Today we’d like to introduce you to Michael Dewberry.
Hi Michael, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Growing up surrounded by art my family collected and visiting museums everywhere we traveled. Whether it be an art museum, a presidential library, or a private gallery, my childhood was never short of art. During college, I took an art history course, and the rest is history! I always thought of art as a hobby but never thought it would eventually become my life’s work.
Before attending graduate school to focus on the decorative arts, I studied product design at the Scuola Politecnico di Design in Milan, Italy. I earned my master’s degree in Decorative Arts, Design History, and Material Culture from the Bard Graduate Center in New York City and hold a Bachelor of Arts with honors in Art History from Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut.
Knowing from an early age that I wanted to follow in the footsteps of my mentor, Amy Lewis Hofland, Senior Director of the Crow Museum of Asian Art at the University of Texas at Dallas, I embarked on the path towards becoming a museum director. Over my many years in the arts, in museums, galleries, Sotheby’s, and an art law firm, I cultivated a strong network of leaders in the arts. I’m grateful for their generosity in sharing their wisdom and stories. When put all together, I realized there is no singular path in the art world, and the key to success is collaboration. The art world is vast, and I believe there is a place for everyone. That was the genesis of Artroverted.
I discussed starting a podcast for years but couldn’t find the time. It wasn’t until the 2020 lockdown that I went for it. During those trying months, I began dialogues centered around community and how we would use our skills in the arts to heal and persevere. I wanted to create a resource for people interested in learning about careers in the art world and expose others in the art world to leaders and changemakers they may not be familiar with. I purposefully targeted individuals with unique careers and projects. Instead of traditional artists, I would speak to an art instructor at the CIA in Napa Valley or a former museum director who uses art to teach medical students close looking, to give a few examples. I’m excited to share that Artroverted’s third season will focus on LGBTQ+ art world trailblazers.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I’ve discovered that life rarely goes according to plan. When I finished graduate school, I was planning to move to Puebla, Mexico, to work at the Museo Internacional del Barroco for a year to curate an exhibition of South American Colonial Art. Government officials were delighted by the opportunity to exhibit this private collection, as it would be the largest exhibition of South American Colonial art in Mexico’s history. Sadly the 2017 earthquake that devastated central Mexico, Puebla included, led to the project’s cancellation.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I pride myself on being a connector. I love fostering connections and creative collaborations and watching them bloom. One of my primary missions is to curate exhibitions and programming that bridges cultures and creates communities united around art and action. In our increasingly divided world, it’s essential that we find common ground and maintain an open dialogue to celebrate our cultural differences while respecting our shared humanity.
I’m excited to lead the campaign to build the Pride Museum of Texas, an institution that preserves and promotes the history, visual culture, and contribution of the LGBTQ+ community in Texas and beyond. This new venture is an exciting opportunity for our city to be a beacon of hope and compassion in our increasingly divided world.
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
Despite never being a cheerleader, my Herkie Jump is pretty good!
Pricing:
- Museum t-shirts are $45 https://pridemuseumtx.org/
shop - Donations to the museum: https://pridemuseumtx.org/
checkout/donate?donatePageId= 648bb95fb837c9236fdea002
Contact Info:
- Website: artroverted.com , pridemuseumtx.org
- Instagram: @
artrovertedpodcast, @pridemuseumoftexas - Facebook: www.facebook.com/
artroverted - Linkedin: https://www.
linkedin.com/in/ michaelhdewberry - Youtube: https://www.youtube.
com/channel/UCCODJ5JGUUbRPr_ sKRfCBLQ/about
