Patricia Marroquin Norby Appointed as Curator of Native American Art at The Metropolitan Museum of Art
The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York has appointed its first-ever full-time curator of Native American Art. Patricia Marroquin Norby will join the American Wing of the gallery where she will arrange exhibitions, community events, and teach while also publishing academic work.
This significant move occurs as museums throughout the United States are actively reviewing the diversity of their exhibitions and staff. The Met, the largest art gallery in the country, celebrated its 150th anniversary this year; however, it has never employed a curator whose primary focus is Native American art. Dr. Norby, previously of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian, is of Purépecha descent. She views her appointment as part of a substantial change in the way American art and history are perceived.
Dr. Norby stated, “I look forward to being part of this critical shift in the presentation of Native American art. Historical and contemporary Native American art embodies and confronts the environmental, religious, and economic disruptions that Indigenous communities have powerfully negotiated and continue to negotiate. This is achieved through a balance of beauty, tradition, and innovation. I am deeply honored to join with American Indian and Indigenous artists and communities to advance our diverse experiences and voices in the Met’s exhibitions, collections, and programs.”
The Met houses over two million artifacts in its extensive collection, which includes renowned works such as paintings by Vincent Van Gogh and Jackson Pollock, exquisite Aztec jewelry, Italian carvings, and even a complete 2000-year-old Egyptian temple transported across the Atlantic in crates during the 1960s. Dr. Norby’s appointment is particularly timely, as the museum has recently acquired a new collection of Native American art from a private collector, which features Yup’ik dance masks, pottery, and a shoulder bag adorned with porcupine quills and silk.
The Met reopened to visitors on August 29, implementing mandatory face masks and temperature checks. Comprehensive guidelines can be found on the museum’s website.
