Robert Bridges, currently curator of the Mesaros Galleries in the WVU Creative Arts Center, has been promoted to curator of the new Art Museum at WVU.

Bridges has extensive experience as a curator, having organized exhibits since 2000 in the Mesaros Galleries at the College of Creative Arts. Among the exhibitions he has curated are the international exhibition “Ceramic Art from the Jingdezhen Ceramic Institute” and two national exhibitions featuring the work of American Modernist Blanche Lazzell, who is a West Virginia native. Bridges is a co-editor of the book “Blanche Lazzell, The Life and Work of an American Modernist” (2004) from WVU Press.

“Bob Bridges’ knowledge of the art collection, his curatorial expertise developed by working with both private and public collections, and his skills in organizing exhibitions make him an invaluable member of the museum staff. He has been an integral part of the planning for the new museum facility and its programs,” said Joyce Ice, director of the Art Museum.

Previously, Bridges was assistant curator of the Bank One Art Program, an international corporate art collection which grew from 5,000 to 10,000 works of art during his tenure.

Since coming to WVU in 2000, exhibits he has curated have been shown in The Clay Center, Charleston, W.Va.; the Huntington Museum of Art, Huntington, W.Va.; Provincetown Art Association and Museum, Provincetown, Mass.; and The Cressman Center For The Visual Art, Louisville, Ky.

Bridges holds an MFA in printmaking from WVU. His art works have been exhibited in numerous one-person and group shows and are featured in private and corporate collections. His art is represented by Roy Boyd Gallery in Chicago.

Bridges also currently serves on the Program Committee of the West Virginia Humanities Council. He has taught art and museum studies courses in the WVU Division of Art and Design.

As part of the university master plan for 2010, the College of Creative Arts is moving forward on a $10.6 million capital project.

Renovation of the former Erickson Alumni Center began in August. When completed, the building will house staff offices, educational programming space, and a museum shop.

The new museum facility will be constructed adjacent to this building. Now in the design phase, the new museum will contain approximately 5,300 square feet of exhibition space, including gallery space for the WVU Art Collection and also for changing exhibitions. A climate-controlled storage area will protect the art collection numbering some 2,500 works of art.

-WVU-

CONTACT: Charlene Lattea, College of Creative Arts
304-293-4841 ext. 3108, Charlene.Lattea@mail.wvu.edu