Andrea Karnes
B.A., 1988, Art History
Chief curator, Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, Fort Worth, Texas
Juror, 2020 Paul Voertman Juried Student Art Competition and Exhibition
Karnes' recent project explored women painters who chose women as the subject. International in scope, multigenerational and multiracial, the "Women Painting Women" exhibition was a five-decade-long look at some of the most intriguing painted images of women today.
As curator of the Modern’s FOCUS series from 2005 to 2015, Karnes organized nearly 30 solo exhibitions of international artists in various media. The FOCUS exhibitions featured the work of Rosson Crow, Jeff Elrod, Teresita Fernández, KAWS, Vera Lutter, Barry McGee, Cornelia Parker, Erik Parker, Yinka Shonibare MBE, Gary Simmons, Rirkrit Tiravanija, Kehinde Wiley, among many others.
About her time at school: “I remember UNT most for being an amazing hub of creativity – from fine art to music, literature, and philosophy – I felt it was a perfect place to explore my passions and interests. I was lucky enough to travel to Italy with my mom, who also went to undergrad at UNT when I was 12. Seeing art firsthand and realizing that every object I saw spoke to its exact moment in history and culture fascinated me. I knew I wanted to study art after that trip.”
Why art is important: “Mainly because it stretches the boundaries of how we think about life.”
On the proudest moment of her career: “Getting to work with amazing artists and having them trust me to help them tell a story through their work.”
Advice for current Art History students: “Strive to find innovative ways to present artists and their works – help them be seen in new ways and by diverse audiences.”
Other works and contributions
Laurie Simmons: Big Camera/Little Camera, author
KAWS: Where the End Starts, editor
México Inside Out: Themes in Art Since 1990, exhibition curator
Hubbard/Birchler: No Room to Answer, 2008-2009, curator
Pretty Baby
Pierre Huyghe: One Million + Kingdoms, exhibition
Pierre Huyghe: Stranger than Fiction, publication
Julie Bozzi: Landscapes, exhibition
Julie Bozzi: Hidden in Plain Sight, publication
Urban Theater: New York Art in the 1980s
Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth: 110 and Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth: Collection Highlights
