Matthew Welch

Matthew Welch is Deputy Director & Chief Curator at The Minneapolis Institute of Arts. He received his B.A. in English and Art History from Trinity University in San Antonio (1980) and an M.A. (1982) and Ph.D. (1995) in Asian Art History from the University of Kansas. He spent four years in the Department of Letters at Kyoto University, initially as a Fulbright Research Fellow. In his dissertation he examined the paintings and calligraphy of the Japanese Zen priest Toju Zenchu (alias Nantenbo) and their purpose within the monastic setting and lay community. Matthew has been at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts since 1990 and was previously Assistant Director of Curatorial Affairs and Curator of Japanese and Korean Art. He has generated eleven exhibitions, four of which have toured nationally. He has authored six books and has contributed essays to several other publications. In 1998, he expanded the display of Japanese art at the museum from two to nine galleries, and in 2006 he unveiled six additional galleries—making the Japanese art display at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts one of the largest in the country. In 1998, he also opened the first gallery devoted to Korean art at the museum. Since his appointment as Assistant Director for Curatorial Affairs in February, 2008, he has revamped the museum's exhibition selection process and is presently examining the role of ancillary support groups to ensure that their activities are aligned with the museum's mission and that their contributions are recognized and celebrated. 

Articles Related to Matthew Welch

2008-10-30

CCL Announces Class of 2009

Selection of New Fellows Builds Upon Success of Inaugural Year Program, Professional Advancement of the Class of 2008 Ten outstanding curators from art museums and institutions across the United States have been selected to participate in the 2009 fellowship program of the Center for Curatorial Leadership (CCL), an organization that trains curators for ... Read More >

2017-06-02

Valerie Cassel Oliver (CCL 2009) Appointed Sydney and Frances Lewis Family Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art at the VMFA Virginia Museum of Fine Arts

A warm congratulations to Valerie Cassel Oliver (CCL 2009) on her appointment as Sydney and Frances Lewis Family Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art at the VMFA Virginia Museum of Fine Arts! Most recently Senior Curator at the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston, Valerie completed the CCL fellowship in 2009, which included mentorship ... Read More >

2019-08-23

Rochelle Steiner (CCL 2009) Named Chief Curator and Director of Curatorial Affairs and Programs at Palm Springs Art Museum

Rochelle Steiner (CCL 2009) has been named Chief Curator & Director of Curatorial Affairs and Programs at the Palm Springs Art Museum!  Rochelle comes to the Palm Springs Art Museum from the Vancouver Art Gallery, where she serves as the associate director and chief curator. Rochelle has also held posts at the Roski ... Read More >