The sunny 305 will soon be proud to welcome New York native Naiomy Guerrero to town. Guerrero will be joining the PAMMily as our DAMLI (Diversifying Art Museum Leadership Initiative) Curatorial Fellow on March 5, and we couldn’t be more thrilled. The two-year fellowship was made possible by the Walton Family Foundation and the Ford Foundation. Guerrero has a bachelor’s degree in art history from DePauw University, and began graduate research and coursework towards a master’s degree in social thought.
Get to know our newest member of the PAMMily below and follow her at @Naiomyguerrero on Twitter and Instagram.
Tell us what you’ll be doing as PAMM’s DAMLI Curatorial Fellow.
As PAMM’s DAMLI Curatorial Fellow, I hope to aid the museum in centering and making space for folks and artists who are often marginalized and overlooked. Art is one of the most powerful tools at our disposal, it can cut through static and deliver a clear message when words fail. My intention is to continue the work PAMM is already doing and dispel the notion that art is this thing that is sanctioned for specific spaces or people. I will spend some time learning the history, listening, and getting to know the Miami community so I can help develop programming that is reflective of the needs in the Miami community.
What sparked your interest in the arts?
I grew up in the Morris Heights section of the Bronx, and most days as I walked to school I saw graffiti on the walls of my block, on the subway, and in the hallways of my building. I thought about the kids who threw those tags up and wanted to speak to them. I wanted a dialogue. Why did they bubble their letters that way and how did they learn? Graffiti artists were mysterious ghosts/superheroes to me. So I guess what sparked my interest in the arts, although I didn’t know it, was my block. In college, I really fell in love with the way you could learn and teach yourself the history of a people via art. I had never been to museums or galleries until I was 19. Things have changed since I was a kid, but I think it’s important for arts institutions to move beyond theoretical conversations about politics and power so they can be practical and reach the actual people close by that are being left out.
You’ll be relocating from New York City to the 305. What are you most excited about living in Miami?
I can’t lie. I am so excited for the weather. NYC can be so gloomy for months on end during the winter. I haven’t lived near a beach (my happy place) since I lived in the Dominican Republic for a bit as a teen. I’m also looking forward to being around my mother’s side of the family. I don’t get to see them very often since I’ve always been up north.
What does it mean to you to work at PAMM?
I think PAMM is one of the institutions that is leading and answering the charge for cultural institutions to be reflective of the communities they are in and specific in their curatorial approach. Every time I’ve visited, I’ve felt seen and welcomed. I know that much of the Miami population is Spanish-speaking, so the bilingual signage really was great to see. I feel so incredibly fortunate to have this opportunity, and I’m looking forward to this new chapter.
Want to learn more about Naiomy? Check out her site: naiomyguerrero.com.