This is really an important moment. Gardner has experienced firsthand the benefits of making meaningful connections throughout the city. As a member of the Black Trustees Alliance, Gardner is developing key relationships across institutions and playing a critical role in shaping the future of arts leadership throughout the country. (AP . With her professional background and a nearly 30-year relationship with the Art Institute as a volunteer and philanthropic leader, including 15 years as a trustee and five years in her current role as vice chair of the board, Gardner is uniquely positioned to advance the strategic vision of both the museum and the school. Send us a tip using our anonymous form. She has led the couples significant art collecting, particularly of Black women artists. This followed a 2017 AAM industrywide survey that found just 3% of museums had a Black board chair, almost half had all-white boards and 9 in 10 museum board members were white. For her part, Gardner was quick to praise women who have served on boards before her, particularly Jetta Jones, the Art Institutes first Black woman trustee. And often shes ahead of the pack, Rondeau said. A Chicago native and Northwestern business school graduate, Gardner founded the beauty products company Namaste Laboratories with her husband Gary in the 1990s. Her vision for the Art Institute reflects our commitment to an inclusive understanding of human creativity, Pritzker said. In this role, I can help the museum accelerate their progress, she said. I look forward to working with the institutions leadership and staff to fully realize our aspiration of ensuring that people of all ages from throughout the Chicagoland area and beyond, particularly children, see the Art Institute of Chicago as a place where they are welcome and truly belong.. I am absolutely thrilled with this appointment, said Elissa Tenny, president of the school. A leader with her credentials is exactly what we need right now to take us into the future, James Rondeau, the museums director, said in a phone interview on Monday. The Art Institute announced Tuesday that Chicago philanthropist and marketing executive Denise Gardner was elected chairperson of its board of trustees. But in Gardner, institution leaders said they believe the museum has found a guiding hand suited to the moment. Learn more. Denise Gardner is the first Black person and woman chairperson of the Board of Trustees for the Art Institute of Chicago. Gaby Sulzberger, a Metropolitan Museum of Art board member and one of Gardners fellow founding members of the Black Trustee Alliance, said in an email she did not know of any Black women who have chaired major art museum boards. She was an early buyer of Amy Sherald, whose popularity has surged since her official portrait of Michelle Obama, which hangs in the Smithsonians National Portrait Gallery. Gardner will succeed Robert M. Levy as the leader of the governing body of both the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) and the Art Institute of Chicago museum. Shes thought to be the countrys first Black woman chairperson of a major museum board, though she said she wishes there was better evidence to confirm that. 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Denise Gardner. A defensive stalwart, Oswego Easts Tyler Jasek surprises Joliet West. Denise Gardner is 67 years old today because Denise's birthday is on 10/01/1954. She certainly could have been chair.. The Art Institute of Chicago announced the election of Denise Gardner as the organization's new chairperson of the Board of Trustees, succeeding Robert M. Levy as the leader of the governing body of both the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) and the Art Institute of Chicago museum. I am thrilled that Denise has agreed to take on this responsibility, shared Levy. Courtesy of the Art Institute of Chicago. Denise also answers to Denise A Gardner, and perhaps a couple of other names. Notable alumni and faculty include Georgia OKeeffe, Nick Cave, David Sedaris, LaToya Ruby Frazier, Cynthia Rowley, Michelle Grabner, Richard Hunt, Apichatpong Weerasethakul, and Jeff Koons. Shes a great collaborator and has been an important voice in helping us shape what this could be, said Rogers, who chairs the Black Trustee Alliance. Throughout my tenure as chair, she has been a thought partner and a valuable member of the executive committee. So we first understand that the experiences and the perspectives that she brings as a Black woman especially as a Black woman so connected to our city is only an additional set of assets as we focus on how we continue to deliver, and be held accountable to deliver, on our mission., Gardner, he added, has really emerged as a national leader in the space of talking about the diversity and diversification of art museum boards.. Their collection of more than 130 works focuses on modern and contemporary Black artists, with works by Henry Ossawa Tanner, Carrie Mae Weems, Sam Gilliam, Ed Clark, Amy Sherald, Nick Cave, and Elizabeth Catlett. Gardner said she was brought to the Art Institute as a volunteer almost 27 years ago by Jetta Jones, the museums first Black female trustee, who died last weekend at 95. She is a transformational leader, drawing the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and museum closer to those we serve, while expanding who is in that audience. SAICs new faculty members represent a diverse range of practices, media, and methodologies and exemplify SAICs focus on interdisciplinary studies. I am grateful to our current chair, Bob Levy, for his leadership, particularly as we navigated the uncertainty of the past year. Denise Garder is chair of the Art Institute of Chicago's board of trustees. "I realized there were a whole set of artists I never heard about growing up: Romare Bearden, Jacob Lawrence and then here in Chicago Charles White, Elizabeth Catlett. Read more. Contemporary art, with an emphasis on artists of the African diaspora. She has built a personal collection of art that is internationally recognized and cultivated rich relationships with many artists and educators. If you have I look forward to supporting her vision as board chair.. I really want people of all ages and backgrounds to feel welcome at the museum, at home at the museum, and that they belong there and that theres something there for them, she said. Get our latest stories in the feed of your favorite networks. Their dedication to access and equity in the arts has extended to college access for under-represented students, which they support through the Denise and Gary Gardner Scholarship Fund at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Their holdings of at least 130 works offer a sweeping look at modern and contemporary Black art, from pioneers like Henry Ossawa Tanner to modernists like Charles White and Norman Lewis. Levy will remain on the board and Gardner will take over as chair when Levys term ends in November. Meanwhile, pre-pandemic, it had been developing an ambitious new plan for the future, one that included bringing in a European architecture firm to help it reimagine the museums sprawling physical space and even how it might adapt its mission to contemporary culture. In addition to her work with the Art Institute, Denise is a member of the boards of the Arts Club of Chicago and the Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation and previously served on the executive committee of the Chicago Community Trust, the board of visitors of Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences at Northwestern University, and the boards of the Chicago Humanities Festival and the Chicago Public Library. Working with Gardner on such issues has been awesome, said Victoria Rogers, a younger-generation leader who grew up in Chicago and now lives in New York, and is a Brooklyn Museum trustee. According to the Art Institute, Gardner has a nearly 30-year relationship with the Art Institute as a volunteer and philanthropic leader, which included 15 years as a trustee and five years as vice chair of the board. Gardner has a longstanding commitment to access, diversity, and equity in the arts. This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. ", SEE MORE: Black & Powerful: ABC7 presents series exclusively streaming on connected TV apps, ABC7Chicago.com, Gardner described herself as a history buff, and said her love of research and history deepened her love of art. . I remember as an adult when I learned about Romare Bearden and Jacob Lawrence and I was almost a little angry why didnt I know about these artists?. Select the best result to find their address, phone number, relatives, and public records. As a board member of The Chicago Community Trust, she served on its Strategic Planning Working Group and CEO Search Committee and chaired its Donor Relations and Civic Engagement Committee and African American Legacy Fund. Due to popular demand,Raven Theatrescritically-acclaimed Chicago premiere ofRight To Be Forgottenhas added an additional week of performances,extending through Sunday, April 2, 2023. Im looking forward to collaborating with her and the chair of SAICs board of governors, Anita Sinha, as we plan for the future.. I think Denise is really a transformational force. The longtime art collector and marketing executive Denise Gardner will become the chairwoman of the Art Institute of Chicago in November, perhaps the countrys first Black woman to hold that position on a major museum board. Before leaving to join Team Israel, Cubs prospect Matt Mervis shared why this WBC means so much to him. Her vision for the Art Institute reflects our commitment to an inclusive understanding of human creativity.. The couple was awarded the Art Alliance of Illinois' Citizen's Advocate Award in 2018. For more than 150 years, the School of the Art Institute of Chicago has been a leader in educating the worlds most And so I think about her and people like her. Id be lying if I didnt acknowledge the significance of [this] moment, and for me it means an extra sense of responsibility and pressure to do well, Gardner told the Chicago Sun-Times on Tuesday. She is someone who has always brought the curators into dialogue with Black makers that have been of interest to her. Every month, we publish stories about our incredible community. It has been my honor to partner with Denise for many years, said James Rondeau, President and Eloise W. Martin Director of the museum. Im just really focused on ensuring people from all backgrounds, from all ages, from throughout the 77 neighborhoods in Chicago feel welcome at the museum, they feel valued, they feel that they belong there and that theres something there for them to experience, Gardner said. She will succeed Robert Levy as the leader of the governing body when his term ends in November. I look forward to supporting her vision as board chair.. They never take it down; its there every day.. [email protected] and we'll Get 5 free searches. I n November 2021, Denise Gardner became the Chair of the Board of Trustees at The Art Institute of Chicago (AIC). As chairperson of the Art Institutes board, Gardner will take on the challenge of navigating COVID-19, saying she admires Levy for his steady hand throughout the whole pandemic, through the closures of both the museum and the school and the impact on employees and staff. Denise Gardner, who has championed Black artists, as well as art accessibility and education for underrepresented audiences. Serving from 1995 to 2006, Jones, who died Friday in Los Angeles at age 95, brought Gardner into contact and then deep involvement with the museum, Gardner said. Robert M. Levy, the board's current chairman, will remain on the board after Gardner takes over in November. A. As we looked for a chair who could fit our needs in the coming years, Denise emerged as the clear leader, said Art Institute of Chicago trustee Tom Pritzker, who led the nominating committee for the board. The actor suffered a brain aneurysm Feb. 18 at his Los Angeles home and died in his sleep Friday at a hospital in Burbank, California, his manager said. Denise is at the vanguard of making art and design education more inclusive, said School of the Art Institute of Chicago President Elissa Tenny. Gardner will succeed Robert M. Levy as the leader. Gardner said she wants Chicago museum to be 'here for the public, not the few'. All Rights Reserved. Previously cities included Elk Grove Village IL and Arlington Heights IL. Denise has 3 jobs listed on their profile. She was the lead individual sponsor of the museums recent exhibition, Charles White: A Retrospective, and, over the years, she has funded numerous acquisitions for the Department of Prints and Drawings and the Department of Modern and Contemporary Art. Denise joined the museum's board in 2006 and has been a member of the governing board of the School of the Art Institute since 2011. Select the best result to find their address, phone number, relatives, and public records. Sometimes Denise goes by various nicknames including Denise B Gardner, Denise R Gardener and Denise R Gardner. The Art Institute of Chicago announced today the election of Denise Gardner as the organization's new chairperson of the Board of Trustees. Resides in Naperville, IL. Other Denise Gardner's; Trusted Connections, Since 2002. Denise M Gardner, PhD Associate Director of Pediatric Behavioral Health/Pediatric Psychologist at Primary Care Psychology Associates Greater Chicago Area 90 connections Weemss work is of particular importance to their collection, as a few years ago they faced a lack of wall space to accommodate a particularly large work by the artist. And I felt, what a shame it was I didn't really know those artists.". .css-16c7pto-SnippetSignInLink{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;cursor:pointer;}Sign In, Copyright 2023 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved, Amy Sherald's 2017 work, 'A clear unspoken granted magic. consider it for our site. SAIC Recognized again for Excellence in Diversity. Im looking forward to collaborating with her and the chair of SAICs board of governors, Anita Sinha, as we plan for the future.. The Joffrey's Director . Gardner will succeed Robert M. Levy as the leader of the governing body of both the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) and the Art Institute of Chicago museum. Sculpture: Hero Construction, 1958, Richard Hunt (BA 1957, HON 1979). Gardner follows Robert M. Levy as the leader of the governing body of both the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and the museum. We understand her credentials to be really independent of her race or her gender, right? Lori Sapio, Denise Gardner, 2021. They were lead individual sponsors of the museums 2018 Charles White retrospective. The wrong time for another loss, as the Bulls were now two games out of a play-in spot. She will take the steering role at the encyclopedic art museum and leading art college at a pivotal moment in their history. Her election may mark the first time a Black woman was elected to lead the board of a major U.S. art museum. Her history with the museum dates back to 1995, when she began her decades-long involvement with the Leadership Advisory Committee. Denise H Gardner, 60. Continue reading your article witha WSJ subscription, Already a member? Gardner will succeed Robert M. Levy as the leader of the governing body of both the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) and the Art Institute of Chicago museum. They have supported numerous exhibitions at various museums in the Midwest, particularly at the Art Institute of Chicago. Gardner will succeed Robert M. Levy as the leader of the governing body of both the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) and the Art Institute of Chicago museum. So, who are they collecting now? I am thrilled that Denise has agreed to take on this responsibility, shared Levy. Gardner said her other priorities in this role include working on diversity, inclusion, equity and access. CHICAGO (WLS) -- It was announced in April of 2021 that Denise Gardner was elected the new chairperson of the Board of Trustees for the Art Institute of Chicago. Gardner built a career as a leader in her field: president of Insights & Opportunities, cofounder of Namaste Laboratories, and vice president of Soft Sheen Products. Denise Gardner, 66, has worked at the Art Institute for nearly 30 years, including 15 years as a trustee and five years in her current role as vice-chairman of the board. "Not in my wildest dreams did I ever think I would be in this position," said Gardner. But we do understand the importance of this moment, Rondeau said. The Art Institute of Chicago announced today that Denise Gardner, a 15-year trustee of the museum and vice chair for the past five years, will succeed Robert Levy as chairman of the Art. Lived In Arlington Heights IL, Canoga Park CA, Phoenix AZ, West Hills CA. The Art Institute of Chicago on Tuesday elected Chicago philanthropist and art collector Denise Gardner as its next board chair, beginning in November. Gardner and his wife reside in Chicago, Illinois, where they run the Gary and Denise Family Foundation and maintain a private art collection. In a historic move, the Art Institute of Chicago has named art collector and patron Denise Gardner as its next board chair. As we looked for a chair who could fit our needs in the coming years, Denise emerged as the clear leader, said Art Institute of Chicago trustee Tom Pritzker, who led the nominating committee for the board. Chicago, IL. Get Denise Gardner's email address (d*****@artic.edu) and phone number (773216..) at RocketReach. I look forward to working with the institutions leadership and staff to fully realize our aspiration of ensuring that people of all ages from throughout the Chicagoland area and beyond, particularly children, see the Art Institute of Chicago as a place where they are welcome and truly belong.. She was the lead sponsor of the 2018 Charles White retrospective and has funded acquisitions to the museums drawing and modern and contemporary art departments over the years. Not being able to be certain is part of why they are looking to gather the data, Gardner said, noting that it should be something thats readily accessible to state, with confidence, Oh, you are the first African American female to chair a (major) art museum board., Now, though, I dont know, because the datas not there.. an interesting story to share that you would like to see featured, please email (The Gardners own three White works on paper.). For non-personal use or to order multiple copies, please contact Given the Art Institutes ongoing commitment to diversity, he added, The experiences and the perspectives that she brings as a Black woman who is so connected to the city of Chicago will only be an asset., Gardner together with her husband, Gary was the lead individual sponsor of the museums 2018 exhibition, Charles White: A Retrospective, which traveled to the Museum of Modern of Art. Coming out of last summers social justice upheaval following the police killing of George Floyd in Minnesota, Gardner and 11 other African American art museum board members formed the Black Trustee Alliance for Art Museums. She has built a comprehensive collection predominantly composed of art by Black makers with a focus on women artists and encourages access and engagement by funding diverse exhibitions throughout the city and loaning works to shows throughout the U.S. She is a collector ambassador for SOUTH SOUTH, a global platform of galleries dedicated to promoting art from the Americas, South Asia, and Africa. Before moving to Denise's current city of Chicago, IL, Denise lived in Blue Island IL. Will the role of an art museum change? A longtime trustee of the museum, Gardner will be the first African American and the first woman to hold the position.