About Sarah Cunningham
Sarah Cunningham is a contemporary art curator with over 25 years experience developing art exhibitions, public events, and educational programs. Including work as a college gallery director, art history instructor, and neighborhood artist-in-residence, her career is unified by the conviction that art is an essential part of society that creates dialogue and exposes us to new ideas. Via Salt Mound Arts Consulting, she provides curating, teaching artist, and nonprofit management services.
During her career, Cunningham has curated over 50 contemporary art exhibitions including Rafa Esparza: for you and the sky, Devon Tsuno: Los Angeles River Urban Reclamation, Inherited Traits: Nina Katchadourian & Heidi Kumao, and a solo exhibition by Willie Cole. From 2012-2019, Cunningham served as the director of the Atkinson Gallery in the Art Department at Santa Barbara City College (CA) where she also taught Visual Literacy and Exhibition Practices courses. She previously served as director of the College of New Jersey Art Gallery, curator of exhibitions and public programs at the Alice Austen House Museum (NY), and executive director of the Albany Center Galleries (NY).
To complement and extend her curatorial practice, Cunningham is an experienced gallery educator trained in the Visual Thinking Strategies. Additionally, she teaches artmaking workshops including puppet construction, bookmaking, mosaics, and photography for organizations including the International Charter School (RI), the Minneapolis Institute of Arts (MN), the East Side Arts Council (MN) and Matsuoka Jr. High School (Japan). Committed to social change through the arts, Cunningham also served as the neighborhood artist-in-residence at the Woonsocket Neighborhood Development Corporation (RI) for three years working with teens to create art and history projects that reflect and honor their own communities.
Cunningham received her BA in American Studies from Tufts University and her MFA in Art Photography from Syracuse University.
During her career, Cunningham has curated over 50 contemporary art exhibitions including Rafa Esparza: for you and the sky, Devon Tsuno: Los Angeles River Urban Reclamation, Inherited Traits: Nina Katchadourian & Heidi Kumao, and a solo exhibition by Willie Cole. From 2012-2019, Cunningham served as the director of the Atkinson Gallery in the Art Department at Santa Barbara City College (CA) where she also taught Visual Literacy and Exhibition Practices courses. She previously served as director of the College of New Jersey Art Gallery, curator of exhibitions and public programs at the Alice Austen House Museum (NY), and executive director of the Albany Center Galleries (NY).
To complement and extend her curatorial practice, Cunningham is an experienced gallery educator trained in the Visual Thinking Strategies. Additionally, she teaches artmaking workshops including puppet construction, bookmaking, mosaics, and photography for organizations including the International Charter School (RI), the Minneapolis Institute of Arts (MN), the East Side Arts Council (MN) and Matsuoka Jr. High School (Japan). Committed to social change through the arts, Cunningham also served as the neighborhood artist-in-residence at the Woonsocket Neighborhood Development Corporation (RI) for three years working with teens to create art and history projects that reflect and honor their own communities.
Cunningham received her BA in American Studies from Tufts University and her MFA in Art Photography from Syracuse University.