Matthew McLendon

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Matthew McLendon
Occupation(s)Museum Director and CEO
OrganizationMcNay Art Museum

Matthew McLendon (born 1977) is an American museum director, art historian, and curator of modern and contemporary art. McLendon serves as Director and CEO of the McNay Art Museum in San Antonio, Texas.[1]

Life and education[edit]

Florida native McLendon grew up in Palatka in the northeast part of the state. A Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Florida State University,[2] McLendon earned bachelor's degrees with honors in both music and art history.[3] While at FSU, McLendon was appointed to the first internship in the Department of Education and Public Programming at the Tate Gallery London. He completed his MA and PhD studies at the Courtauld Institute of Art in London, and is an alumnus of the 64th Attingham Summer School.[4] His master's thesis was focused on the war works of Wyndham Lewis and his dissertation on the manifestos of the Italian Futurists of the early 20th century.[5]

Career[edit]

McLendon was named Interim Curator of Adult Learning at Tate Britain in 2002, where he was responsible for public programming related to the Turner Prize awarded to Keith Tyson. After returning to the United States, he was named the inaugural Curator of Academic Initiatives at the Cornell Fine Arts Museum, where he worked on exhibitions serving both collegiate and community audiences including Michael Phillips and the Infernal Method of William Blake (2009), and Andy Warhol: Personalities (2010)[6]

In 2010, McLendon was recruited by The Ringling to reinvigorate its modern and contemporary programs, after a fifteen-year gap in curatorial leadership.[7][8] In the first two years of his tenure, McLendon oversaw the permanent installation of Joseph's Coat, the largest Skyspace by James Turrell to date,[9][10] as well as three exhibitions from the museum's permanent collection and two major exhibitions focused on living artists.

In addition to a revived emphasis on original exhibitions[11] and collection building,[12] McLendon established the Art of Our Time initiative, in conjunction with Ringling Curator of Performance Dwight Currie.[13] The series was created to spotlight emerging and mid-career visual and performing artists, build on the success of the Ringling International Arts Festival inaugurated by the Museum and the Baryshnikov Arts Center in 2009, and renew the contemporary art commitment made by The Ringling's first director, A. Everett "Chick" Austin. In 2016, the initiative celebrated its fifth anniversary with a major gift to support the series and create a new gallery dedicated to contemporary art.[14] With the addition of the Monda Gallery, four rededicated galleries in the Searing Wing,[15] and the in-progress Kotler-Coville Glass Pavilion,[16] close to 10,000 square feet was devoted to the contemporary program during McLendon's tenure. In December 2016, Hyperallergic named McLendon's R. Luke DuBois—Now one of the top 15 exhibitions in the United States.[17]

McLendon was appointed director and chief curator of the Fralin Museum of Art in November 2016,[18] assuming the role at the University of Virginia in January 2017.[19] In 2018, the position was endowed with a $3 million gift as the J. Sanford Miller Family Director.[20] During McLendon's tenure, the museum expanded and diversified its permanent collection, notably increasing major support, museum attendance, and exhibition coverage in national media.[21][22]

Key exhibitions[edit]

Selected guest lectures and events[edit]

  • L’arte di far manifesti: Marinetti's ‘collaging’ of the Manifesto, Matthew McLendon, 97th Annual College Art Association Conference, Los Angeles (2009)[43]
  • Engaging the Crowd: The Futurist Manifesto as Avant-Garde Advertisement, Matthew McLendon, Back to the Futurists: Avant-Gardes 1909–2009, Queen Mary University of London, Royal Holloway, University of London, and University of Swansea, London (2009)[44]
  • The Italian Futurists: Art + Architecture, Dr. Matthew McLendon, Sarasota Architecture Foundation Lecture Series, Sarasota, FL (2013)[45]
  • Michael Wyshock's Water Threads with Matthew McLendon, Lu Magnus, New York (2014)[46]
  • In Conversation: R. Luke DuBois and Matthew McLendon, Orange County Museum of Art, Newport Beach, CA (2015)[47]
  • R. Luke DuBois: On Art and Performance, Matthew McLendon, Bowdoin College Museum of Art, Brunswick, ME (2016)[48]
  • A Dream Team: The Curator, Fundraiser, and Philanthropist, Matthew McLendon and Anna Von Gehr, American Alliance of Museums Annual Meeting, Washington, DC (2016)[49]
  • Weed Heart: Conversation with Matthew McLendon and Jill Sigman, Gibney Dance, Agnes Varis Performing Arts Center, New York (2016)[50]
  • When the Other Shoe Drops: Essential Steps to Effective Crisis Communication, Matthew McLendon, Convener and Moderator, American Alliance of Museums Annual Meeting, New Orleans, LA (2019)[51]
  • Color Light Motion, Episode 12: Toni Dove, Matthew McLendon, respondent, UCLA Art | Sci Center, Los Angeles, CA, Harvestworks, New York, NY, David Bermant Foundation, Santa Barbara, CA (2022)[52]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Frank, Nicholas (14 February 2023). "'Driven by curiosity': New McNay Director and CEO Matthew McLendon takes the helm". San Antonio Report. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
  2. ^ Adno, Michael (October 2016). "What Would Chick Do? Matthew McLendon Resists Classification". SRQ Magazine. Retrieved 1 October 2016.
  3. ^ "Re:Purposed Exhibition at Ringling by Alumnus & Curator Matthew McLendon". FSU Department of Art History. Florida State University. 2 May 2015. Retrieved 13 April 2016.
  4. ^ Jamieson, Elizabeth; Moore, Andrew (2015). "The 64th Attingham Summer School". Attingham Trust Newsletter (13): 8.
  5. ^ McLendon, Matthew (2004). L'arte di far manifesti : the evolution of the Italian futurist manifesto. London: University of London.
  6. ^ Knoell, David (22 June 2009). "Rollins Hosts Display by Pop Master Warhol". theledger.com. Ledger Media Group. Retrieved 11 April 2016.
  7. ^ Kurpiela, Heidi (18 May 2011). "The 'bling' king". yourobserver.com. Observer Group. Retrieved 11 April 2016.
  8. ^ Clavijo, Raisa (10 July 2010). "Modern and Contemporary Art at the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art / A Conversation with Matthew McLendon". artdistricts.com. ARTDISTRICTS Magazine. Retrieved 11 April 2016.
  9. ^ Vogel, Carol (23 December 2011). "The Morgan Will Show Another Side of Flavin". The New York Times. Retrieved 11 April 2016.
  10. ^ Voeller, Megan (23 December 2011). "Eye on the sky: a new view from James Turrell at Ringling". Creative Loafing Tampa. South Comm, Inc. Retrieved 12 April 2016.
  11. ^ Daniel, Pam (5 June 2015). "A Day in the Life of Ringling Curator Matthew McLendon". sarasotamagazine.com. SagaCity Media. Retrieved 13 April 2016.
  12. ^ Rife, Susan (5 July 2012). "Warren and Margot Coville donate photography collection to Ringling Museum". heraldtribune.com. Herald-Tribune Media Group. Retrieved 13 April 2016.
  13. ^ Lederer, Phil (February 2016). "Space on the Edge". SRQ Magazine. SRQ Media. Retrieved 12 April 2016.
  14. ^ "The Ringling announces $500,000 gift from Keith and Linda Monda". ringling.org. John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art. 2 February 2016. Retrieved 12 April 2016.
  15. ^ "The Ringling opens first dedicated galleries to Modern and Contemporary art". Artdaily. 27 December 2016. Retrieved 9 January 2017.
  16. ^ "Kotler-Coville Glass Pavilion to break ground in April". contempglass.org. Art Alliance for Contemporary Glass. 12 January 2015. Retrieved 13 April 2016.
  17. ^ Vartanian, Hrag (29 December 2016). "Best of 2016: Our Top 15 Exhibitions Across the United States". Hyperallergic. Retrieved 9 January 2017.
  18. ^ Newman, Caroline (11 November 2016). "UVA Selects Matthew McLendon as Director of The Fralin Museum of Art". Artdaily. Retrieved 9 January 2017.
  19. ^ Ghabour, Dahlia (7 November 2016). "Curator Matthew McLendon takes new job at University of Virginia museum". Herald-Tribune. Retrieved 9 January 2017.
  20. ^ Russeth, Andrew (2 April 2018). "University of Virginia's Fralin Museum of Art Receives $3M. to Endow Directorship". Artnews. Retrieved 2 September 2022.
  21. ^ Frias, Hannah J. (14 December 2022). "San Antonio's McNay Art Museum Announces Dynamic New Director". San Antonio Culturemap. Retrieved 16 February 2022.
  22. ^ "News in Brief: Fralin Director Takes New Role at Texas Museum". UVA Today. 3 January 2023. Retrieved 16 February 2022.
  23. ^ Rife, Susan (11 July 2010). "Modern? At the Ringling?". heraldtribune.com. Gatehouse Media. Retrieved 12 April 2016.
  24. ^ "Josef Albers: Color". The Ringling. John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art. Retrieved 12 April 2016.
  25. ^ Handelman, Jay (24 February 2012). "Ringling Museum sets programs on Rothko and Tony-winning 'Red'". heraldtribune.com. Herald-Tribune Media Group. Retrieved 12 April 2016.
  26. ^ Bennett, Lennie (28 May 2011). "Ringling Museum of Art exhibits collection inspired by hip-hop culture". tampabay.com. Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved 12 April 2016.
  27. ^ McDonald, Megan (19 May 2011). "Impressions of Ringling's 'Beyond Bling'". Sarasota Magazine. Saga City Media. Retrieved 12 April 2016.
  28. ^ Albritton, Ann (April 2013). "A Conversation with Zimoun: With and Between Contradictions". sculpture.org. Sculpture Magazine. Retrieved 12 April 2016.
  29. ^ Gaskins, Nettrice (24 April 2012). "Sanford Biggers' Codex Navigates the Past, Present and Future". art21.org. ART21 Magazine. Retrieved 12 April 2016.
  30. ^ Schelle, Charles (10 November 2012). "Coville Photography Exhibit Opens at Ringling Museum". patch.com. Sarasota Patch. Retrieved 12 April 2016.
  31. ^ "The Ringling to Display Studio Glass Collection". ringling.org. John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art. 18 October 2013. Retrieved 12 April 2016.
  32. ^ "Ringling, SAF Promote Local Architecture". heraldtribune.com. Herald-Tribune Media Group. 11 August 2013. Archived from the original on 20 September 2014. Retrieved 13 April 2016.
  33. ^ Sheets, Hilarie M. (9 January 2014). "R. Luke DuBois Mines Data to Reveal Art". The New York Times. Retrieved 13 April 2016.
  34. ^ Bennett, Lennie (17 June 2014). "Large glass sculptures provide 'gem of a show' at Ringling". tampabay.com. Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved 13 April 2016.
  35. ^ Rife, Susan (13 February 2015). "'Re:Purposed:' Finding artistic inspiration in cast-off objects". heraldtribune.com. Herald-Tribune Media Group. Retrieved 13 April 2016.
  36. ^ Moriarity, Bridget (21 February 2015). "Nick Cave and El Anatsui Elevate Everyday Objects in 'Re:Purposed'". blouinartinfo.com. Art+Auction. Retrieved 13 April 2016.
  37. ^ Knight, Ashley (5 June 2015). "Trenton Doyle Hancock. What the Bringback Brought". artdistricts.com. ARTDISTRICTS Magazine. Retrieved 13 April 2016.
  38. ^ Sisson, Patrick (6 November 2015). "Paul Rudolph Midcentury Marvel Recreated Down to Last Detail". curbed.com. Curbed/Vox Media. Retrieved 13 April 2016.
  39. ^ "Pathless Woods". ringling.org. John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art. Retrieved 1 October 2016.
  40. ^ "The Dress That Eats Souls: A Robot In Progress". Bustlelamp. 1 May 2016. Retrieved 9 January 2017.
  41. ^ "Restorative justice: Vanessa German's art celebrates black lives". c-ville.com. 20 February 2019. Retrieved 2 September 2022.
  42. ^ "The Fralin Museum of Art commemorates the work of leading American artist Joseph Cornell". Artdaily.com. 31 August 2022. Retrieved 2 September 2022.
  43. ^ "Futurism in Los Angeles". italianfuturism.org. 23 January 2014. Retrieved 21 August 2016.
  44. ^ "Back to the Futurists: Avant-gardes 1909–2009 Programme" (PDF). Queen Mary University of London. Retrieved 21 August 2016.
  45. ^ "SAF Seminar on Italian Futurists". Herald-Tribune. 9 April 2014. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
  46. ^ "A Walk Through of Michael Wyshock's Water Threads with Matthew McLendon". Lu Magnus Art Laboratory + Salon. Retrieved 21 August 2016.
  47. ^ "Opening Weekend Celebration". OCMA. Retrieved 21 August 2016.
  48. ^ "R. Luke DuBois – Now: Events". Bowdoin College. Retrieved 21 August 2016.
  49. ^ "A Dream Team: The Curator, Fundraiser, and Philanthropist". American Alliance of Museums. Retrieved 21 August 2016.
  50. ^ "Weed Heart: Opening and Public Conversation". Gibney Dance. 2 August 2016. Retrieved 21 August 2016.
  51. ^ "Annual Meeting Programs: Leadership". AAMD. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
  52. ^ "Color Light Motion. Episode 12: Toni Dove". David Bermant Foundation. Retrieved 19 February 2023.

External links[edit]