016, following three years of closure for a $60 million expansion and renovation.
“When I arrived at the Speed in 2013, the Speed was closed, offices were in Nulu downtown, the collection was in storage and there was no chief curator,” said Speed Art Museum CEO, Ghislain d’Humieres. “Within a couple of weeks, I realized Scott Erbes was the leader we needed to help manage and create the transition to the new Speed. His great passion is curating, but he reluctantly agreed to become chief curator. He is extremely reliable, dedicated to the institution, hard-working and organized.”
At the time, Erbes took on the task of transitioning the small downtown temporary gallery space into “Local Speed”, with ongoing exhibitions throughout the museum’s closure; he hired three of the Speed’s five curators (including Erika Holmquist-Wall); and he managed the layout, interpretation, and reinstallation of the Speed collection in the museum’s new and renovated galleries.
Erbes, who has been with the Speed since 1999, relished the excitement of the reinstallation and reopening, but is ready to return to his curatorial roots. “I’m extremely honored to have been able to assemble such an outstanding team of curators, registrars, and art preparators and work with them to create the new Speed. I am so proud of what we accomplished: new spaces like our Kentucky gallery and galleries for contemporary art, beautiful renovations of existing galleries, and the launch of the new Speed Cinema,” he said. “We managed to honor the legacy of Mrs. Speed, and take her galleries and blend them with the new Speed’s construction with fabulous results. I know this dynamic group will continue to create great exhibitions and innovative film programs in the years ahead, not to mention securing exciting acquisitions to share with our visitors.”
“Scott Erbes has been an outstanding chief curator, a superb manager, and a very calm, steady leader for our curatorial team,” said Richard Clay, Speed Collection Committee Chair and former Chair, Speed Board of Trustees. “Scott's greatest love is decorative arts, and he is primarily responsible for the growth of the Speed's magnificent Kentucky collection. He is first and foremost a scholar and this leadership change will give him more time to focus on his research and writing.”
“I could not have reopened the museum on time and on budget without his support,” added d’Humieres. “We had an agreement that eventually he wanted to return to curating the decorative arts collections as well as focusing on 21st century design. He can now dedicate himself to that.”
Erika Holmquist-Wall, who has worked as the Mary and Barry Bingham, Sr., Curator of European and American Painting and Sculpture at the Speed since 2014, came to Louisville from the Minneapolis Institute of Arts. “I’m brimming over with ideas for how we can better share the collection and encourage the public to be more involved,” said Holmquist-Wall. “I have traditional museum experience, but I’m also looking toward the future. We need to share our collection on not just a physical level, but a digital level as well. That means reaching out via the Internet, podcasts, social media and more. We have all the opportunity and potential in the world to be doing something great with our collection.”
She will continue to work alongside Erbes and the Speed’s curatorial team to maintain the forward momentum from the Speed’s successful reopening in March 2016. “Erika’s extensive experience in a major institution, plus her spirit of teamwork and relationship with collectors is phenomenal,” said d’Humieres.
“Erika Holmquist-Wall brings passion to the collection with a marvelous eye, great imagination, and scholarly research of the highest quality,” added Clay. “People love to be around her. She is one of the best teachers I've ever known, and I have watched her teach young children, middle and high schoolers, young adults, and older people. She can make a painting or a piece of sculpture come alive for anyone from the most sophisticated collector to someone who is just beginning to embark on a love for art. I am sure that Erika will help us continue to grow the collection, bring in new collectors and supporters, and help us continue to fulfill our mission of enriching lives through the magic of great works of art.”
Holmquist-Wall will work on future exhibitions, conservation, restoration and acquisitions for the Speed, as she manages the Museum’s curatorial team. “It is incredibly gratifying to get people excited about art and create “aha!” moments for them,” she said. “Art serves the purpose of enhancing our lives, and the Speed is perfectly positioned to start sharing more of it, whether it’s through our permanent collection or traveling exhibitions.”
