Jessica Kinsey

Director and Curator of the Southern Utah Museum of Art Southern Utah University

  • Cedar City UT

Specializing in community outreach and engagement, museum exhibition curation, and collection management

Contact

Biography

Jessica Kinsey is the director of the Southern Utah Museum of Art at Southern Utah University. As the museum director, Kinsey provides leadership and vision for SUMA as an experiential learning environment with a balanced commitment to education and community.

Her education and professional experience has given Kinsey expertise in the creation, reception and institutionalization of the visual arts, from the most ancient to the most contemporary. Kinsey is well-versed in museum management procedures, exhibit and educational programming and community interaction. In November 2016, Kinsey was a Forty Under 40 recipient, an award honoring exceptional individuals who have made a significant contribution to shaping the Oklahoma City landscape.

Kinsey earned a bachelor’s in art history and a master’s in museum studies from the University of Oklahoma. Starting as a part-time student employee, Kinsey worked at the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art and moved up the ranks to become the museum’s Director of Public Engagement. She began her SUU career in July 2017.

Industry Expertise

Fund-Raising
Events Services
Museums and Institutions
Fine Art
Program Development

Areas of Expertise

Art as Architecture
Experiential Learning - Arts Administration
Community Outreach Through Arts
K-12 Art Education
Fine Art
Visual Arts
Arts Administration
Museum Exhibition Curation
Museum Administration
Museum Education
Art Exhibitions
Project Management
Fund Raising
Corporate Sponsorship
Community Engagement
Higher Education Community Partnerships
Arts Education in Rurual Communities

Education

University of Oklahoma

B.A.

Art History

University of Oklahoma

M.A.

Museum Studies

Accomplishments

Forty Under 40 Recipient

Oklahoma City, November 2016

Affiliations

  • Utah Museums Association
  • Association of Academic Museums and Galleries
  • American Alliance of Museums

Media Appearances

SUMA to start summer season with iconic local landscapes; related art activities scheduled

St George News  online

2019-05-10

Landscape artists are an important aspect of the Southern Utah culture and art community. They have a long history in the region and are a core element of the SUMA collection.

“Kate is reexamining the landscape in a new way, taking the freedom to manipulate and experiment with the scale,” said Jessica Farling, director/curator of SUMA. “I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to showcase her work.”

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Southern Utah Museum of Art open to the public

ABC 4 News Utah  online

2019-01-23

If you are a parent looking for something fun and free to do for your kids after school on early out days, Southern Utah Museum of Art is open for the public to help people get out in the community.

Jessica Farling, SUMA Director/Curator, spoke about the collaboration between Frontier Homestead Museum, The Public Library, and the Garth and Jerri Frehner Museum of Natural History.

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Southern Utah Museum of Art named new director

Deseret News  online

2017-06-13

The Southern Utah Museum of Art has named Jessica Farling as its new director and curator.

The museum, 13 S. 300 West, is part of the Beverley Taylor Sorenson Center for the Arts on the campus of Southern Utah University.

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