ST. LOUIS, MO.- The success of recent events, expansion of vision, and strong pool of international artists looking to present innovative works has led St. Louis-based Barrett Barrera Projects to make an exciting addition to their leadership team.

Jessica Baran will serve as Associate Director of Curatorial and Program Development, providing thought leadership, contemporary art expertise, artist advisement, and assistance in developing events and programs through Barrett Barrera Projects and its affiliate gallery projects+gallery.

Baran is a curator, art writer and poet who has authored three poetry collections and whose poems and art criticism have appeared in numerous journals and anthologies. In 2013, she received Lost Roads Press’ first Besmilir Brigham Women Writers Award for her book Equivalents and in 2014 was a recipient of a Regional Arts Commission Artist Fellowship. She currently serves as a lecturer at Washington University in St. Louis’ Sam Fox School of Art and Design and teaches in Saint Louis University’s Prison Arts & Education program. She also co-curates (with poet Ted Mathys) the 100 Boots Poetry Series at the Pulitzer Arts Foundation. Previously, she served as curator and director of fort gondo compound for the arts and as assistant director at White Flag Projects. She holds a BA in visual art from Columbia University and an MFA in poetry from Washington University in St. Louis.

“St. Louis is incredibly lucky to have a talent like Jessica,” says Susan Barrett, president of Barrett Barrera Projects. “Her artistic gifts, leadership experience and knowledge of the contemporary art world make her an invaluable addition to our staff.”

Barrett Barrera Projects was founded in 2014 as a multidisciplinary consulting company specializing in arts, culture and contemporary fashion. Clients include a wide range of collectors, public and private organizations, and community groups. In addition to offering art advisory services, Barrett Barrera Projects represents national and international artists that blur the boundaries of traditionally understood artistic disciplines and practices and organizes exhibitions available for travel domestically and internationally. Barrett Barrera Projects works with its affiliated commercial art gallery, projects+gallery, in St. Louis to bring regional, national and international artists to the city.