Kennis Forte, Ph.D., named associate curator at Nat’l Museum of Wildlife Art

The National Museum of Wildlife Art (NMWA) in Jackson, Wyo., has hired Kennis Forte as its new associate curator of art. Image courtesy of NMWA

JACKSON, Wyo. – The National Museum of Wildlife Art (NMWA) has hired Kennis Forte, Ph.D., to fill the role of associate curator of art. The museum underwent a year-long search for an exemplary candidate, and Kennis’ qualifications made her an ideal fit.

Forte recently completed her Ph.D. at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario, with a dissertation focused on the Italian Sacri Monti. Her master’s thesis examined academic sculpture in France during the late 19th century. Forte’s depth and breadth of knowledge of early Modern sculpture will enable her to take up the study and care of NMWA’s collection of European and American sculpture from the 19th and early 20th centuries. She received curatorial training from museums in Canada, the United States and Europe. In addition, her experience in planning, preparing and installing exhibitions will be an asset to NMWA’s curatorial team.

“My dissertation research focused a great deal on the importance of place in establishing and expressing the cultural importance of works of art,” said Forte. “This museum honors the connections between art and nature in so many beautiful ways. I am so pleased to be joining the wonderful team here at the museum in exploring how wildlife art can represent and influence our relationship to the natural world.”

In her new role, Forte will work alongside Curator of Art Tammi Hanawalt, Ph.D., to research and execute changing exhibitions and maintain a permanent collection that connects humanity with wildlife and nature. “I am thrilled to have Kennis joining the curatorial team,” said Hanawalt. “Her background knowledge of historic European art will certainly add another level of insight into the presentation and interpretation of our collection and to our collaborations,” she said, adding, “We are fortunate to have her working with us.”

This position also spearheads the museum’s Bull-Bransom award and other research-related projects. Forte has experience in digital technologies and hopes to work on making NMWA’s collection more accessible to audiences around the world.