NEW YORK, NY.- Public Art Fund announced the appointments of Melanie Kress as Senior Curator and Angelo Chan and Rasika Reddy as Members of its Board of Directors. With breadth and depth of experience, they each play essential roles in moving forward Public Art Fund’s mission of free and open access to exceptional contemporary art.
Kress brings extensive curatorial experience in public and contemporary art to the position of Senior Curator, and will play a key role in shaping the vision for Public Art Fund’s future artistic programming. Joining the senior leadership team on June 26, Kress will create ambitious and inspiring exhibitions that activate public spaces across New York City’s five boroughs and beyond, as well as contribute to the management and implementation of Public Art Fund’s mission and strategic goals.
“Melanie and Public Art Fund both share a deep commitment to ensuring experiences with art are accessible to all. Her expertise on global contemporary art, her commitment to community involvement, and her familiarity with public art discourse make her a tremendous asset to our organization,” said Public Art Fund Artistic & Executive Director Nicholas Baume. “A champion of diverse artists at various stages of their careers, Kress will contribute significantly to not only Public Art Fund’s artistic programming, but also the broader field of public art.”
"I’ve admired Public Art Fund for years—the organization’s remarkable history laid the groundwork for the thriving landscape of public art we see in New York City today," said Melanie Kress. "I am dedicated to the belief that great art belongs in public spaces, and feel lucky to live in a city that values access to the arts for all. I am thrilled to continue supporting artists to create extraordinary projects that can enliven every corner of New York City with the imagination, beauty, and dialogue that is essential to this flourishing metropolis."
Previously, Kress served as Curator of High Line Art, the public art program presented on the High Line, where she curated and commissioned projects with more than 100 artists including Maria Thereza Alves, Firelei Báez, Duane Linklater, Okwui Okpokwasili, Sable Elyse Smith, Lubaina Himid, and Zoe Leonard. She also worked closely with the Community Engagement, Education, and Network teams at the High Line to strengthen and expand interpretation and programming for the park's art program, prioritizing neighbors, youth, and older adults through robust engagement programming. Kress is also a Critic at Yale School of Art and previously worked as an independent curator. In 2010, she co-founded the Brooklyn-based project space Concrete Utopia, of which she was Director and Chief Curator until its closing. She holds a B.A. in Art History and Visual Arts from Barnard College and an M.A. in Contemporary Art Theory from Goldsmiths, University of London.
Further expanding the range of experience within Public Art Fund’s leadership, Angelo Chan and Rasika Reddy have both recently joined the Board of Directors, an international group of philanthropists and artists who support the organization’s mission.
Chan shares his strategic and financial expertise with the organization as an entrepreneur and investor in Web3 and Blockchain related technologies. He worked previously at Bank of America Merrill Lynch and Barclays in London and New York, where he gained extensive experience in building new financial products across established and emerging markets. As a member of the Collections Council and co-chair of the Asian Art Circle at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York, he is also a strong supporter and ally of Diversity, Equity, Accessibility and Inclusion initiatives at the Museum.
Reddy is a visual artist, born in India and based in Summit, New Jersey and New York City. She has exhibited extensively in India, USA and UK. Reddy is an avid supporter of arts, education, healthcare, and cultural organizations including the The Metropolitan Museum of Art, SAYA, The Rubin, American India Foundation, PrathamUSA and Child Mind Institute Inc. She has served on the boards of organizations such as The Rubin Museum of Art, South Asian Youth Action, The Visual Arts Center of NJ, and Summit Public Art. She is currently a member of the Photography Council at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum.
“Public Art Fund’s latest appointments promise to further our commitment to enhancing the cultural fabric of New York City and beyond. We are thrilled to welcome Angelo Chan and Rasika Reddy to Public Art Fund’s Board of Directors,” said Board Chair Elizabeth Fearon Pepperman. “Angelo and Rasika share Public Art Fund’s belief that access to engaging, thought-provoking contemporary art is essential to cities and communities across the globe. They join the Board with their unique and vital perspectives and passion for advancing Public Art Fund’s mission.”
