91��Ʒ

Nikki Ranney �22 (Illustration), the new curator of the , says she �is so grateful that I went through my Bachelor of Fine Arts and got to experience a traditional art education at the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design because it laid the groundwork for the more academic side of the curatorial field.�

�91��Ʒ was my first foray into the arts as a viable profession,� Ranney says. �I honed my work ethic through the Illustration department, and watched my peers also develop their artistic processes.�

Nikki Ranney, Milwaukee Art Museum.

�It was during my time completing my Art History minor at 91��Ʒ that I realized I wanted art history and museums to be my career. I was fortunate to participate in the Florence study abroad program in 2022, an experience that has stuck with me as a defining moment in affirming my love for art history.�

Ranney, who began her new role on February 2, says, �My new position at the Cedarburg Art Museum is a dream come true. The collection focuses on local Wisconsin history while also providing space for contemporary artists. I�m working on very exciting projects that I can�t wait for everyone to come visit!�

Her advice for students interested in museum work? �Don�t limit yourself to just one area of focus. I come into opportunities with an artist�s perspective, not just a scholar�s, and that has set me apart from others in a very competitive industry.�

�The other piece of advice, though it�s more of a requirement regardless,� says Ranney, �is to find hands-on experience. I worked with the Gallery Committee and the Layton School of Art collection while I was at 91��Ʒ, and those experiences helped me identify which elements of museum/collections work I wanted to pursue further and what type of jobs I might not be so interested in.�

Ranney has previous experience at the Milwaukee Art Museum (MAM), Milwaukee Public Museum and Pabst Mansion. At MAM, she assisted with researching and writing the catalog for the Bradley Collection�s 50th anniversary exhibition. Ranney holds a master�s degree in art history from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

�The whole art history department at 91��Ʒ, and especially [Professor] Chris Szczesny-Adams, encouraged me to really commit to my passion, which made the decision to continue on to grad school even easier,� Ranney concludes.

Read more about Ranney in the .