Shes been so active with the museum and the school for many years so we knew how good she was and how committed to who we are, Levy said. The Art Institute announced Tuesday that Chicago philanthropist and marketing executive Denise Gardner was elected chairperson of its board of trustees. Gardner, who has a nearly-30 year relationship with the Art Institute, has served as a philanthropist and volunteer and spent 15 years as a trustee and five years in her current role as vice chair of the board. One of her favorite artists featured in the permanent collection, Charles White (1918-1979), whose work was previously the subject of a major retrospective at the museum, helped Gardner clarify how to approach her new position. It is believed that she will be the first Black woman to head the board of a major U.S. art museum, although such demographics are hard to come by. 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. The couple was awarded the Art Alliance of Illinois' Citizen's Advocate Award in 2018. 2023 Art Media, LLC. Get our latest stories in the feed of your favorite networks. Ive been inspired by her commitment to supporting artists and also cultural institutions for a while.. CHICAGO (WLS) -- It was announced in April of 2021 that Denise. 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. 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. Thursday, April 15, 2021. Car dealership workers kidnapped, tortured in armed robbery: police, Woman buys new tires that turn out to be 9 years old. Denise Gardner is the first Black person and woman chairperson of the Board of Trustees for the Art Institute of Chicago. CHICAGOThe Art Institute of Chicago announced today the election of Denise Gardner as the organizations new chairperson of the Board of Trustees. I welcome that. 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. Courtesy the Art Institute of Chicago In a historic move, the Art Institute of Chicago has named art collector and patron Denise Gardner as its next board chair. Gardner and his wife reside in Chicago, Illinois, where they run the Gary and Denise Family Foundation and maintain a private art collection. She has rooted much of her philanthropic work in driving positive outcomes for Chicago youth, including expanding college access for Chicago students through the Denise and Gary Gardner Scholarship at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Also known as Bair Denise Gardner, Denise G Bair. She will take the steering role at the encyclopedic art museum and leading art college at a pivotal moment in their history. ARTnews is a part of Penske Media Corporation. A 15-year trustee of the museum,. Denise is at the vanguard of making art and design education more inclusive, said School of the Art Institute of Chicago President Elissa Tenny. "Not in my wildest dreams did I ever think I would be in this position," said Gardner. Her vision for the Art Institute reflects our commitment to an inclusive understanding of human creativity.. Pink Panthers Gang Suspected as TEFAF DiamondThieves, Ukraine Issues Banksy Stamp, Secret Life of Dal Painting Revealed, and More: Morning Links for February 27, 2023, Former Payroll Manager from Art Institute of Chicago Indicted for Stealing $2 M. from Museum. 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. Denise Gardner is the first Black person and woman chairperson of the Board of Trustees for the Art Institute of Chicago. 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. Her vision for the Art Institute reflects our commitment to an inclusive understanding of human creativity, Pritzker said. Go inisde reheartsals with newly released photos and video of the company in action! The longtime art collector and marketing executive Denise Gardner will become the chairwoman of the Art Institute of Chicago in November, perhaps the country's first Black woman to hold that. an interesting story to share that you would like to see featured, please email 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.. Chicago, IL. Denise is at the vanguard of making art and design education more inclusive, said School of the Art Institute of Chicago president Elissa Tenny. Thats not something I enjoyed in my education as a young person. And often shes ahead of the pack, Rondeau said. 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. Will the role of an art museum change? Resides in Naperville, IL. Robert M. Levy, the current board chair, will remain on the board after Gardner assumes the position in November. 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. 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. She has led the couples significant art collecting, particularly of Black women artists. We view collecting as a dynamic process, and we enjoy all its aspects: researching artists, viewing the work, meeting the artists and learning about their practice, hearing from galleries and curators about the work, considering which work fits best with our collection, and most of all, living with the work at home, the Gardners told ARTnews in an email interview. Having served for 15 years as a trustee and for five in her current role as vice chair, Gardner has championed Black artists as well as art accessibility and education for underrepresented audiences. She is someone who has always brought the curators into dialogue with Black makers that have been of interest to her. A longtime trustee of the museum, Gardner will be the first African American and the first woman to hold the position. 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. On the business front, Gary enjoyed a long career starting and building beauty and personal care companies. They sold the company the following decade, and have since turned their attention to collecting and philanthropy. She holds a BSJ in advertising and an MBA from Northwestern University. A 15-year trustee of the museum, Gardner will be the first African-American and first woman leader of the governing body for the museum and the School of the Art Institute. For more than 150 years, the School of the Art Institute of Chicago has been a leader in educating the worlds most 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. Gardner has experienced firsthand the benefits of making meaningful connections throughout the city. She has also been a dedicated civic leader, previously serving on the boards of The Chicago Community Trust, Chicago Public Library, and Chicago Humanities Festival and currently holding positions on the boards of The Arts Club of Chicago and the Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation. 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.. Denise Garder is chair of the Art Institute of Chicago's board of trustees. 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. 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. Amy Sherald's 2017 work, 'A clear . 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. A. Denise has 3 jobs listed on their profile. 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Im looking forward to collaborating with her and the chair of SAICs board of governors, Anita Sinha, as we plan for the future.. More recently, Denise has been president of a marketing consulting firm and Gary supports other entrepreneurs through his private equity firm. I like to exceed expectations.. All Rights Reserved. The Art Institute of Chicago announced today the election of Denise Gardner as the organization's new chairperson of the Board of Trustees. 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. Learn about our efforts toward supporting and building a, For more than 155 years, the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) has been a leader in educating the worlds most influential artists, designers, and scholars. 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. Watch footage of You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown at the Marriott Theatre! I hope she knows whats happening and I think she would have been overjoyed, Gardner said. Gardner said she wants Chicago museum to be 'here for the public, not the few'. ', Amy Sherald/Monique Meloche Gallery, Chicago. She has built a personal collection of art that is internationally recognized and cultivated rich relationships with many artists and educators. I am thrilled that Denise has agreed to take on this responsibility, shared Levy. In addition to Gardner as the incoming chair, the Art Institute currently has 20% Black board members, and 24% of members are of color, Rondeau said. Gardner, 66, has been involved with the Art Institute for nearly 30 years, including a 15-year tenure as a trustee and five years in her current role as vice chair of the board. That led to Gardner's work of ensuring the legacies of Black artists was shared with generations to come. All Rights Reserved. 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. Gardner will succeed Robert M. Levy as the leader. View Denise Gardner's profile on LinkedIn, the world's largest professional community. communications@saic.edu and we'll Its hard to avoid the historical significance, Gardner said in a telephone interview on Monday. Similarly, a corollary issue is how we ensure that more audiences and communities will know, appreciate, and be inspired by art.. AGE 70s Denise L Gardner Chicago, IL View Full Report Relatives Bruce Gardner Aisha Mia Gardner Richard J Gardner Nia Gardner Phone Address AGE 50s I look forward to supporting her vision as board chair.. Throughout my tenure as chair, she has been a thought partner and a valuable member of the executive committee. They were lead individual sponsors of the museums 2018 Charles White retrospective. 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. Before leaving to join Team Israel, Cubs prospect Matt Mervis shared why this WBC means so much to him. Denise Gardner, who has championed Black artists, as well as art accessibility and education for underrepresented audiences. Students have many options when it comes to getting involved in the SAIC community. Gardner has experienced firsthand the benefits of making meaningful connections throughout the city. Gardner has a longstanding commitment to access, diversity, and equity in the arts. 10am PT/11am MT/12pm CT/1pm ET. The Gardners focus their attention on supporting artists from the African diaspora. It was a percolating issue even before last summer. The Joffrey's Director . How soon will people feel comfortable enough in crowds to return revenue to previous levels? But in Gardner, institution leaders said they believe the museum has found a guiding hand suited to the moment. I am grateful to our current chair, Bob Levy, for his leadership, particularly as we navigated the uncertainty of the past year. 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. Best Match Powered by Whitepages Premium AGE 70s Denise L Gardner Chicago, IL (Far Southeast Side) View Full Report Addresses S Clyde Ave, Chicago, IL The Art Institute of Chicago announced today the election of Denise Gardner as the organization's new chairperson of the Board of Trustees. Join Facebook to connect with Denise Gardner and others you may know. 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 is at the vanguard of making art and design education more inclusive, said School of the Art Institute of Chicago President Elissa Tenny. The issue that persists in our minds the most, however, might be the issue of how we continue to ensure that world-class artists from a wide variety of geographies and identities are recognized and included in the canon of art history, they said. Denise Gardner is 67 years old today because Denise's birthday is on 10/01/1954. African American Legacy (AAL) is a philanthropic initiative led by African American civic and community leaders who share the common goal of. 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. She has helped the museum craft impactful plans and programs to engage new audiences. CircEsteem has announced the return of Casino Night, a night of both winning and giving back to the communities we serve. We understand her credentials to be really independent of her race or her gender, right? 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. Deeply invested in and knowledgeable about the Art Institute of Chicago, she has modeled support and advocacy for the museum and school by championing artists and the accessibility of art and art education for historically underrepresented audiences. And I felt, what a shame it was I didn't really know those artists.". We want to hear from you! And so I think about her and people like her. She and her husband, Gary, are noted collectors., The decision, he said, was straightforward.. For non-personal use or to order multiple copies, please contact 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. For more than 155 years, the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) has been a leader in educating the worlds most influential artists, designers, and scholars.